The morning comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-1856, 1856-08-01

PHILADELPHIA. July "a, 1856.

S"iJ co. bgpV'
DEAR ComET In our last we called
attention 10 a sad accident which occurred
in our city, caused by the sliding Of
wharf from its foundation, The particu-
lars are scarcely in type before we are
called upon to give detailed account Of
one which occurred last Friday morning
on the North Pa. Railroad The facts
were substantially these. On the above
mentioned morning an excursion was pre-
pared by an uptown Catholic Sunday
school ara chuch; they were to proceed to
d small villa at about ID miles from the city.
One locomotive with long train of cars.
freighted with precious load Of 600 souls
left the depot early in the morning, trugg-
ling along scarcely able to proceed two
miles without stopping for rest. This
Of course, caused great delay, still the
conductor pushed forward without any or
ders; the passengers severaltimes suggest
ing that the aid Of another locomotive
would help them considerably. But then,
an other locomotive would have been an
expense to the company, which they might
avoid by risking the lives Of 1000 beings
in collision. The excursion rules were
that The train going would reach certain
turnout before the opposing train got TO
the same, aud then the excnrsonists could
90 their way with perfect safety
The above stoppages, however, did the
mischief as the two trains were coming
round a curve out Of sight Of each other,
they came in such close proximity that
collision was rendered inevitable. The
result was about 80 LIES lost and 90 poor
wretches left in The sun, some minus their
legs, arms, &c; most of the number ruined
fol life Some Of them have since died
The priest Of the church was among the
victims Every thing has been done on
the part Of our good citizens, physicians,
and surgeons, 10 render the sufferers as
comfortable as possible. The blame Is
generally laid to the conductor Of the ex-
eursion train. The conductor Of the oppos-
ing train obeyed oidcrs-having waited at
his turnout ten minutes over the time allot-
ted by the regulators, when, as directed,
he went forward. The latter being con-
scientious, good man, was SO much distress
ed about it, That he is supposed to have
became Temporarily insane, and took an
overdose of arsenic. Medical aid was
called in, but without any beneficial res
ult. One ounce Of the drug had been
swallowed. No blame whatever rests
upon him. lie did nothing but bis duty.
His name was Vanstavoren.
We have rever thought Of giving you
an account Of the system, Of Female Ty-
Biography in this city, until reading the
letter Of yonr Travelling Correspondent"
from Cincinnati Miss Mcdowell, the
editress Of the " Woman's Advocated pub
lished in this city is at the head Of the
system here This estimable lady's paper
is fine looking sheet; the work Of the
type setting is performed by a bunch Of
pretty girls, who stick at their case nearly
as steady as the rougher portion of the
"craft.D But the ruling passion Of woman,
freedom Of speech, cannot be ctrbed even
in the printing office. 1t was thought at
first that female composition could not
flourish in Quakerdom; but Mrs. Mellow
ell has proved that it san. As general
rule girls do not make as good compositors
as boys, not having sufficient mental pene-
tration and application. We have known
some, however, who have termed out to be
good hands at it-being both swift and cor
rect. The Advocate deserves an ex-
tensive patronage. We believe it has a
share. In Boston there are quite number
of weeklies set up by female labor. In
the Empire City also there is considerable
printing performed by girls. The men
complain Of female labor succeeding male
labor, and blame the poor girls for it. Did
the girls invent power presses2 Did fe-
males improve factory machinery to such
degree as to require only half the manuel
labor usually bestowed2 A mechanic can
not, in these hard times support large
family on ten or twelve dollars week
the consequences is, if there are any boys
in the family large enough to work, things
may be kept square, if there be no boys