The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1853-05-14
Terrible Casualty and loss of
upwards GFEEftY g.ivcs,

I'VE" oFk ana new raven railroad on
Friday of last week, by which more
than fifty lives were lost. The follow
ing statement IN relation 10 it is from
the n. Y. Courier:
"Thr train proceeded, as usual until
i! reached Norwalk. As miles distant, at
haIf-paSt ten o'clock Half a mile east
of the Norwalk station, is a bridge across
the creek, and over the channel there
is draw in the bridge sixty feet in
width. The rules of the road require
that the speed of the tram should BE-
checked at the Norwalk station, and the
train held well in hand until the engi-
neer obtains sight Of sign ala red ball
upon pole some thirty feet high, which
is visible nearly half a mile from the
bridge. The signal is only displayed
when the draw is closed and the track
clear Both these precautions were ne
elected upon this occasion; the speed
was not Stacked at the station; the sig
nal for safety had been withdrawn full
ten minutes before the train approached,
but heedless of the warning the engi-
neer dashed on at rate of2early Mi,ty
mites on h0ur until he reached the open
/ draw when such was the momentum
tina! the engine sprang across the chasm
of sixty feet, dashing against the abut-
ment on the opposite side but little be-
low the level OF the line of the rails
The draw had been opened to permit
the steamboat Pacific, from NorwaIil
for New \ DIRK to pass through and she
had barely passed as the train da, heu
| in. The engine was followed by the
tender, which rested upon it, the first
baggage car went partly upon the ten
der, and partly alongside, the second car,
containing the smoking apartment, went
alongside the first baggage car and two
of the first class cars were dashed among
the wreck ofthose which preceded them,
while the bottom Of the last car was
broken IN two cross-wiSr, the forward
part being dragged into the submerged
ruins, leaving one half OF the bottom
and the entire sides and rooi upon the
track. The water in the channel over
which the draw is placed is from ten to
twelve feet deep in high water.'
1t is most appalling railroad accident.
that ever occurred in this country. One
car in which there were forty passen-
gers was submerged and all were drown
ed. Among the lost We're ten or TWEEN
ty doctors who had been attending 4
Medical Convention in New York.
! Mr.. W Whistler, superintendent of the
road on being swora, said among other
things, this: 81 have heard as goner-
al report that the conductor told the
engineer ito drive like hell through
Norwaili, as two gentleman wanted to
get out there, and he did not wish to
stop The accident most positively,
could not have occurred if the engineer
kept proper lookout. think the fault
was entirely with the engineer, if the
train stopped at Norwalli it would attain
a rate OF ten or twelve miles an hour
before reaching the draw"
The following is from the Journal OF
Commerce
"The cause OF the accident is attri-
buted solely to the engineer, in falling
to observe that the signal was given
that the bridge was open until too late
10 save the train. A red ball is erect
ed on a tall pole on the draw. When
this is displayed from the top Of the pole
it signifies that all is right; but if the
engineer can't see it from point about
a quarter of mile distant, where there
is sign on which is written Look out
for the Draw with hand pointing IN
the direction Of the ball. he must stop.
it is shown in evidence before the Cor.
oner that the ball was down from ten tc
fifteen minute preceding the train. The
engineer is named Edward Tucker, an d
has had long experience. He was in.
ured about Is months ago by railroad
collision, for which he was not blame.
worthy, and was enabled 10 resume his
occupation only about month since.
The train consisted Of five cars and
con tanned us passengers. 1t Is thought
by the conductor, that had the rails not
been wet by the falling Of rain. thereby
preventing an efficient action OF the
breaks, the disaster might have been
averted. Upon nearing the bridge, the
fireman and engineer leaped from the
engine-the latter 90 feet down an EN-
bankment, njurlng himself severely. A
bystander describes the scene when the
locomotive plunged into the abyss a.
terrific. For an instant it was in mid
air. Then. with crash, it disappeared
with the tender, from sight The Bos
ton baggage Car piled Oh to this, in Al
$ upright position, the top nearly ever
, with the track on the bridge. Th'
t smoking and mail car, containing thu
, post-oilice, fell near. The first passen
| ger car sunk. and filled with water. Ii
this the principal loss of life occurred