Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1853-01-20
OPENING CELEBRATION
BALTIMORE & Ohio RAILROAD.

Departure from Camberlaad- Passage Orer and
illumination ef the MonHtaiss ty Yigks-Ar-
rifaLat Piedmont and Fairatuaf - Enthusiastic
Greetings 0snng1li Roafe-Accideat ii Maa
: His.sfan - Desag-Arrfral IF Cor. I.ors-A
Coed Time Progress 10 Wheeiiag-Disap-
poinfneni dere-G Grad Taraout DE-.
WHEELING Jan. IL l0P. NJ.
At aziitile past 10 o'clock last night, we started
from Cumberland and passing over The siadact
At Wills creek. were soon dashing through The
gorges Of the Aeganies.
The party al Cumberland had been placed in
three trains The FIST under capt. Owens, the &c
| cand ander Cap Rawlings, and the third under
] Capt. Bryson, with Messrs. Brown, Cole Boil
/ man and Tegueyer as general supervisors.
Il was a matter ofregret that the datknesstof
the night prevented us IRON enjoying tie spies.
1 did mountain scenery and Inspecting he trestle
work OF The bridges and the tunnels Throughout,
the route. We were not, however. left in tog&
darkness, as all along the heavy grades, for huklt
dreds OF miles, meah had been stationed TO keep Up
fires, at distances Of hall mile apart, iluminat-
/ ing the road and mountain, and producing the
most magnificent effect ever beheld.
| Al3oclock this morning we reached Piedmocl,
= passed Fetierman, at The junction Of the NTH
western Turnpike At o'clock, and rapid 8wend.
4 ing our way through the valley Of the Alononsa.
haa, reached Farmont at about o'clock.
|
greet us and tender Us tho hos pitalities OF lie
4 place. The passengers were in short time ia.
ken possession Of by these hospitable people, and
furnished with hearty breakfasts, the private
houses being thrown open for their accemmoda.
ton Mr.. James Qugg took charge OF the Off
GERS the road and your correspondent, and sery.
ed up breakfast which would lave reflected
credit upon The best hotels "a Baltimore. Our
apPetiles had been well sharrered by a cold ride
flas aius
say we did amrl justice TO the boun,iful repast.
The oihcr passengers were also well provided for.
Ahef breakfast the Blues Band treated the
! ctizcns Of Fairmont to few of their musical
selections, and at o'clock the firsttraln started
for Wheeling This was followed in few min
utes by the second train, leaving the third train
Ito wait for Governor Lowe, who was momenta-
! ry expected in the night train from Baltimore.
TIE mayor and many citizens now swelled the
numbers OF the excursonists.
AT GAINESVILLE, Barracksville, Pennington,
Mannington and Begun Station, which we sue
5 cessfully passed, the people had assembled sin
great numbers, and welcomed us enthusiastically
+. Tie road after leaving Farmont passes Tor about
twenty miles through the valley Of Buffalo creek,
whici, stream il crosses no less than seyen'times
in that distance. The country is a sheep gov
ing region, and furnishes delicious mountain
mutton in abundance. $
a h About 10 o'clock Hhan near Mannington an
acclaen. vrcut,vo, which but Tor the presence o.
e mind ofthe engineers, might have proved fatal in
: in It's consequence. Ia going round heavy
! carve about halt mile in length on the banks
4 Of Buffalo creek, al in eeva'i0lre 2 feet from
the water the axle OF tie tender Of the first loco
motive broke, throwing The tender on the side
ofihe track. This threw tie second locomotive
off the track, the engineer and bremen, alter re-
d yersing The action jumping off and escaping IN
hurt. Engineer Robert Morris, on the FIRST To-
connective, stuck mamully 10 his pest and succeed
i ed in checking the brain and preventing the sec
ond locomotive from going down the bank
: he train and passengers were thus safely Sc.
: cured the brakesmen being all al their posts, aGc
t nothing but slight jar was experienced. The
y secc nd and third excursion trains, followed BY
the morning train under Captain Hoover, lsooI
came up, and the cats were all pushed back tc
! Pennington, whilst the locomotives passed aheat
ii to assist in clearing The track. Msssrs. Boil
man, Brown Cole Latrobe and the conductors
assisted by Major Trimble, summoned and or
gained about 100 aborers from the line IF tht
road, and having all necessary implements a
& hand, succeeded, after a-de{ay OF four hours 7
I The accident was caused BY the effect Of tht
- recent heavy rains on3the clayey foundation o
. the track The trains were proceeding slowl,
e and cautiously atthe time, on account otthe ba,
y condition OF the track, otherwise serious disas
s. ter might have occurred.
IS Whilst waiting Tor the removal Of the OBJ
! structon, the mail train conveying Gov Lows
= arrived, a circumstance which gave great salts
u faction.
!. Dinner was speedily served up in the refresh
;, -ment cars and hilari;y and good humor pre-
q yalled,notw ithslandng the delay and disappoint
ment.
AT two o'clock ,all things being in readiness
the trains were again put in motion, aud the mai
train from the east Being allowed to pass ahead
your correspondent deserted the excurtionsts
:, = and is indebted to Captain Hoover for landing
: him safe in Wheeling, some two or three hour;
: ID advance OF the excursion trainsl | lett then
II at Warrington, 50 miles from Wheeling, and be
d You'd the Great Pettibone Tunnel Hill, in cross
= ing which they will be delayed several hours
y Although This Tunnel, when completed, will be
y only hall mile through, it now takes an hou
/. and.a quarter to pass car over, The car:
I, I, are worked up and down the sides Of steer
mountain by means Of rocking 10 and fro or
!. 4 tracks shaped like the letter Y The grade is
il 500 feet TO the mile, and the achievement is one
n OF the greatest triumphs oiscience. The TUNE
will be completed in about six weeks, a large
force being employed.
On reaching Wheeling in the express train,
:, found many houses Illuminated, and the rreat
\ Wheeling bridge, coveted with lights, presented
: very handsome spectacle A large crowd was
Id>eNloleu n rue depoi, VINO loudly CheeTed the
mail passengers, installing them Tor the excur.
!. sonisis Capt Hoover thinks it will be after
: midnight before both trains reach Wheeling
: Great preparations were made here, and large
! crowds OF people, with the military from Steu
benyille, have been waiting all thu afternoon fol
their yisiters. They are greatly disappointed
and the military have returned home TIE coun.
try people are moving off likewise
SECOND DESPATCH
WHEELING, Jan Ii, II, NJ
The Mcclure house is thronged with citizens.
awaiting the arrival of the excursionists Large
numbers OF strangers are here from Cincinnati,
Louisville and other points on the river learn
that the city has been in great state Of excite
ment all day. The streets were througed with
ladies all the afternoon, waiting tae arrival Of
the cars
All the hotels are full The Mcclure House
has been reserved for the accommodation Of The
guests Of the Company.
,, A military and civic procession was 10 wit
ing until dispersed by the rain, which is now fall
ing heavily
Pickpockets abound. and three were arrested
al the Mcclure House to night, caught 10 the
UP to this hour there are no signs Of the train.
THIRD DESPATCH.
WHEELIxG, Jan. IL, i2J, p. NJ.
There are no tldngs Of the cars Vet, but no
anxiety Is fell regarding thair safety. There are
20 cars 10 the train, and 10 the darkness il viii