The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-06-04
HORRIBLE CATAsTOPHE
on THE
NEW YORK AND NEW HAVEN RAILROAD.
Train Run Through a Drawbridge
FIFTY PERSONS KILLED!
From tho New York Tribune

The city was startled ut half.past eleven
o'clock yesterday morning, by the vague rumor
Of n terrible accident IN the New Haven rail
road. In n few minutes il was aSccrtaincd that
the eight o'clock express train for Boston had
run through tho drawbridgc east of South
Norwalk, Connecticut, and that many lives
were sacrificed.
The excitement spread like wildfre. The
train had taken q large number of passengers
who were residents Of this city, and the anxiety
Of their friends were most painful and intense.
The newspaper and telegraph Offices, and no.
tolls, were at once bcsicgcd with seekers for in
formation, and all busines seemed TO be sus-
pended.
The first reports were thought TO be cxag-
gcrated, and modified statements afterwards
came, which seemed to prove the gratifying
conclusion; but late and authentic accounts
only confirmed that increased the most of the
earliest rumors.
The latest facts received last night prove that
MORE THAN FIFTY LIVES WERE LOST,
and the conclusion is forced upon tho mind,
that the carclessncss of the Engineer was the
sole cause of this terrible aiiliction.
We have hastily thrown together such re-
ports as our telcgraphic and special reporters
have been able to furnish us.
FRoN Dun SPECIAL REroarERs.
The drawbridgc where this awful occurrence
took place is about 200 yards from tho depot,
and the signal cannot be seen thcrefrom.
The accident happened at about ten o'clock
yesterday morning; and from all the testimony,
the engineer seems tG have been guilty of the
grosscst negligence.
The drawbridgc had been opened to admit
the passage Of the steamboat Pacific, and tho
signal was accordingly lowered. The engineer
neglected to take notice Of tho signal, and the
train of TIVE baggage and five passengers cars
cnme on at q tremendous pace--with ont slack
cning speed I'm the lcast-to the bridge, which
is 90 feet across; and, so great was the mo.
inentum, that the engine lcapcd across the gull
and struck It's fore part against the abutment
on the other side.
The engine, two baggage and two passenger
ears were hurled into the river, which was u,
high tide, The distance from the level OF the
road 10 the water is about IL feet the depth
Of water about the same. Tho forward end o;
the third passenger car was smashed up, and
the hinder part prevented the romaidor Of the
train from sharing the saino tate.
The scene beggars description, Men. women
and children. Who. n few moments ,cforu vert
anticipating the iS'tunato termination 1T their
Journey, aud meeting with anSiously cSIcctani
friends, Hsrc, in the twinkling ct an eye
hurried beiuro their Maker without n isaiuvn,' :
warning.
The engineer jumped fto,n ,he engine Just
hvforc ~rcsglsing tic gap; the fireman lespsd
oit just a. tsn cagsnc was gOing Into thv rtCr
u,1h ats e~oipewiiA; Injured
Al the. cs,tscnS " NuYsalk wern early on
,hc SPOT, sad were mast s,k,yc IL their csrtsS.
Vofs TO tescac the unfortunate sufferers Iht
siiss g the cara wcrv lttsAeH in wssi. sSes,
ss,.i u,spy nYrs wss~ S,svsL That. had ma A..
sissstec iSsn ~ Iertepsls reasleswL, nsua have
shssst the Same terrible late
The nnEs,upase snsitftsx aiss weYs fo;
anss sci 90 k,lsri. we've ,skss So the hsste@ ~
the citizens arl ,ysss, kindly eatsl So Ne
tostccf the sasiAa uf >wwsA we're nss<s ssas5
s~stsestss In fresissts,g asststancN Ia si,e v,tsel.
sal
The iessrssstons Sc ,hs signal ueY.ssSa sens
arr A. kahss, wtssn ihe ,ssaes i ospn. AMI
tfusns Ar s~s ~ euste atqs,S. tbe ssss2 Z. m
Fsef ess - stg&t Wsye sa j. ,s1hs. sist sisssi
is issee fsa tsah u FHisssi w a tai tsAa kmi
ress t~ sesn ~ VI, sastsrsN ~ hsiE 8 fsA1 sasi
eanssea 10 yesa fs~a. th< ssefss. A pSsia. fhs
ssxtssl j. isghtssi ffssn ~ sns&se us tsssep
V sassss,.i s~Aisni : sharp eszvs. sses sNs.spss
i@ ssen frssn st~ 3st~s, The ~,ssssstrs a sl,s
s~s@s fnse she tssstee l. A,.ssi two hasslss.'
Ard ssay 4s-a~
Tee eorsse sses s@srsre car cosn,5esos Na
wp The r@p - Tie sfxts~f a the tat4Se ns
ras~stt<s eofs AZ tfxwn 90 the iaak a ,hs
rvss. ssei arr cs f@ess vrcs&s Moes AZ the
sss ~tss tsksh aSs tssoee fss The tsss,
nasstry a Yssrznrfs "a tssxsi iae sAfs sss
stA, tsSases sie esfsssss Il ssss t<snfsny
". 6so seilss&. whe lssse = rsssssssus a,
sht stk e the aefres. sntsrnesi 90 .k.., ~ 49,