The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-01-01
The AIliance Accident.

ea befoft h-md2isQdtes OueIFy petthtlee
the evidence taken before the Cosoner's
Jury to be used, and gave bail in sosVtol /
appear at Canton at the next term Of Court.
The Cleveland q Pittsburgh Railroad
Company have commenced an action against (
ihs Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago
Company for placing distractions on the
track of plaintiffs rUsd, BY which suit the |
question ustO which company waSin fault
will be made.
We give below ON affidavit made by Cher
~ relative to the matter which appears
candid and Straightforward. We nre glad
to know that after the first ebulitien Of has
ty prejudice, a reaction took place in the
sentiment at Alliance, and that now both
sides are seen. Z srslaa g.. sas, sE
STATEMENT OF JOHN CHERRY, |
was the engineer on the engine New
PhiIsdelphia. Of the Express train Of the
Cleveland g. Pittsburgh Railroad, from
Wellsville to Cleveland. on the evening OF
December 9Th, 1855 We took wood md
water at Bayard, tweIve Hiles south ofsAl-
lance; and Though did not look at my
watch, believe left Buynrd on time. The
running lime from Bayard 10 Alliance, by
the time table, was twenty five minutes, and
| run the distance with the same uniform
speed that he'd always prcviou ly DONE
Before arriving at the whistling post, but
the exact place cannot now tell, for my
attention was not directed TO that point, |
took out my watch end saw 1hatI had two
minutes to run TO AlIiance,' and which was
all the time needed under our rules, AT the
whistliag post south of the road crossing,
whistled for the station; and the same whis.
tie is used both for the road crossing end
the station. After whlsting, shut off steam.
ran just north Of the road crossing, which
! is about eighty rods south OF the station,
when, finding the speed OF the train was snot
checked, | whistled down breaks. After
whiStling down breaks, looked ahead and
saw by the headlight of the engine of the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Rail.
road, and the hand,lamp' about the platform
OF the station house, that the track was clear
The engine Of that road standiny still, as
supposed, north of the old depot building,
and east Of the Cleveland Il Pittsburgh Rail
road track. saw across the platform Of
that building, and saw the engine as far back
US the cab; cannot say that the train Of that
road was not in motion, but | believe it was
standing still. then saw that my train was
not going 10 stop where it us0iliy did, and
whistled down brakes second time. This
was just north Of the cattle eu1rd, perhaps
! half the length Of my train. Iran with my
side window open and my head outside the
window; but each time on taking hold Of my
whistle rope, drew my head inside Of the
cab. AS soon NJ I whistIed down brakes
the second time, got offmy seat, drew back
my cut off, took hold Of my reverse lever and
hauled it over, aud again booked ahead -
: | then saw, for the first time, that the train
(, on that road was ehssing across the track oI
the Cleveland and Pittsburgh road, aud, as
near as can Judge, about twenty 70 Is aliead
Of me. believe il wasltheir baggag &c car
which Ifirst saw on, the track. As soon as
I saw their train across the track, | opened
the throttie 10 my engine and gave il steam
under the reverse motion, III order, If posi-
BILE 10 stop it; but The driving wheels slid on
the raiE'' My object in reversing my engine
was to bring il to stop, under the rule, be
fore crossing the track Of the Pittsburgh
! Fort Wayne & Chicago r liroud have
no recollection Of ever crossing the track oI
that road without frst comming to stop
while running passenger train; and had
always previously stopped the passenger
trains without reversing the engine. When
drawing heavy freight trains, have scrne.
times reversed the engine at that point, in
order to stop, as required BY the rule.
never crossed the track but once with d
: freight train without coming to stop, since
the rule was adopted, and then the train was
moving no faster than a person would walk
and the conductor notified me, by motion
that the track WINS clear.
Il do think that my engine was running
moro than twelve miles an hour nt the time
of the collision; and | believe that to be
above the actual speed. na.
J Whether the brake upon the tender wGe
set or mi, do no know. From the time
saw the Plttsbnrgh, For, Wayne g. Chica.
go train upon the Cleveland g. Pittsburgh
track, kept one hand upon the reverse lev
or and the other upon the throttle OF my en-
gine, bolding them in their plaecs. until the
engine stopped had no time nor oppor.
tuoity to do anything more. @ 81
! After the collision remained on or about
the engi.!e from twenty to thirty minutes
before left; nor did think of leaving until
my lie had been frequently threatened in
my presence, nor until had been advised
to leave several times. On first starting,
went nearly up to the freight depot of the
cleveland g. Pittsburgh Railroad Company
and then turned about and went part way
back, determined not to leave at all, becausc
was conscious of having done my duty
!, md had in no way contributed by any care
lesshc.~s IT mine, to the terrible catastrophe
but | met wiz the Waichman ofthe Ceye.
land g. Pi.sburgn y2nd. who took hold o
me, and said it would not awsrer for me tt
i 60 back, and offered to conceal nlc in hi'
own house. | declined his offer, went north
toLima, the next station, and took the train
4 for Cleveland. y.s
I These are The facts. What measure o
blame should be meied out tu me. others mus
Judge. JOHN CHERRY.
STATE OF ONO, 4
\ CuYATIoGA Co., IS.
4 Personally appeared said John Cherry
who being first duly sworn, says that the
statement by him above subscribed, is true
in sub stance andi fact. 3. i.n4,3!slr
Sworn toby John Cherry before me, onc
lsby him ~ubsribed in my presence, this It'll
day of December, 1856. IN
4 (Seal) T.. r. CHASE, Notary Public. !
f. SHAKsrEARE;si HOUSE, Recent Englisl