Posted on: Niagara Co. NY Obituaries Board URL: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/NY/NiagaraObits?read=16 Surname: Weston ------------------------- The following newspaper article details the accident which led to John Weston's death in 1855. It was published in the Nov. 23 1855 Rochester Evening Union. John's family lived in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, NY at the time of his death. CITY MATTERS ----- FRIDAY EVENING, November 23. ----- ANOTHER RAILROAD ACCIDENT - Two Men Instantly Killed -We are compelled to record the particulars of another Railroad accident attended with fatal results. The Express train which left this city yesterday for Niagara Falls at 4:45 p.m., met with an accident when eight miles west, in Gates. It is supposed that a piece of the flange of one of the forward wheels of the tract under the locomotive broke off and thus displaced the engine from the track. The engine was the "W.W. Cocoran,'' the engineer John Weston. The train was running over 30 miles per hour, but the instant the accident occurred the engineer gave the signal to brake. The locomotive after leaving the track plowed its way along for several rods and then fell over the embankment fifteen feet high. When the engine turned over it is supposed that the engineer and the fireman fell off and were crushed beneath its ponderous weight: after which it rolled still farther down the bank and left their mangled remains on the ground where they were killed. All was apparently the work on an instant. The tender and baggage car followed the engine down the declivity but fortunately the passenger cars kept the road and passed by the scene of the disaster. No passenger was injured in the slightest particular. the baggeman, Geo. Root, remained in the baggage car and was slightly bruised by the falling trunks. Mr. Mark Wells the conductor of the train states that when he heard the signal given to brake the brakeman immediately applied the brakes soon after which there was a slight jar or concussion and that the cars soon became still. He jumped off the cars - after speaking to the passengers to quiet their fears - and ran back to the spot where the engine, tender and baggage car lay, and there found a sad sight to look upon. The fireman, Wm. Buchanan, lay upon the ground dead, and near him Mr. Weston, the engineer. Mr. Wells raised Mr. Weston's head and spoke to him. The poor man gave no answer but turned his head and gasped. He was immediately carried into a passenger car but was quite dead when examined. A messenger was dispatched to the city on horseback and a --ine was sent up to the scene of the disaster immediately, and with it was Coroner Quin, who took charge of the bodies and brought them to the city for examination. The engine was left a perfect wreck having rolled once and a quarter over. The tender and baggage car were clear of the track which was not injured. The passenger coaches were brought back to a branch and then taken on by train which went up at half past eight. The down train from the Falls was behind time over one hour to the city, but was not detained by the accident. The bodies of the two unfortunate men were kept at the Depot all night, and their late associates lost no time in putting them in decent order for internment. Good coffins and grave clothes were provided and nothing was left undone which might in any degree tend to lessen the anguish of afflicted friends when the remains should be conveyed to the homes so suddenly desolated. We noticed among others who devoted themselves exclusively to the performance of these kind acts, Mr. R.K. Lothridge This morning, Coroner Quin called a jury and held and inquest. The testimony of Mr. Wells, the Conductor, was first given and was substantially what we have stated above. A brakeman testified to finding a piece of broken wheel, and the jury came to the conclusion that the cause of the accident was as stated. The body of Mr. Weston was injured mostly above the lower part of the abdomen. The injury to Mr. Buchanan was on the head, and so most of the brain mutilated, his death must have been instantaneous. the jury found a verdict as follows. "That John Weston and William Buchanan came to their deaths by the accidental breaking of a flange of a forward wheel of the truck of engine "W.W. Corcoran" thereby throwing it off the track." Mr. Weston was a man about 30 years of age, and formerly resided at East Albany. He has, however, been in the employment of the Central company for several years and was universally esteemed by his companions and friends. He leaves a wife and two children residing at Niagara Falls. Mr. Upton went last night to convey the sad intelligence to the widow and ascertain what disposition shall be made of the remains. The faithfulness of the engineer to his duty at the moment of danger is attested by the passengers and a Mr. Gilkeson, of New York, circulated a subscription paper among them for the benefit of his widow and children. The sum of $130 was raised on the spot. Mr. Buchanan was an unmarried man about 23 years old. His parents reside in this city and have for many years. As he was their main dependence, his death will be peculiarly afflicting. He was a worthy young man. At the conclusion of the inquest, his body was taken to his father's residence on or near State street. Coroner Quin prepared the following resolution last evening and circulated it among the passengers of the train, by whom it was adopted. It is signed by E.L. Taylor, Columbus, Ohio; F.T. Stow, Fulton, Oswego co; S. Zimmermann, Niagara Falls, C.W. and EP. Minot, Boston; C.G. Haven, New York and John Fisk, Niagara City. "Resolved, That the thanks of the passengers on this train be presented to the friends of the deceased, for the faithful adhesion of the deceased to us in the hour of danger, and for staying on the engine to the end." This is one of that class of railroad accidents against which ordinary human foresight could not guard. The engine was a good one, apparently in perfect order, and the treacherous wheel which caused the accident had been in use long enough to be fairly tested. The track was straight where the calamity occurred and is laid with combination rail, we believe. It is as fine a piece of road as the New York Central Company own and if trains cannot make the speed of 30 miles per hour there with safety, they cannot on any part of the road, or on any other railroad in the country.