Norwalk, CT Train Wreck, May 1853 - Frightful Calamity

Another Frightful Calamity --- Sixty Lives Lost.

The nineteenth century in America shall be memorable through the ages of futurity for its appalling catastrophes and and sacrifice of human life. Sights of horror and bloodshed pass before us with the frequency of shifting scenes in a stage tragedy. Last summer, accidents involving a frightful loss of life, trod upon each other's heels. The burning of the Henry Clay, the bursting of the Raindeer's boilers, the falling of the Staten Island ferry bridge, spread repeated gloom over the community. The present year, however, is in advance of the past. The loss of the steamer Independence with 125 lives, of the Ocean Wave with 25 lives, and the collision on the Central and and Southern (Mich.) railroads, with the loss of 15 lives, are followed by the running of a train on New Haven railway through a Draw bridge over Norwalk harbor, by which upwards of sixty human beings have been hurried into eternity.
The draw bridge, where this awful occurrence took place, is about 250 yards from the depot, and the signal cannot be seen therefrom.

The accident occurred at about 10 o'clock yesterday morning, and by all the testimony, the engineer seems to have been guilty of the grossest est [sic] negligence.

The draw bridge had been opened to admit the passage of the steamboat Pacific, and the signal was accordingly lowered. The engineer neglected to take notice of the signal, and the train of two baggage and five passenger cars came on at a tremendous pace --- without slackening speed in the least --- to the bridge, which is about 55 feet across; and so great was the momentum that the engine leaped across the gulf and struck its fore part against the abutment on the other side.
A red ball is erected on a tall pole at the draw. When this is displayed from the top of the pole, it signifies that all is right; but if the engineer can't see it from a point about a quarter of a mile distant, where there is a sign, on which is written “Look out for the Draw,” with a hand pointing in the direction of the ball, he must stop. It is shown in evidence before the Coroner that the ball was lowered from 10 to 15 minutes before the arrival of the train. The engineer is named EDWARD TUCKER. He has had much experience. He was badly hurt by a railroad collision a year or more ago, for which he was not blameworthy, and was only able to resume his post about four weeks ago.

Among the passengers were several distinguished physicians, returning from the Medical Convention, which closed its sessions in New York on Thursday. In the list of killed the reader will be pained to see the names of DR. A. WELCH, of Hartford, DR. BEACH, of Bridgeport, DR. SMITH, of Springfield, and DR. PIERSON, of Salem. DR. IVES of New Haven, is among the saved. The whole number of dead bodies recovered, prior to 5 o'clock P.M., was forty-five, and it it was thought possible that more were beneath the wreck. About twenty persons were wounded, two of whom died before the hour just stated; three others were in a very critical state, including a daughter of REV. DR. GRISWOLD.

The special correspondent of the Tribune states that great gloom hangs over the scene of this wholesale murder. The people gather in groups and speak in saddened whispers, telling some new incident in this dreadful tragedy. A young couple who were married in New York last evening, were going to spend their honeymoon in Boston, when their happiness was shattered, and the unfortunate bride with her jewels and robes still on her unfortunately met with a watery grave. There are many incidents of the most heart-rending nature, that had we time or space, we could relate, but the following must suffice. A young gentleman by the name of ROBINSON asked us if we had heard of the safety of MRS. And MISS ROBINSON --- (we had just espied their names from their dead bodies) --- he was the son and brother of the two hapless ladies. We told him the truth; he was almost crazed.

We could not learn from any passenger or citizen of the place, nor from the evidence adduced at the inquest, that the whistle for slacking speed had been heard, or that any attempt had been made to break up the speed, as is usual in going through a town, on the contrary, the speed was greater than usual. This would seem to countenance the report that was current in Norwalk, to the effect that at Stamford, the Conductor had told the Engineer to drive like hell through Norwalk, as two men wanted to get off there, and he would see them damned first.

The engineer jumped from the engine just before reaching the gap; the fireman leaped off just as the engine was going into the river. Both are somewhat injured.
The scene at the car-house and baggage-room was most solemn and impressive. Never shall we forget it. Forty-six bodies of men and women and two little children were lying around! The agonized features, some covered with horrible contusions, or deep gashes – the foam issuing from the mouth and nostrils, the clenched teeth and hands, and the wet garments, formed a tableau most horrible. The friends or relatives of deceased, wandering from corpse to corpse, and eagerly searching for the features of some loved one, rendered the scene not unlike that of a field of battle.

It appeared that during the instantaneous process of splitting open the top of the car and the fall of the ceiling, MISS KING, without any knowledge or agency of her own, had been projected through the crevice upon the top of the car. --- And there, without even having been wet, but with a severe wound in the face, she found herself with another car predipitated [sic] upon it, which passed her and tumbled over into the river beside the wreck of the first. Her escape, and the manner of it especially, was a miracle.

The following is a list of the killed, as far as ascertained:
DR. A. WELCH, of Hartford, DR. BEACH, of Bridgeport, MRS. J. M. FLUENT, of Lancaster, Pa., REV. JOHN H. LUHRS, of Williamsburgh, DR. SMITH, of Springfield, JOHN MOSS, of Gardiner, Me., DAVID B. NEWELL, of Newport, JOHN L. GREY, of Springfield, WALTER FRENCH, of Manchester, N. H., NORMAN PARKER, of Woodbury, Ct., NATHANIEL KING, JR., Athens, Ohio, F. L. DESEQUE, a lady, probably MRS. DESAUGNE, of Philadelphia, FRANCIS W. SAYLES, of Boston, Young man unknown, in company with HUTCHINS. Old lady unknown, velvet bonnet. B. F. OPEDOCK, Worcester, Female child, six months old, Lady supposed to be mother of infant above, OLIVER BARR, supposed collecting agent for Antioch College, Ohio, D. W. DIMMOCK, Mansfield, Conn., Lady unknown, with ring marked M. J., MISS ELLEN GOSS, Poughkeepsie, New York, ELLEN S. BACON, Boston, aged 20 years, W. C. DWIGHT, Brooklyn, ANNA B. LONG, supposed of Boston, MRS. DR. LANDY, supposed of Baltimore, BEVERLY PARKER, Yorkville, MARY C. PARKER, Lennox, Mass., and daughter. SAMPSON SMITH, Bellows Falls, Vt., MARY CARRIGAN, MRS. HANNA, 18th street, New York, DR.. JOSIAH BARLETT, Mass., DR. ABEL L. PIERSON, Salem, Mass., ISAAC C. COLBATH, Richmond, Me., Man about 27 years old, unknown Female child drowned, not recognized, R. S. DAVIES, residence unknown, and two others not recognized, MRS. MITCHELL, of Hartford. MR. VANDERVEER, of Newark, formerly President of an India Rubber Co., Also a lady with him, J. M. HUTSHINSON, Boston, ANN T. GREEN, (on the pocket handkerchief), supposed wife of DR. GREENE, of Boston, MRS. MARY E ROBBINS and daughter, Lennox, Mass., SUSAN PEMEROY.
The bodies are much disfigured, and recognition in many cases is difficult.

Brooklyn Eagle 1853-05-07