New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-07
FACTS, INCIDENTS, As.
Flll Particulars from Personal Observation.

TAe City vas startled at III o'clock yesterday morn
ing Ny the vaaue rumor of terrible accident the
New Haven Railroad. Ia few minutes it wss sscer-
tanned that the O'Clock Express train for Boston had
run through tie drawbyidge east of South NOsvslk,
Connecticut ana that msny lives we're sacrificed.
The exeitemert spread like wid6re. The traia had
taken sarge uumber of passengers who we're residents
of this City and the anxiety of their friends was most
painful end intense The newspaper and telegraph 9th
ces and hotels besiegei with seekers for
information, and AL business seemed 20 b. suspended
The first reports thought 20 be- exaggerated and
modified statements afterward came which seemed 10
prove the gratifying conclusions but late and authentic
accoouts only confirmed and increased the of the
earliest rumOrs.
The latest facts received last night prove thar
MORE THAN FIFTY LIVES WE'RE LOST;
and the conclusion is forced upon tAe mind that the
sareessness of the Engineer the sole of this
serrible affection.
We have hastily thrown together such reports as our
eegraphc and special reporters have been able to fur
nish us.
FRoM OUR SpEonL REPoRrERs-
The draw bridge, whore this awful occurrence TOOK
place is about $50 yards from the Depot aud the signal
cannot be seen theretrUm.
The accident occurred AZ ABOUT w cocA yesterday
mornings and from all the testimony the Engineer seems
to have been guilty of the grossest negligence
The draw bridge had been opened 20 admit the pas
sage of the steamboat Pacific and the signal vas ac-
cOrdngly lowered The Engineer neglected To take no
tce Of the signal aud the train of two baggage aud i've
passenger cars came Gt a tremendous pace-Sthout
saCkenug speed in the oast-to the bridge. which Is -
feet across; and great the momentum that the
engine esped the gulf aud struck les fore part
against the abutment the other side.
ber nj ttNnp aasp
were hurled into the river, which az high tide The
distance from the level OF the Road to the water about
l. feet the depth of water about the same The for
ward end of the third passenger ear was smashed up
ard the hinder part prevented the remainder oil the
trsin from sharing the same fate.
The scene beggars description Men women and
children. who few moments before we're anticipating
the fortunate termination OF their journey and meeting
with anxiousy expectant friends, we're In the twDklng
launched into eternity and 10 souls were hur-
RED before their Maker without moments warning.
The engineer jumped from the engine just before
reaching the gap the fireman leapod off Just the
CINE going into the river. Both arc somewhat IN
jured
All the citizens Of Norwalk were early on the spot and
we're most active in their endeayOrs 10 the unOr
tunate sufferers The sides Of the cars broken in
with axes, and many lives saved, that had not
ssance been so promptly rendered, must have shared
the same terrible tate
The unfortunate sufferers who not drowned or
killed taken 20 the houses of the citizens aud most
kindly cared for. We noticed the ladies OF NOrwak
were most interchangeable in rendering assistance to the
wounded.
The instructions for the signal management il AS fol.
lows When the bridge open and trains not 10 come
along the signal Is iOueTed OFT Of sight When all Is
right the signal Ga large red ba raised on tall pole,
and may be- nc the distance of half mile but
not be seen from the depot At night the signal light
ed inside The bridge is situated behind sharp curve,
and cannot be- seen from the depot The distance Of thu
depot from the bridge is about $50 yards
The engine and baggage completely I'll up the gap
Of the channel at the bridge. The passenger ears
drawn to the bank of the river and complete wrecks
Most OF the dead taken out before II O'Clock NJ.
The total number Of passengers boBrd the
PIG, besides the servants OF the Company.
Mr. Geo Seleck, who keeps a restaurant at the side
uf the depot informed that he the smoke Of tho
steamboat passing through but few seconds before the
traie came along they going at unusually rapid
rate that be fOresaw the accident and ran Tor this
bridge but before he could get there the catastrophe had
occurred
From the evidence al the inquest and from the state
Of all who knew anything Of she matter We learn
that the signal ball had been lowered full ID minutes
previous TO the accident We could not learn from any
passenger citizen Of the place, nor from the evidence
adduced at the inquest that the whistle for Stacking
speed had been heard or that any attempt bad been
made to break up the speed usual In going through
a town; the contrary, the speed was greater than
usual This would % cOuntenance the report that
was current Norwalk to the effect that at Stamford,
the Conductor had told the Engineer 20 drive Ike hell
through Norwak, as two wanted 70 get Of there,
and be would see them damned first
Great gloom hangs over the scene Of this Wholesale
mOrder The people gather IN groups and speak In sad
dened whispers, telling some new incident In this dread
full tragedy. young couple who we're married in New
York last evening going TO spend their honeymoon
in Boston, when their happiness shattered AMI the
unfortunate BRIDE with her jewels and robes still her
unfortunately met with watery grave. There sre many
incidents Of the most heart rendng nature, that had
time or space we cOwld relate but the following must
suffice young gentleman By the name Of Robinson
asked US if had heard Of the safety Of Mrs and Miss
RobincoB-(we had just esped their names from their
dead bodies he the and brother Of the two
bapless ladies' We told him the truth; be was almost
crazed.
The scene at the carhouse and baggageroOm
most solemn and impressive. Never shall forget it.
Fortyix bodies Of men and women and two little child
rem we're laying around The agOnized features some
covered with horrible Commissions, deep gashesthe
foam issuing from the mouth and nOstls the cnched
teeth and hands and the wet garments formed tabeau
most horrible The friends relatives Of the deceased
wandering from corps TO corpse and eagerly searching
for the features Of loved one rendered the
not unlike that Of field Of battle.
Names Of the Dead.
The following is list Of names Of persons killed and
drowned:
J. DR. Samuel Beech, Bridgeport
n, Iohn q GRAY Surinrfeld MAss