Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-01-10
The Central Railroad Collision.
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT FONTAINE.
OFFICE VIRGINIA CENTRAL Il. r. Co.
Rinh1nnnd Iannnr1r 1SGI

LETTER FROM PRESIDENT FONTAlAE.
OFFICE VIRGINIA CENTRAL Il. r. Co.
Richmond, January /, 1857.
To the Editor Of tie Wing,
Gentlemen-I agree with you that there
should be no suppression of facts connected
with the late disaster on this road, and if
you will allow me little space in your pa
per, will throw some light on the subject.
The correspondence with Mr.. Hunter,
and the letter of dismissal to Mr.. Timber
lake explain themselves.
AS to the charge that have persisted in
continuing the present place of meeting at
Melton's, against the remonstrances of every
one concerned, the facts are, that when first
established the impression of the Board was
against it, but on careful consideration
they became satisfied that there were many
advantage avoiding-1st. Confusion with
baggage, resulting from three trains being
together. I'd. Passengers taking the wrong
ears, as they have frequently done. Sd.
Danger from the moving backwards and for
wards of three locomotives among the crowd,
besides others, needless now to mention. =
But the most important was the saving of
starting later from Richmond. and
compelled to return sooner, there was not
time for the trip to be made, up and down,
without running 8 miles in one hour and
So minutes. Without going into tedious
details, the old arrangement required arri-
val at Gordonsville at 10 10 A. NJ, and
the present allows until 10 45 to reach Mel
toms, giving a longer time to run shorter
distance.
On the 9th of December, four Directors
being present, the Board unanimously adop-
ted the following resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the present arrangement
for the passenger trains to pass each other
at Melton's Turnout is approved
A true copy
From the Minutes of the Board.
c. J. +. NETHERLAND, Clerk.
At the same meeting they appointed a
committee, consisting of the Superintendent
President, and Mr. William Overton, to
prepare schedule for reducing speed, in re-
Spouse to a resolution of the Board of Pub
lie Works. The rule adopted under this
appointment for regulating the meeting at
Notions, is as follows, being the 9th rule,
which Mr.. Hunter states, underwent the re-
vision and correction of the Superintendent:
Rule 3. 1.-The up and down day mails
meet at Motions, according to the within
schedule In case of either failing to do So
from accident or other cause, in such case
the up train will wait at Melton's for the
down train until II 20 \. NJ, and Hea 90
on, and in the event the down train shall
not arrive at Gerlonsyille by Ii 80 \. NJ,
the up train will then go on "
If this rule is not plain, it certainly is not
my fault, as Mr.. Hunter says, in his answer
to my letter which accompanies, that left
Mr. Timberlake examining the schedule,
and his attention was called to this very
rule the latter clause of which was actually
amended on that occasion, and | requested
him to make any other he thought proper,
JW it wos plain-if the train going up was
ordered to $50 on" at IL 20, the one COM
ing DOM could not safely leave unless it
had time to reach Mctton's before II 20, but
as I said, if it was not plain enough, left
it to the Superintendent to make it so.
Before the dismissal of the Superintend-
ent, requested him to ascertain which of
the conductors failed to notice the rule. He
gave me no information, being willing,
suppose, that both should be considered
blameless-a state of facts, which | agree
with you cannot be reconciled with reason.
Since the removal of the superintendent
which I may be allowed here to say, was a
most painful duty have become satisfied
that the failure to attend to the rule was with
Mr. Swift, who will be suspended from duty.
1t is, however, due to Mr.. Swift, who has
been known for long time in this commu-
nifty as sober, industrious, faithful officer,
as we'll as respectable gentleman, to state
at this time that, whilst he acknowledges
that in his anxiety to save the mail, he was
running his time little too close, yet that
he would have gone through safe, but that
after he had got under way, some one with
out authority rung his bell and stopped his
train, and thus he lost time enough to have
got through, but in the confusion attending
the stop he failed to notice the loss Of time.
deeply regret the necessity of asking to
occupy public attention with this subject ;
but it is necessary, and you will greatly
oblige by publishing this and the accompa-
nying papers. Very respectfully,
Il. FONTAINE, pros't.