Herald Of The Times

A Pleasure Trip on the Providence Rail Road.—The way they manage on this route is a sin to Crocket. We were not a little surprised last evening at meeting a party of friends in Boston, with whom we parted at 9 in the morning, on their way to Providence and Bristol, via the rail road, to meet the steamboat President for New York. We never saw persons "look daggers and use none," quite so savagely. It was a long time before we could bring down the rigid muscles, that spoke unutterable displeasure, to any hope of reconciliation. At last, after a comfortable supper and a soothing glass of port wine negus, warm with nutmeg, had thrown the obstinate course of the blood into a more kindly and genial current, we learned the brief history of their vexations and fruitless expedition.

They started from home at 9, the usual hour and steamed on with promising expedition, killing no cows, never bolting from the track, nor meeting with any adventure, worth recounting, until they arrived at the Dedham branch, where the cap head of the boiler was blown out, the fire extinguished, and the train stopped. A despatch was sent to Dedham for materials to repair the injury, and an Express to Boston for another locomotive. In the meantime, the passengers had no shelter but the cold cars. After a long while, some lead was procured from Dedham, and preparations commenced to repair the boiler. While this was going on, the train from Providence came along, and the surly fellow of a conductor refused to wait long enough to allow those who wished to return, to transfer their baggage, and pushed off, affording no relief or assistance to the sufferers. The same train was met by the extra locomotive going up near a switch, but the conductor refused to back and turn out for the locomotive, but compelled the locomotive to back and turn out for him, notwithstanding he knew the accident which had occurred, and the necessity of expedition. The locomotive thus detained, did not arrive until the other was repaired, and had proceeded on after a detention of two hours and a half.

So far so bad. They went on about ten miles further, when it was discovered that a car, laden with five or six tons of iron, had broken down, and it was necessary to wait some time for this accident to be repaired.

At length they got under way again, and were promised a speedy termination of their troubles, when, at Mansfield, they met the wood cars loading up, and here again, to show the admirable management on this road—which has become one of the most unaccommodating of all chartered monopolies—the brute who had charge of the wood cars, refused to back, turn out, or move, until he had accomplished his loading, which occupied half an hour!

Well, on they went again, with a fresh start, and arrived at last at Providence without further incident or delay, at half-past 5 o'clock, almost frozen to death, and as hungry as sharks. "Our woes will soon end," said one. "Go ahead," said another. "Huzza for Bristol!" said a third. "Bristol!" exclaimed a fourth, who had just made one of the party, and looked very much like a disappointed stage driver, "there is no boat goes from Bristol to-day, gentlemen—the President has not arrived!" Here was an announcement. The party stood astounded—"all amazement and stupefaction." What was to be done? The fact that the President was not at Bristol was soon ascertained, and the return train for Boston was to start in 15 minutes. It was unanimously agreed to fast a few hours longer, and to take to the track once more. Their baggage was soon transferred, and themselves safely bestowed in the cars, and at half-past five they all returned in safety, and reported themselves at the Tremont as a little the most provoked, a little the most disappointed, and a good deal the most ravenous party that ever received answer to a bell.

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