Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-10-31

examinat on, and the court adjourned.
FL. m the Tarboro Enquirer.
Hon. e. ss. RrIdgers-T a o rGs
Branch, x. E..-Eate Accident. &c.
MESsRs. EDITORS Having read
piece in the Tarboro Southerner, re!a-
tive to the construction of the TAI boro
Branch Rail Road, in which it asserts
that Hon. r. R. Bridgers. now Presi-
dent of the W. 4 W. and W. c. Il A.
Rail Roads, had the road run across
the river for >the convenience of his
plantation and that the bridge of the
Branch road &C; oss Tar river, was used
IN transporting the Presidents and n
few of his friends cotton, beg leave
to submit a few remarks {:
First, rs to the construction of the
road At meeting of the stockhold-
ers of the Wi .mington & Weldon Raii
Road Company, held on the 10Th day
of MAY, 1859 tho following resolution
was offered 8 Resolved, that a branch
to the main load of this company he
constructed from such point on such
road between, Rocky Mount Station and
one mile and q half south of the same.
which may be determined by the Pres
ident and Directors of this company,
along the most practicable route, and
a1dssiI7Q 3rithiR q H0If mile or the
northern limits Of the town of tFarboro
near the Redmon Barn, and termlna-
ting at or near the county road leading
from TarhOro to Greenwood at point
between the residences of VIM. l..
Petway and William Braswell. The
resolution was adopted by The follow
ing vote to wit: 6SOS in the affirmative
and ia III the egative-Records W.
{, W. T.. Il. Co. 1853. At this same
time Hon. W. S. Ashe was President
and President Bridgers in no way was
connected with themain road. tits plain
from the above extract from the records
of the company, that Il majority OF
6,094 voters, determined that the road
should run across the river and end
where it does, Notwithstanding it was
near and convenient to President
posed that in ending where it does,
that it would only DC convenient to
President Bridgers' plantation? Or is
it to be supposed that he Influenced"
the location of its terminus, trusting
that some future day he won d have
charge Of the whole W Il W. r. R.,
and then could use this portion of the
road to transport ''bis own and few
of his friends cotton?" Does not it
occur to an unprecedented mind that
the terminus Is as convenient to other
plantations as that of President
Bridgers? The resolution mentioned
above was part of the caption of the
subscription list 70 the branch road,
and the following parties took stock
in the branch road, all of whom owned
land on the south side OF the river,
that is on the same side the terminus
was located, to-wit:
h. Ii. Dichen, 80 shares; G.. L.
Dicken 80: B. Howell 5; Fl. S. Lloyd
so; J. J. W. Powell so; J. s. Long 2;
Erastus Cherry e; s. T. Cherry 1; G.
c. Cherry 2; r. r. Bridgers 80; J.
L. Bridgers 50; J. J. Lawrence 5:
Josiah La renee 3; John Lawrence 5;
5; W. r. Cherry 5; W. S. Long 3;
Benz. Bats 5; w. G. Biggs & Co. 2;
H. 3. Bryan IL: Gray Bryan 5; E. NJ.
Bryan 5: T. G. LYMAN 3; Calvin Jones
5; NJ. G. Jones G; J. ". Knight ); p.
f Knight 2; J. 4. Knight l; L. l..
Savage 5: VIM. Simmons 2; r. A. Saw
age l: Moses T. Savage 9; John W.
Knight 2; John Knight 6; Benz. Mayo
4; Moses Smith Q: II. L. Station 10:
Mayo Worsely 10 Total, 415.
Records ". X W. r. r. Co., 1859.
Here we hare 41J shares represents
ing land beyond the river, and still
President Bridgers had the road to
end there for his own convenience
From the above we conclude that what
was convenient to him was not incon-
venient to thirty-eieht persons-sub-
scrlbers above named-of the 415
shares taken by landowners beyond
the river, 353 were taken on condition
that the road should end near Petways
house, being $50, 300 paid on that con-
dition; this Captain Watson, who col
lected subscription money. we'll re-
President Bridger's influence the road
terminated beyond the river. If this
be so then through his influence the
road waa built. No one will deny that
the Branch road has greatly aided in
developing and increasing the material
wealth Of Tarboro, and brought the
people Of EdGecomhe many conve-
and saved them many a
weary ride to Rocky Mount IN lone
some stage-coach. Why then not feel
gatefrll to President Bridgers for his
exertions in building the
road, rather than arraign him because
the terminus was near fsix miles) his
plantation.
As tothe President S using the bridge
for transporting his cotton, we insert
n communication from Mr.. G. c.
Thomas
TARBoRo', Oct. Dist, 1873.
Hon. Robert L. Bridgers, has sent
cotton across til" bridge ut end of road
only one season since he became Pres
dent of the ". & w r. r., and a
great many others have done the same
md continued to do it.
c. G. THOMAS.
Agent ". & W. r. r.
As to the recent disaster at the bridge
We learn frem the officials of the com
oany that 1t was duly examined and
safe before the engine passed
n 1t, and an examination after the ac-
,ldent, d:scloses the fact that one of
he piles of the bridge had by some
means unknown been dislocated. and
lence the cause of the bridge giving
ray.
We insert q communication from Mr..
Toe Sellers ;, -''
TARBoKo, Oct. 21st, 1873.
When l was about 10 cross the bridge
Where the late accident happened. i
old Gay the fireman of the DUDLEY
lot to cross If he was not ariuing. and
hat had dressed the bridge a week
'efore. He remained in the cab aud
We went on the bridge. when ON the
zap. over the channel of the river, the
ng'ne ran off the rails and caught on
he strIngers of the bridge, the wheels
ept reTolvlng, until the stringers
pened and she fell through to the
'ater. The engine rested on the
trlngers about minute, Mt that time
called to Gay and told him to lump.
ut he would not jump, and We fell
nth the engine. - -.....r..,. - F. ..
10. SELARs,
Engineer of the Dudley"
We conclude that the disaster was
q act Of Rrovidence, and did not hap
en- because it vas near President
rdgers phantom, and he and a few
lends used the bridge in transport