New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-28
PREVENTION OF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.

10 The EGito, Of Them Y TfbuA1
SIR: Having read the statements and mis.statements
relative to the Norwak calamity and remarked the loud
but indefinite calls for reform wish to give you, briefly
as possible, my sense Of this subject
First-As 10 the criminal carelessness Of the en-
ployes Of the New Haven Road Tucker the engineman
was considered by his employers of their best
He was lust such man could possess the confidence Of
the elder Whistler was recommended by him; was en-
poyed by Mason the former superintendent Of the New
Haven Road was injured while in that employment and in
dscharging duty paid 900 grauity by the Drec
tors of the New Haven Road and after recovering was
again gladly employed by the present Superintendent
There abundance ofus such men upon All the Prn
cpa railways, and 20 them we must commit ourselves
until we can be shown better men.
The bridge tender acting according 10 ns standing
instructions no one attributes blame 10 him The fireman
and the conductor Of the train are not responsible oT an
observance of the signals
The rules amount to nothing they not enforced
and there is 10 penalty for their infringement To run
slow the bridge was not customary upon any OF the
trains nor customary upon any roads in New England
10 reduce the speed az such points The time table gives
no time for running slow and the Engineer made % feel
that 10 be Jehind time is the only thing for which ne viii be
already occurred The company well the publ,
uet high speed and few detenOns Besides, the position
of draw should be sgnaled advance Of the train 80 that
If right the train may pressed as fast over he draw as
elsex here Here there signal 20 show that the
draw was open il was the absence OF signal which,
when raised showed the draw 70 be cosed-a useless KIND
information. Inc Engineer DcleVcd no "a" TIC st5h'
and The whole concern was inefficient that was easy 70
b. mistaken lie might have the top Of the chimney
o the steanbo. Pacific Who will pretend 70 say that 40
engineer in fu view Of the bridge al Aorwak would rsk
bis credit his train and his LIE ne doubted for "a instant
that all was right! To person approaching lno oiuse
slowly on foot the signal might be sufficient
but upon an engine at quick speed, passing san9n and
observing the station flags crossing signals ana having
besides BIS duties as EAStnee to perform, what wonder
! for once a nan should mistake We have had no evi
ssrce hat the accident was caused by any earsaes
on the part OF the engineman. He might have pre-
suned somewhat upon the right to the road pos
sessed by an Ex press train when nearly time
The Hudson River Railroad regulations detan yesse
twenty minutes from passing draw when train is due
and has arrived But more than this the signal If
worth the name obseured two three times from tn
time it first until the bridge is reached An en
riding quickly along and having many such signals
observe every trip being also the rroHg side of III
engine get the fret view OF the signal might not perceiv
il t being DOWN. and might forget that he the YER
spot which should command view Of IT, and might thel
Keep the lookout and at once find himself where b.
least expected spon the bridge The engineer would hsv
TO look 10 the place where the signal ought 10 be- look ais
to his relative position with the station to the crossing sig
nxls and TO his machine all in one.