The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-03-14
ACCIDENTS UPON RAILROADS.

VOuuSyUWu ~ fTOfeCL HG lLtCeS ana f-TOIgTfi
of The Citizens:
Section !. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Tenncssec-That il
shall be the duty of the engine driver or any
person or persons having the charge of the
running of a locomotive or train upon. any
railroad in this State, to sound or blow the
whistle or ring the bell when approaching any
turnpike or any street crossed by the railroad
in time to give due aud timely notice of the
approaching train To any person or persons
who may be travelling or passing upon sucl,
turnpike road or other public road or street
50 crossed by n railroad.
Sec. .. BE IL further enacted. That in the
event that any person or persons shall through
or BY reason ct any accident or collision han.
pening from the failure or omission Of any
engine driver or other person entrusted witt,
the running of II locomotive or train, to dis.
charge the duty prescribed in the first section
OF this net, be killed; such engine driver or
other person so entrusted with the rnnnin,
of such locomotive or train at the time OF
such accident, shall be guilty. of II felony and
upon conviction thereof shall be coniieed IN
the Pententary House of the State for a
period of not less than three nor more than
twenty one years.
person, or persons shall, through or by rcason
Of any such accident or collision, so happen.
ing from such omission of the duty SO pre-.
scribed, be wounded Or crippled, such engine
driver or other person su entrusted 1T the time
of such accident or collision, with the man.
agement of the locomotive or train shall be
guilty of a felony, and upon conviction there.
of shall undergo confinement in the Peniten.
tInrv Hnusp N fIic State far ;,J L..
than one nor more than ten years.
Sec. a. Belt further endctcd, That the Rail-
road Company in whose employment the en-
rginc driver or other person entrusted with the
running of a locomotive or train, may BE-
when such accident or collision shall happen
from such failure or omission of duty MS
aforesaid shall be responsible for all damages
to persons or property occasioned by or re.
sultng from accident, which damages may bc
recovered by the person or persons injured or
aggrieved, or by their legal representatives.
Sec, 5. BE il further enacted, That the due
and timely notice of the approach of Loco
motive or train, to the crossing of any turn.
pike road or other public road or street, us
contemplated in the first section of this net,
shall be given by the blowing of the whistle
or ringing the bell when the train is not
nearer than one.iourtl, of mile to such
crossing, and continue to blow or ring the
same at short intervals, till the train has
passed the crossing; aud on approaching city
or town by the blowing of the whistle or
ringing the bell when within one mile and
the continuing to blow or ring the same Mt
short intervals till the train has reached its
depot or station; and, on leaving any town or
city by the ringing of the bell when the train
starts and tbp ntinpin,r u, rip,r fl,,,
till the train has passed the corporate limits
OF such city or town.
Sec. 6. BE il further enacted, That the over.
seers OF public roads be required to to put up
signs at the various crossings of the railroads
and said public roads, marked, "Look out for
The cars When you hear The ,ohistie, or beli," and
that the county courts appropriate money TO
detray the expenses of said signs. ANY neg
lcct on the part of any ovcrscer to comply
with this provision shall subject him to pre-.
sentiment or indictment for such neglect, and
he shall be, on conviction, fined in any sum,
not exceeding fifty dollars.
See. Z. BE ii further enacted, The engine
driver shall not be compelled to blow the
whistle - bell ut any road crossing
unless it is so designated rs provided for in
the 9th section of this act.
Sec. 8. Be il further enacted, That all rail.
road companies in this State shall be required
to keep some one upon the Locomotive al.
ways on the look out ahead, and that when
any person, stock, or other distractions shall
appear on said road, it shall be The duty OF
the engineer on said train to blow the alarm
whistle to put down on the breaks and use
all necessary means to stop the trains and
prevent the killing or injuring OF persons
stock or other property.
Sec. 8. BE il further enacted, That any fail.
urc on the part of said Railroad Companies
or their agents 10 perform the duty prescribed
in this act, thee said company shall DO re.
sponsiblc for all damages aecruing or result.
ing from n failure to perform said duty.
See. 10. BE il further enacted, That no rnil.
road company shall be liable for damages or
injury done to persons, stock on their respcc.
tive roads. Ii they shall have complied with
the provisions Of this act, proof of which shall
devolve upon said railroad company.
Sec. ii. BE IL further enacted, That it shall
be the duty of the Governor, when he shall
be officially informed, that an obstruction has
been placed upon any Railroad track in this
State by any person for the purpose Of throw.
ing off the Locomotive or cars, il shall be his
duty TO offer n reward on the part of the
State for the apprehension and conviction OF
the person placing such obstruction upon
said Railroad.
Sec. IL. BE il further enacted, That it any
person shall wantoniy knock down or destroy
any of the sign boards mentioned in the sixth
section of this act, he, she or they shall be
deemed guilty of misdemcanor and on con
victon thereof by indictment or presentment
shall be fined or imprisoned at the discretion
OF the court trying the same.
Who DID RICHARDSON VoTE For !-The
Democratic presses arc hot in their pursni,
Of Fuller for not voting for Speaker, and
charge him with lodging the question. But
they never say n word of Wimot Provisc
Richardson. Who did he vote for upon the
final vote for Speaker? We are also told
that had the whole American vote been cas-
for Mr.. Aiken he would have been elected
This all very well. But suppose the whole
Democratic vote had been cast for him, wOult
he not still have been elected! Banks go
lO3 and Aiken 100. Now let us see how
many Democrats lodged the question. JOIN
Hickman, Democrat, voted for DAME
Wells; Parker, Barclay, Bagly, Craige, Sc
ward, Taylor, all Democrats, fniledto vote 70
some cause, seven in number, any four o
whom could have secured the election o.
Aiken. Upon the last ballot, four Americans
voted for Fuller, and three failed TO vote
Now, then, we ask who il to blame? Th,
plurality rule by which Banks was elected
was introduced by a Democrat, and voted TO