Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-12
NORFOLK AND WESTERN
ANSWERS CRITICISMS
Colonel w. s. Battle, Jr., Explains
Why Troop Train Was Held
at Petersburg.
ALL TELEGRAPH LINES DOWN
without Means OF Communication,
Militia Special Could Not Go Over
Single Track Until Refugee Trains
Arrived In Petersburg.

Answering criticism Of the Norfolk
ana Western Hallway because of de-
lays In handling the emergency troop
rain between Richmond and Hope
veil on Thursday night an authorized
statement Was issued yesterday by
Colonel W. $. Battle. Jr.. an official
o' IN" Norfolk and Western system.
colonel Battle with other officials Of
the company, has been at IIopewcl and
petersburg since the fire, giving per-
sohal attention to the railroad sitna-
tion
The statement follows in full:
i notice in The Times Dispatch OF
inns morning 4 criticism of the delay
10 the special train handling troops
en- route TO Iiopewcll on December 9
My Information is that the ar
ranGcments for the movement Of this
troop train We're perfected in Rich
mond about o'clock l.. VI Of that
date: Some time after T.. NJ. the
Norfolk and Western Office in Peters
burg was notified Of this train which
was delivered TO the Norfolk and
Western by the Atlantic Coast Line "A,
G;35 l.. 81, December .
ALL TELEGRAPH AND
TELEPHONE LINES DOWN
on account OF the fire at lIopewclL
al! railway, telephone and telegraph
communication was cut Off at 4:lO t.
NJ T"o regular Norfolk and Western
passenger trains were due to arrive at
Petersburg from iiopcwelI "a, G:o5
u. NJ ON account Of no com,nunica-
ton with iI"pcwell. it was i.npossi-
Die 10 arrange the movement Of an
extra train opposing these regular
passenger train movements from Hone
well and there was nothing that could
be done until these iopcweu trains
had cleared the track, which was al
$40 u. NJ
from Hopewcll were blocked. not only
with passenger trains bringing ont
refugees. but with freight trains
loaded and empty. which had been
pulled away from the fire zolc which
fire destroyed the freight station. pas
seheer station ana express Office Of
this company The two regular pas
sengcr trains due 10 reach Petersburg
at 625 +. NJ. We're delayed at Iiope-
We'll on account Of being blocked by
hre hose and did not reach Peters
burg until 7:+O =. NJ. as above stated
1T was found that one of the troou
coaches delivered to us at Petersburg
ind broken train line, which made
ne air brake imperative. and this had
10 be repaired before the coach and
train could be moved with safety
TROOP TRAIN COULD NOT
he MOVED AGAINST TRAFFIC.
AS this troop train could not be
''o'eu against thc opposing trafc on
account OF no communication whatever
with HopcwcN. it was concluded to
send back TO Iopcwcll by II ten
coaches for use in handling the refu-
gees from this point. after the arrival
OF The train from Iiopcwell. at 7:40
T. NJ, the ten coaches were coupled
hap. repairs made to the train line and
= II. Nj '''' i" 900
AS this troop train was leaving the
station an air-hrakc hose OF an At
!antic' Coast Line coach burst. which
resulted In delay OF seven minutes TO
replace the hosc-the bursting OF an
aEr-brakc hose renders the air brake
cooperative until replaced The train
finally left at sos i. NJ, a delay Of
one hour and thirty minutes one
hour and five minutes OF this total
delay was due TO waiting for cleared
tracks on which TO move tn. troops.
as. by reason Of no telephone com
8mrnication or other means Of convey
ing orders 10 the regular trains NOV
0ing into Petersburg from IIopcwell, an
extra train could not be run against
them.
OFFICIALS WE'RE
PROMPTLY ON GROUNDS
Il have no idea with whom .\djutant-
General Sale communicated I'm his cf-
forts TO get an explanation or excuse
lie nor any state official would have
their requests FOR information "coollv
i ignored" General Manager Needles
General superintendent Riton, myself
and all division officials went 10 Hope
we'll as soon could reach there
after notice OF the fire, to deal with
the complicated and congested condi-
ions resulting from this confagratlon.
d and any one of us would have consid-
cred 1t a duty well as "A pleasure
4 &c give prompt information concern
ing the situation II we had been called
upon.
From this statement 1t will be clear
~ evident that this train was moved
just as quickly as conditions permitted
IL TO be safely done. and the suggestion
that any officials OF this company
would treat such situation and the
requests Of State officials for informa-
ton even inconsidcrately, to say moth
ing OF ignoring such requests. is a
(miscOnception OF facts"
DISAPPOINTED
AT SLOW MOVEMENT OF TRAIN
The facts gathered at the Governors
office as to the delay in transportation
d Of troops to Hopewell TO meet the
emergency cali Of local officials of
that town, when boiled down. seem to
show that the Governor was much dis
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