The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-07

ACCIDENTS On THE HUDSON llINE EN- hAILROAD-
STEAM IN CIrIEs.-Every few dayswe are called
upon to announce to the public the death of
some individual by accident on the Hudson
River Railroad, within the city limits These
accidents have become of so frequent occurrence
- properly to arrest the public attention, and
it becomes the duty of the press to direct inquiry
as to what is to be done to prevent them Seve-
raj years ago, when the road was first put in
operation, there seemed little or no objection t.
permitting the trains impelled by steam enginl
to descend to the outer limits of the city, at
Thirty first street. Since that time the cty
has progressed on the North river side, az in on
other directions with wonderful rapidity, ana
far up as Siytieth street, may be said to be
tAickly inhabited. The consequence of this
aglomeration of the laboring classes along the
shores of the North river, has been frightful
increase in the number of deaths caused by the
engines of this road, till the evil has become so
monstrous as to call aloud for an immediate
remedy. Hundreds of women and small chill
dren are almost hourly under the necessity of
crossing the track of the road, who, from very
natural listlcssness, from habit of residing in
the presence of danger, incur the constant risk
of being crushed by the engines and trains con-
stantly passing and repassing on the road.
We have not as yet heard of any distinguish
ed millionaire or member of the State or city
government falling victim, but we almost
daily hear of the death of some child, poor wo-
man, or laborer, who has been called unannoint-
ed to eternal judgment by the crying heart
lcssness of the Hudson River Railroad Compa-
ny. so cheap does it hold human life. 1t is I'M
doubleday true that corporations have no
souls. Where is the individual who could read
unmovcd the frequent accounts of the deaths of
the poor and laboring classes, smashed into
mass of mingled flesh and bones by the ''iron
horse" running half-hourly along this popular
thoroughfare, without instantly putting a stop
to the evil, if he had the power!
But the company has no bowels of compass
sion to.weep with the bereaved parents for the
sudden loss of a promising son, or with the
heart broken widow whose husbands man.
ly form has been suddenly crushed be-
fore her eyes into a frightful mass OF
human offal. Now we see an orphan boy
pointing out tue fragments OF garment
on the broken remains of human body, as the
only evidence that the wearer was his poor
father. But the company hears nothing, sees
nothing feels nothing-the victim was nothing
but poor laboring man-the boy was
thoughtless Irish fellow, who should have known
enough to keep off the track.
But aside from considerations OF humanity,
the time has come when the steam engines of
the Hudson River Railroad Company should be
stopped at the outer limits of the city. While
the Eleventh avenue is being run over every
few minutes by engines at full speed, CONNER
cial business cannot be carried on in that neigh
borhood but at great risk and to great dsad-
vantage. in regard to expense, owing to con-
tinual Interruptions and delays. In word, the
Eleventh avenue now belongs exclusively TO
the Hudson River Railroad Company. We call
on the Legislature, we call on the city authori-
ties. to awake to the injustice, to the cruelty, as
well as impolicy, of this monstrous usurpation
and abuse. Is it not wise for law to prevent by
seasonablc enactmcnts that revengeful public
justice which fragrant wrong is sure, sooner
or later, to visit on the evil doer?