Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-05-19
The New HAVEN Railroad CatastrOphe.

We collect from the New Y ork papers as
full details as possible of this shocking trag-
edy-without indulg ing n needless repetition
1t is the concession of all, that it is the most
appalling Railroad accident that has ever oc-
Cured, either in this country or Europe. The
loss of life (ifty-two certainly killed. exceeds
that caused by the burning of the Henry Clay
steamer, and yet, with proper care, there was
not the shadow Of cause for this result. But
we think that this will be the last accident of
this kind, as laws will soon be passed in all
the States, valuing PERSONS life, killed on a
railway. al IS, 900 or $4,000, and interest
will thus compel the Companies to take eTtra-
ordinary care with the lives of those entrusted
to their charge. The Connecticut Legislature.
now IN session, viii undoubtedly pass such
law. The bill is already reported iniBg every
company $4,000 for every person killed.
| The signal for safety had been withdrawn
full ten minutes before the train approached,
but needless of the warning, the engineer, Mr..
Edward Tucker. dashed on at the rate of near
Iy thirty miles an hour, until he reached the
open draw when such was the nome mum
with which the engine sprang across the chasm
Of sixty feet, dashlng against the abutment on
the opposite sde-but little below the level
Of the line Of rails. The draw had been open
ed to permit the steamboat Pacific from Nor
L
had parely passed as the train dashed in
The engine was followed by the tender,whic
rested uponit, the first baggage car went part
iy upon the tender, and partly along side, the
second car, containing the smoking apartment,
went along side the first baggage car and two
Of the first class cars were dashed among the
wreck of those which preceded them. while
the bottom of the last car was broken in two
cross wise, the forward part being dragged in
to the submerged ruins. leaving one half the
bottom and the entire sides and roof upon the
track. J he water IN the channel over which
the draw is placed is from ten 10 twelve feet
deep at high water.
The train consisted offive cars, and contain
ed PIG passengers. 1t is thought by the con-
ductor that had the rails not been wet by the
falling rain, thereby preventing an efficient &C
ton ofthe breaks, the disaster might have been
averted. Upon nearing the bridge, the fire.
man and engineer eaped from the engine-ihe
latter twenty feet down an emdankment, in
juring himselfseverely Abystander describes
the scene when the locomotive plunged in
to the abyss as terrific. For an instant, il was
in mid-air-then, with crash, it disappeared,
with the tender, from sight. The Boston bag
gage car piled on TO this, in an upright posi-
ton, the top nearly even with the track on the
bridge. The smoking and mail car, contain
| ing the p0st-offce, fell near. the first passen-
ger car sunk, ard filled with water. In this
the principal loss of life occurred. But few
were In the smoking car, and not one Of them
W re killed. The second passenger turned
over, but most Of its inmates escaped. The
third car broke in the centre, but hung by the
connecting rods on the edge of the bridge till
the rods were cuI.-JOt4T. Of Com.