Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-08-30

RAILROAD DDTsAsTER-CoRoEER's ISoUEsT-
The ENGINEER, FIREMAN AND COsDUcToR
CULPAsLE-Last Thursday afternoon, Mr..
Erastus Hekok, Of Sheffield, and Mr.. Chas.
Bishop, of Ridgeville, were instantly killed
at the point where the Plank Road crosses
the C. T. Railroad, in Carlisle. Tho cir
cumstances attending this painful casualty,
as far as we could ascertain them, we gave
at the time. We take the following ac-
count of it from the Elyris Democrat:
"Mr. HekOk, with his son and son-in-law,
were driving some cattle from LsGrangs,
and when within half mile or less of the
railroad, Mr.. Bishop came along in a buggy,
and invited Mr.. II. to ride with him 10
Elyria He at first declined, but finally ac-
eepted the invitation, and the two started
for this place. When crossing the railroad
track the buggy was struck by the express
train which left Cleveland at 2:40 P N
and both were almost instantly killed. As
soon as possible the train was stopped and
backed up to the crossing, when the bodies
of both the men were found in nearly an
upright position, on the iron platform at
the head of tho boiler. Mr.. Bishops head
was terribly crushed, and he must have
died instantly. Mr.. Hekok was alive, but
senseless, and died in few minutes.
The buggy was crushed into fragments
md us aurse, tho celebrated stallion.
"May Duke" the best horse in the county,
had the entire hoof of one hind foot cut off,
but was otherwise uniDjured.
Statements differ as to the facts OF the
collision, and the exact truth may never be
known. The train could be seen approach
ing for quite distance, and whether Mr.
Bishop was deceived in the distance and
attempted TO cross before it came up, OF
whether the horse became unmanageable,
and rushed across of his own volition, may
meyer be known with certainty. Mr. Hekok
was wealthy farmer, one of the pioneers
of Sheffield, and a citizen Of most estima-
BILE character. Mr.. Bishop, the owner Of
MAY Duke" vas widely known and high
ly esteemed by all his acquaintance. An
inquest was held on the body of Mr. Bishop.
E 6. johnson, Esq, acting as coroner, and
the testimony Of several persons In the VI
cinity, at the time of the accident was taken.
The verdict will be found below Neither
the engineer, Mr. Chas. Steele, or the fire
man, were resent at the inquest. As they
are censured by the jury, it may be proper
to say that they claim, as we learn, that the
bell was ringing when the buggy was first
seen near the track. Ifany doubt exists as
to the culPsbility OF any of the officers of
the train, It is due to them and 70 the pub
lie, that the facts be sscertained BY a more
thorough investigation.
The intelligence of the disaster excited a
thrill of horror wherever 1t was repeated.
and the officers Of the train should court an
investigation 70 relieve them from the in
putation Of negligence, if they are inno-
cent Mr.. Bishop was buried on SATURDAY..
and Mr. Hekok on Sunday last. The fol-
lowing is the concluding portion Of the YER
dict Of the jury:
We do further find that the said Charles
Bishop came to his death from and through
tbs carelessness and negligence OF the en-
gineer, fireman and con Iuctor in charge Of
said train whose names are unknown to us
said persons having failed to give anT
alarm whatever Of the approach Of the
train until after TIE collision.