St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-10-26
War Between the South Eastern and
Passumpsic R. r.

EdSSuIupSlC ID. II.
ARREST AND RELEASE OF A. B. FOSTER.
NEWPORT, VT, Oct. 81. At an early
hour this morning an engine and two
passenger cars with Col. A. B. Foster,
Jas. o. Hulloran, E. Foster, Col. Duns-
worth, E. II. Golf, Superintendent of
the Chambly Railroad, and full board
of the Directors of the Southeastern
Railroad, and gang of workmen on
board, arrived at North Troy and COM
menced tearing up the railroad track at
point about one mile north of North
Troy village and just across the Cana
dian border, Ostensibly for the purpose
of repairing the track, but really for the
purpose of regaining possession of the
Southeastern Railroad, which was held
by the Passumpsic Railroad undera lease
already expired.
By the conditions of the lease, which
was made at the time of the building of
the road some three years since, the
Passumpsic was to control the same and
was to keep percentage of the receipts
to pay off loan which it had made the
Southeastern during it's construction,
the percentage to be paid to Col. A. B.
Foster, the builder of the road. Trouble
has for some time been brewing be-
tween Col. Foster and the managers of
the Passumpsic, relative to a settlement
of accounts between the parties, the
Passumpsic managers refusing to pro-
duce their books and show the receipts
of the road. Col. Foster last Friday
met President Raymond of the Pas
sumpsic at Newport to adjust the ac-
counts.
Shortly after his arrival he was placed
under arrest on civil debt really due
from the Southeastern Railroad, and
which was only for the sum of twenty
seven dollars, and in default of bail was
taken to Jail at Irasburg, neither Presi-
dent Raymond nor L. Robinson, a di-
offer to furnish bail. AT the Jail he was
not placed in the comfortable quarters
usually assigned to debtors, but was
thrown into filthy cell which had been
previously occupied by Hayden, the
wife-murderer. Colonel Foster was,
however, released the same evening,
friends from North Troy furnishing the
required bail. His arrest is considered
IA job to defer the adjustment of the
accounts. Upon Col. Fosters release
he proceeded directly to Montreal,
where a meeting of the directors was
had, and a vote taken to make repairs
on the road near North Troy. Accord
ingly, on the arrival of the northern
bound express train at West Farnham
Saturday night, Col. Foster and the di-
rectOrs of the road took possession of
the train, and early this morning pro-
ceeded to North Troy, where several
rods of track have been torn up and
work commenced. This places them
in complete possession of the road, with
the exception of about twelve miles be-
tween North Troy and Newport.
1t is understood that trains will be
run as usual between North Troy and
Montreal, but the connection between
Boston and Montreal is broken. Super
intendent Folsom of the Passumpsic
states that all trains over the portion of
the road now under their control will
be cancelled, and mails will be carried
by team between Newport and North
Troy, from whence the Southeastern
morning mail will carry through as
usual. Travel over this route must
come to standstill till satisfactory set
Element of the difficulties between the
two roads has been had, which will
probably consume some time. Foster
and party returned to Montreal this
afternoon, leaving, however, gang of
men at work and posse of policemen
under the supervision of High Sheriff
Pickle of Sweetsburgh, commissioned
to make arrests if any disturbance is
made. The rails which have been taken
up have been removed to Richford for
safe keeping. President Raymond and
officers of the Passumpsic are expected
to meet the Southeastern managers at
North Troy Monday morning, when
negotiations will be had. Excitement
prevails all along the line and crash
is expected. 1t is understood that the
Central Vermont is in sympathy with
the Southeastern aud are furnishing
assistance.