The Watchman

Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce.

Ballston, Sept. 1, 1836.

Since the rail road system came into operation, the murder of human beings, few or many, seems to be even less than a nine days wonder. Will this be tolerated? Can it be prevented?

I am one of the party which just escaped annihilation by the carelessness, no, recklessness, of some of the directors or agents of the Schenectady and Saratoga Rail Road. A baggage and a passenger-car were started last evening from Ballston with horses, when the locomotive and train were momentarily expected from Schenectady. The driver remonstrated against starting; the passengers, one in particular, warned the Agent, who said he must follow orders. All was done with such nonchalance on the part of the Agent, that we could not realize that the danger (and some there evidently was, though we could not imagine what,) was serious, jeopardizing our lives. We should otherwise have left the car. Two minutes delay would have saved us; for the trains came in contact within half a mile of this point,—about one minute's run of the engine. I am fortunately uninjured, except a slight bruise from the fall; but it is nothing to be exposed, by the cupidity of rail road owners, to the probability of death, broken limbs at any moment.

Immediately on starting, one of the party in our apartment (the first one) was deputed to look out for the counter train. On account of the abrupt curve, nothing was to be seen; but in a few seconds, looking again, he cried out, "it is coming!" but made no movement to escape. I thrust my head out of the window, and you may imagine my sensations on seeing, within a few rods, this huge machine, dragon-like, spouting fire, bearing down upon us with frightful rapidity! Both driver and horses, being indisposed to run so unequal a tilt, had quite reduced our speed, so that I was able to jump out and run up on the side bank in time to see the concussion. My great wonder now is, that I could have accomplished it. The body of the baggage car, which I was not before aware was in the advance of us, was crushed instantly, like an egg-shell, and the passenger-car a good deal broken, while the passengers who remained in, were thrown violently together and bruised. Mr. M. S. Lincoln, of Boston, had his leg broken in leaping out. The driver, leaping also, is much bruised. One gentleman had his nose completely broken, while many complained of bruises, to some of which blood bore witness.

I ask, is there any remedy? Will the legislature protect our lives? If not, I am half disposed to coincide with a Southern gentleman here, who proposes Lynch law. Thus in all future cases, the sufferers to resolve themselves into a Court, to pass judgment, and execute it too, instanter, first on the culpable Agent; if he cannot be seized, then on one or more of the directors; and for want of said officials, upon the first share holder within reach. Let some one represent the responsibility and take the punishment, for the public good. This may seem absurd, but why not make free with their lives, as they do with ours?

Is there no preventive? or, is this new mode of death merely to be added to the catalogue of "ills that flesh is heir to." When will the law recognize some penalty for this sort of murder? I pause for a reply

BALLSTON.