The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-01-06
Railroad Mismanageme emf.
The Editor of The Transcript :

can in which the apparent indifference
to human life betrayed by managers
of railroad corporations. throughout
the country was discussed with great
frankness and force.
To-day, | have a. story to relate of
experience in our own intermediate To-
cahty which has excited no inconsid-
cradle interest and feeling among our
townsmen. 1t is here now put upon
record, in hopes that the mischief
complained Of for years past may be
speedily removed before lives are lost,
and families are compelled to mourn
over great and sudden calamity caused
by culpable indifference on the part of
railroad officials.
On Monday evening, January 2nd
1865, Mr.. Levi Newcomb and family
with two ladies Mrs. William Locke
and Mrs. L. Med. Smith together with
the driver of an omnibus sleigh and
Mr.. Charles Atwood eight in all
approached on Champlain Street the
Depot Grounds from the West on their
way to attend social party at Acad-
envy Hall On approaching the rail-
road crossing the driver stopped his
team to see if the way was clear. The
only obstruction then visible in the
thick darkness was the moving light
of an engine which was seen coming
from the South at a proper distance
to warrant driving the horses safely
across the different tracks on Cham
plain Street.
Immediately after the horses start
ed, the head of the off horse was struck
by train of cars in rapid motion
which had not been previously discov-
cred and of whose approach they had
received no warning by the ringing Of
a bell or the sounding of whistle
This blow from the cars caused the
| frightened horses to sheer off to the
left and this brought the Omnibus
sleigh parallel with the rapidly NOV
ing Cars and so nigh rs to permit the
inmates of the sleigh to touch the cars
with their hands if they had strength
or courage to do so in the midst of
their awful danger
The night was dark The gas lamps
on the depot grounds were, from econ
omy's sake on the part of the railroad
Company, or some other cause. not
lighted. No fiagmen or other official
was then and there present to lift a
warning voice or to give warning
signal. And these persons rode on
into the very jaws of death and did not
realize their dreadful danger until by
almost miracle, their lives were
saved from sudden destruction.
After the immediate and frightful
danger was over, the passengers in
the sleigh were overwhelmed with at
tentions from persons with lighted
lanterns who expressed their great
surprize at their escape from being
crushed to death by the moving train
of cars
What aggravates the matter is the
fact that Mr. Atwood enquired at the
Station-house before going down after
the party, if there would be time for
him to go to and return from Mr..
Newcombs and Mr.. Smiths houses
before there would be any movement
of the train, and he was told there
would be. This reply gave Mr.. At
wood and the driver confidence that
the way would be clear of all obstruct-
ion on their return.
In view of this narrow escape, it is
due to the public that it should
insist that their rights should be re-
spected The railroad managers
should be required to keep their gas
lamps burning on dark nights. The
station-agent should be required to
take proper care of the crossing while
the trains are in, and a careful watch
should be maintained to prevent dan
ger to the lives and property of trav-
ellers from the running of trains on the
public highway. Whether this should
be done by the erection of gate or
the employment of q suitable member
of discreet and reliable faginen it is
not for me to determine.
But be the best mode of preventing
danger what it may be the expense
of lighting these gas lamps what it
may, or the wages of the fagmen
what they may it is not of the
slightest account when compared with
human life.
In the case above related, three nearly
entire families might have been
swept into eternity in consequence of
what would seem to be gross negli-
gence on the part of the managers of
! the Vermont Central and Sullivan