Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-05-12

"hob t'C VI VIC
land should enact such statutes as will
protect the travelling public from
whole sale slaughter by railroads and
steamboats,, in consequence OF the out
rageous and objectionable carelessness
OF those 10 whom greaI freghts OF hu-
manity are entrusted . Within the last
two weeks the press has recorded the
loss Of l25 lives by the independence
on the Pacific coast about 20 by the
collision on the Central and Southern
Michigan railroad, rs by the burning oil
the Ocean Wave, on Lake Ontario, and
now ofabou. 90 by the accident on the
New Haven road, at Norwalk,-to say
nothing Of the scores OF persons who
have been manned or disfgured for life
by these accidents. In fact, we scarce
ly open an exchange paper that does
not contain a statement OF come steam
boat or railroad catastrophe, by which
more or less lives are lost, and persons
seriously injured.
The late wholesale murder at Nor
walk, for We can designate il by 10 9TH
er name Is one OF the most heart-rend-
ing ever recorded and there can be no
doubt but that il was caused by the
most inexcusable carelessness. The
testimony before The Coroner's jury
brings out the fact, that The man in at
tendance on the bridge gave the signal
that The draw was open some fifteen
several witnesses who were near the
bridge all agree that the engineer did
not blow the whistle or give eny other
signal OF the approach Of the train,-
and that he was driving the locomo-
tive, at the time OF the terrible catastro-
phe, at the rate Of 80 miles per hour
The New York Tribune states that the
Conductor told the engineer, before
reaching Norwalk, TO drive like HI
through Norwa!k, as the train was be-
hind time, and two passengers wanted
to get out there. but he would see them
d--d first before they should.
Past experience teaches US that there
can be no safety TO The travelling pub
lie unless the mos, stringent laws IN re-
gard to railroads and steamboats, are
made and rlgdly enforced Not only
the officers of the boats and trains should
be held severely responsible for these
catastrophies, but the officers OF the
respective Companies also. In this ill.,
stance some sixty men, women and
children have been dashed into elerni-
ty, without a seconds warning, and al!
Trough the wicked carelessness Of the
conductor and engineer Of the ,rain,-
both o whom, Of course have escaped
with their lives.
How many hundreds, yes, thousands +,
are prostrated with grief by this sudden
calamity Fathers and mothers have
been sna'ched away leaving young and
helpless children husbands have been
dashed to atoms almost, and the agon-
l ised wife stands be1ildered over what
she 10 told are the remains OF her hus-
band with whom she was conversing
but a moment before, and both ELI
urely UNCONSCIOUS OF danger-ihe fond
wife 10 ins tanily gashed aud disfgured
and lies wetering IN blood, while the
Injured and suffering husband, with his
little ones around him, stands above
her, neither scarcely able TO recognise
in that shockingIy mangIed corpse Il
wife and a mother. Aye, more,-she
who was made bride yesterday, is
to day a crushed and CORY mass OF hu.
manity, and he who happily led her to
the altar, Is a raving maniac, Tor the
hope OF his life lies butchered before
him. Oh, what indescribable agony -
Is there any punishment TOO severe or
the guilty ones who have thus murder
ed The innocent and unotiending. and
clothed hundreds in the habiliamenls Of
mourning, and crowded SO many hearts
with the most terrific griei7 Death is
fearful in any form, but there ia Chris
tian consolation when we are permitted
TO stand by the bed-side Of those whom
we love, and behold them quietly and
peacefully yield up their last BREATH
with the assurance that they are pre-
pared to go hence into the unknown
world but when the objects Of our af-
lection are rudely sna,ched away, IN the
most nurrlble manner, without warning,
and when those who love them best are
far away,-,here is something IN all this
which renders death terrific indeed, and
which almost palsies human sympa-
thy.
These butcheries take place, one al
ter another, in rapid successlon-the
public are startled and horrified, denun-
Citations are breatbed, statements are
made as to what ought to be done, which
meet with very general favor, and in
few days il all dies away and is forgot
ten, because the public mind ls entirely
absorbed by some new and exciting top
ic. This is generally the case but we
trust that II will not be SO now. Let
the press and the people arouse, and