The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-11
Fearful Railroad Accident at Al

most frightful railroad disasters which has
ever occurred in this part of the State. On
Monday evening last, as the train on the
Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad from
Wellsvile, due at Alliance about O'Clock,
p. NJ. came up TO the station, it ran into
train on the o. g. P. Railroad which was at
that moment crossing the track. The speed
was suffi ;ient to drive the rear car of th e o.
g. P, train into, and through the platform OF
the Alliance station house, tearing away
iirnbcrs, walls, and bearing down everything
within its range. Men and womenupon the
platform, of course, fell victims in the gen.
cral crash. The disaster was most sudden
and frightful and the scene Immediately
thereafter, beggars all description.
Eight persons were killed almost instant
ly. We visited the scene of the disaster on
Tuesday morning and gathered what items
we could in reference to the unhappy occur
tencs. The names Of the persons killed are
as follows: JACOB RHoDY, N. G. TAYLOR
DR.. P. B. SMITH and wife, GEO. Brooks, ].
McENTYRE, REASON D. ATERHoLT and -
WATSON.
JAc1B RucDT resided at Alliance, and
was an employee OF the road. His business
was that Of tending the switch, assisting
about baggage, giving signals, &c. AT the
timo O. the accident he is said to have seized
his signal lantern and sprang upon the track
waving it in token Of danger. He died at
the post Of duty. His head and body were
badly crushed.
DR.. P. B. SMITH and wife were also resi-
dents OF Alliance. They were young peo-
pie having been married only few months.
They we're universally loved and their loss
is severely felt by the citizens of Alliance.
The Doctor had just fairly entered upon his
professional career, had built him house
and began to be surrounded with the com.
forts and pleasures of home. He was n
man Of more than ordinary promise. His
wife was an amiabe and accomplished lady.
They had gone to the station intending to
take the cars for Salem, (Mrs. SMIrH's for
mer homc) and from thence he was to 90 to
Poland to attend the Synod of the Presby
terian Church. Truly sin the midst Of life
we are in death"
GEO. Brooks was rcsiden: Of New Jer-
sey. He was young man, and was then
on bis way to Lima, Stark county, where he
intended to be married. Yesterday was to
have been his wedding day. How little he
dreamed that it would be the day of his fu
neral. His intended father in law was with
him. But few moments before the crash
came, he was congrnluIating himself that he
was so near the home of his intended bride
that no accident had bclallen him, and th al
u few days more would witness the realzl.
ton Of his fondest hopes. How suddenly
were they bIigh,ed, and how bitter must be
the grief oflhJse who are LETT to mourn!
n. G. TAYLOR was a resident Of Phiadel
phia, was member of the firm of PAUL &
TAYLOR doing business in that city. From
what can be gathered from the papers fouDc
on his person, he was on business tour
through the west. II q had ticket for Chi
cago, about $50 in money aud notes agans
divers persons in the west, amounting tt
over $4,000.
J. McENTIRE belongs in Alliance and was
carpenter by trade. He leaves wife anG
children.
Reason D. ATERHoLT was also carpan.
ter. His home was in Guil(ord, Coumbianc
county, o.
- WATSON was from the same place
end followed the same occupation. They
were honest, substantial citizens.
About fifteen persons were wounded or in
jured in some manner. Four or FIVE, it i;
thought, fatally. Mr. Roof, a celebrated
Daguerrean Artist of Philadel phia, had ;
thigh broken. Doubts are entertained as tc
his recovery.
Not a single person on board the train
from Wellsvile was killed or seriously in
jured. Conductor CLELAND received some
rather severe bsuises, however. But ont
person, Mr.. TAYLOR, on board the Pennsyl
vania train, was killed.
In regard to the cause of the catastrophe
and who is to blame, we are hardly safe ii
Offering un opi3ion. Many concur in charg
ing it upon JOHN CHERRY, engineer of tn
WeIlsvlle train. 1t is said, that the rule
of the c. g. P. road require the engineer o
every train, on approaching Alliance to slac
up and even stop entirely, until assured tha
all is right. This rule was not observed O
the contrary the train came up at speed q
from thirty to forty miles an hour. Ha
the regulations ofthe company been adhere
to, the terrible loss of life might have bee
avoided. Mr.. Cherry has. heretofore bee
regarded as safe and reliable engineer
HIS own statement is, that in consequence
Of some break kege in the machinery he wa
unable to control the engine. II this
frae, he is not in any great degree, culpablc
1t is not we'll to condemn mun too hastily
Better wait until all the facts in the cas-
ure heard and understood.
We have as yet heard no one charge Col
ductor Cleland with any error of conduct
II