"The neat little 'Villa,' so tastefully erected by Smith and Rainey and
kept for some time past by Mr. Clatterbuck, on the R. R., six miles from
Lex., was destroyed by fire on the night of Monday last together with
most of the furniture, liquors and a considerable sum of money. This
misfortune will be seriously felt not only by Mr. C----, but by the
travellers on the R. R., who were always sure of a kind reception and
the solace of a cup of hot sparkling coffee at daylight after making the
first stop from Lex. The benevolent we are sure will not be appealed to
in vain to contribute something towards enabling Mr. Clatterbuck again
to commence business. His loss in cash was about $700."
* * * * *
And now I have told you all that I have been able to find concerning
this old Lexington and Ohio Railroad. I have traced its conception and
birth, its construction and success. I have not the heart to tell you
of its slow and lingering death, how it became antiquated, ridiculed,
supplanted and re-constructed, how it was mortgaged and sold, and
finally became merged into the great Louisville and Nashville system
and how its very history became clouded in tradition.