Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-05-05

| my proper place, with head out Of window
Stood on the footboard all the time after leaving
junction; Soon as l saw sparks. blew whistle
to break down, and reversed my engine-Coulc
see BY my own light that their engine was acros;
the track, but their ears were not-was running
from % to rs miles an hour Went right thro
the train-about g o'clock drank glass of spir
its.
Mr. 7yier-Was Conductor on the Mich Cen
train that came in last night; came from BIichi-
gan City regular tune Of leaving this place IS
f. % o'clock because the train was so much behind
! time. Met our regular train six miles from the
crossing at o clock > minutes, at the junction
of the Illinois Central and Michigan Central
Collision took place minutes before ten, Detroit
time had "a double cars; equal TO As single
cars; double car is 81 feet long two cars were
filled with emigTants; had about 50 passengers in
all; the 9TH car had passengers We had a red
light on rear end Of cars; the head light was not
up; there were two white lights on the car; the
head light was not lit because it would not burn
for want Of wicks. Am instructed to carry red
light on rear end of cars 1 nave no instructions
in regard TO head light, suppose somebody has /.
my business is to deliver freight am Chief Of
fcer
at first saw no light; afterwards saw light !; when
half mile from crossing heard our whistle to put
down brakes whistle was just after l saw the
light; tho't that tie light was Locomotive from
Chicago: brakes We're put down; don't know thar
anything else was done :; saw the light mile
and half off, was running twelve miles an
hour when saw light and four miles at time of
collision Our hia car y.as struck and $50 EN-
Igrant cars and one Freight car destroyed We
had only two brakes; these are on the way car
Mr Racttanl-Was Engineer last night on NJ.
c. Road; was constantly at my engine after Ieav-
ing Michigan Junction had hand lantern which
! set out about a mile from the crossing; am re-
quired to have a head light my light won't barn
have not used it for two trips told Mr.. Jurat,
who has charge of the shop at Michigan City
that the lamp would not burn; I saw light Of S
NJ. train, when little more than half mile from
crossing; ! shut off my steam, whistled down the
brakes but did not reverse the engine thought
there was no occasion and that could stop with
out doing it; if l had reversed my engine, my
train would have stopped. I always run slow
over crossing, and supposed had a right to the
track. Ii had not whistled down the brakes l
should have been out of the way.
The following Is the verdict OF the Coroner /
Jury, after examining the witnesses
We the Jury, do find and say the within nam
cd persons came 10 their death by tue collision
which took place between the Michigan Southern
and Michigan Central Railroads, on the night OF
the 18th day of April, A. d. 1898, caused by the /
gross carelessness and neglect OF Moses NJ. Tyler
conductor on the NJ. C. +. r., and Ihos. Rack f
ham, engineer on VI. c. r. r.: also Herbert J.. .
Whiting, conductor on VI. S. r. r.. and Edward
Davis, engineer on said NJ. :. r. r. W e find and
consider them guilty OF gross carelessness, and .
hold them as the cause of the death of the within .
named persons, whose bodies have been laid before .
US. We likewise hold Mr.. Jurat, Superintendent .
OF the machine shop at Michigan City, to the pub .
lie, as Censurabie for not furnishing tie Engineer
Of the freight or emigrant train OF the Central r. T
R. now IN question with proper material for ghts
on his engine-and deem him unit tor the station
he now occupies
At a public meeting held in Chicago, senes
1f resolutions was passed expressive Of the feel
ngs Of the citizens relative to the terrible destruc
lion Of life at the collision. Among the resolu-
ions passed were the following
5th. That this meeting deem it their duty not
only 10 request but to demand Of the persons hav-
ne the contro! Of said roads, that with all reason
able despatch they cause the crossings OF said
-oads TO be avoided, or that one road be carried
over the other, and until the same An be
!one, every train be required to stop before cross
ng, and that persons be kept at said crossings to
give notice Of The approach Of trains.
7th. That this meeting pledges itself to use It's
Jest endeaHors 10 procure from the next Legsla- /
ures OF Illinois and Indiana a law 10 prohibit any
Railroad from crossing any other Railroad with
,ut bridging, or in such manner that one road
hall pass over or under the other.