|
Office Atlantic & NC RR |
| Goldsboro Nov 29, 1862 |
| |
| To Mr Jno D Whitford Esq |
| President |
| |
| Sir, |
| In accordance with your orders
I proceeded with the State Cotton train on Wednesday 26 instant to
Tarboro & on Thursday morning I put on sixty three bales of Cotton it P
A & took into the train to Box Car loads of furniture at that place I
then run to Wilson & loaded 139 bales of cotton same mark on Friday
morning as per general orders on our Rail Road when loading Cotton I
placed the two Box Cars next to the Locomotive to shelter & protect the
Cotton Cars as well as possible from the sparks when running on Friday I
left Wilson having personally requested the Wilmington & Weldon Mail
train to flag me as you directed to Goldsboro & when about two miles
from Wilson I discovered the Cotton on the third car on fire as I had
carefully watched it as always my custom particularly when the cotton is
in bad order as was the case with some of the bagging was entirely of
the ends the place burning was not at larger than a mans hand I
immediately give the signal to stop the train it was answered at once by
the Engineer who b?? on brakes to prevent the Engine & unfortunately we
were running down grade to Black Bridge the wind blowing from the bridge
up We directly up the road therefore by time we could stop the train the
Cotton was blasing on the third Car which I cut loose & then found the 4
& 5th Cars on fire the Black Creek Bridge guards & station hands on the
Wilmington & Weldon Rail Road being near came to our assistance with our
own hands & Engineer throwing of the burning Cotton to save the train
Forty three (43) Bales Entirely Consumed & four Badly damaged I can
assure you sir every effort was made to save the Cotton as you had the
train made up yourself to bring the States Cotton you knew I had one the
best locomotives on the Road bringing the Cotton and one that would
throw as few sparks as any locomotive in the State & as this is the
first Cotton that has been lost by me or any of our trains since I have
been in the service of the Company which has been several years I am
satisfied that it was one of those accidents that it will sometimes
happen on any Rail Road However Careful we may be |
| Respectfully Yours |
| John P Thomas |
| Conductor |
|