Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-21
Another One.

The Chelsea stage accident gave II SEN
sational correspondent, who used to devote
himself to imaginary Montpelier news, an
opportunity for the most accurate version
of any Vermont occurrence we have ever
seen from his pen. This correspondent is
improving, but the folks over Chelsea way
don't seem to appreciate his method, us
will be seen from the following letter of
Mr.. Austin of Chelsea, which we take
from the Boston Journal of Monday:
In your issue of March u there appear
ed letter signed by Morton" giving an
account of IN accident to stage coach
running between this place and South Roy
alton, which account is so Incorrect in
some of its statements that in justice to
the driver of the stage, if to no one else, Il
correction should be made.
Owing to the bare ground the stage and
other teams had been running on wheels
about week before the accident happen
ed, The night before the 9th it had rain
ed nearly all night, and it rained hard at
the time the stage started from Chelsea
the next morning. The load consisted of
eight passengers: Judge Perpoint of YER
gennes, Judge Royce of st. Adams, Judge
Ross of st. Johnsbury, Hon. j. w. Rowoll
of West Randolph, D. A. Rogers, Esq, of
Wells River, and young man named
Madgctt being in the inside; Boston
runner named Stone and myself, who oc-
oupied seats outside with the driver.
We started ahead of time, having about
three hours to make the twelve miles, and
were going at II slow trot at the time OF
the accident The wheels of the coach were
running in the same rut that the travel had
been in since wheeling had commenced.
At u point nearly at the foot of the hill the
earth and snow had been undermined by
the water running in the road, and gave
way as the wheels came on, and the coach
tipped oyer on to the snow in the ditch, the
snow being nearly level with the travelled
track of the road. The horses at the call
of the driver Immediately stopped and
stood quiet The driver, Mr.. Stone and
myself fell from the stage in heap upon
the snow. The driver asked Mr.. Stone 10
take the leaders by the bit, which he did
but the horses showed no signs Of being
frightened, and did not try to run. Mr.
Stone did not jump off the coach quick as
tlash'' when he asccrlained that it was
going over, but on the contrary fell off as
I the wagon went over, he and the driver
falling on top of me. None of the passen-
gers were hurt that was aware of. re-
ceived no "severe bruise upon my body
nor ga heavy strain of the neck nor did
receive any injury whatever. Judge Pier
point did not show signs of fninting rs
saw, and when | last saw him, about three
o'clock in the afternoon of the same day,
he was as well rs usual to all appearance,
no bad effects having resulted from the
accident.
do not think Mr.. Volk, the owner Of
the team, who was driving ut the time
was at all to be blamed, as, with the con
dition Of the road it was something that
could not be foreseen. Being in the travel
ed part of the road he had reason to sup
pose it to be as safe as it had been on pre-
vious trips. 70 say that Mr.. Volk is ill.,
competent to drive team is doing him a
great injustice. He is considered II per-
fectly reliable, steady man, and entirely
competent to drive any team in use on
roads hereabouts. was present with the
rest of the passengers from the time of the
accident until we reached South Royalton,
and heard no one blame the driver.
Your correspondent says, That he was
informed that the gentleman who rode up.
on the seat with the driver rode with him
the night before and considered him so in.
competent to drive that he would not ride
in the inside of the coach on his return.
Now the fact is, this gentleman did not ge
on the stage until it was full on the inside
so that he could not do otherwise than he
did if he had desired.
Having myself been Il passenger on tho
outside seat with the driver lin The drcnch
ing rain" at the time of the accident, anc
feeling that it was due to Mr.. Nolk, have
given Il statement of the facts us under
stand them.
Chelsea, VT, March II, 1877.