New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-10
TIE LAST COLLISION.

On Thursday evening en Erie railroad emigrant
train going out and an express train coming in we're
driven into each other at a curve about three miles
from jersey City. The engineers seeing the immi-
nence of the crash jumped of in SEASON and escaped
unburt but the conductor Of the express train was
sou ewhat injured brakeman had his ankle cut OF and
his since died two of the passengers were so injured
that their recovery is doubtful and two other persons
were hurt but lot dangerously The loss Of life is
thus at the worst, limited to three persons, but it is
miracle that hall the number board the two trains
were not destroyed. The violence Of the shock was
such that the locomotives broken and theorward
cars forced into each other and crushed pieces The
loss 70 the Company must be quite heavy.
The history of this disaster is follows About
TWO miles and-a-hslf from jersey City is the Bergen
u1ction. where tie Paterson and the Erie roads turn
Of from the New-Jersey road, and pursue ther course
On a single track Most Of or readers are probably
aware that the Paterson Company has track of mar
row gauge willie that Of the Erie which runs on the
sane road is wide thus side of the track, the
Paterson rail is used by the Erie trains while on the
other side separate rail has been laid for their ac-
conmodation This renders tie track quite compli-
Gated; and it is sometimes difficult for the switch
tender at Bergen to tell whether an approaching train
is broad or narrow as TO turn the corresponding
switch This is especially the case at night, as the
trains do not carry distinguishing signals and it has
happened several times that the wrong switch has
been turned, ard train delayed by rushing past and
then being obliged to go back in order to be switched
of. From such difficulty, growing out of the con-
pcated system of switches at that point, and from
eareesnees on the part of one of the conductors has
arisen the present fatal collision.
1t seems that Mr. Brewer, the conductor Of the
enigrant train left jersey City at the regular hour
but that when he reached Bergan the wrong switch
WAS turned aud he was delayed two minutes in
consequence Then, instead of waiting at that place
for the express train to up he drove on intend
Ing to gain second switch about half mile further
west Mr.. Sweetser, the conductor of the express
train. testified before the CorOners Jury yesterday
that i. is the rule for engrant trains to wait at Bergen
ard that lie accordingly expected pass this there
But Brewer though according 10 his own statement he
Lad already lost TWO minutes. determined TO 60 for
ward In moment more We are told he would have
been safe on the switch he in quest Of But that
moment was not his he arrested by the crash of
the onccming train and death, suffering and loss are
the consequence
The course ofhs conductor is striking illustration Of
soItofrecklesness which we fear istoo common among
men ofhis profession Accustomed to drive at terrific
rates of speed when he.breaking of wheel or the
fure of an axle would hur every thing to ruin, often
finding themselves preserved from death when only
they themselves knew the OF the escape,
they become Indifferent TO peril and on the turning OF
second Will hazard their own lives and those commit
ted to their charge We know there are conductors
who never run such risks but the dangerous nature of
their employment renders many of them indifferent TO
Danger and bent going ahead at all chances. Such
would seem to he the with the conductor of this
emigrant train lie bound to suppose that the Ex-
press train would be up to its time-as it really was
lie knew that he ought to wait at Bergen for that train
to pass and yet he went on though he must have been
perfectly aware that difference of minute was all
that he could count on, and that if be an Instant
too late collision must ensue.
such are the facts they appeared at The Coroners
Inquest yesterday they require the prompt action OF
the NewJersey authorities is possible that on trial
before a Court the Conductor may prove to be inno-
cent, earnestly hope he may but there Is an
awful account of death pending against the railroads
and it is high time that stern justice did something
toward settling it. Such accidents have too long been
suffered to pass without blame to any one, and if the
law of the country does not come in to punish and
prevent them, shall some day behold that Office
sternly ful6iled by the Lynch law.