Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-08-28
FIRST RIDE ON RAILROAD


We have often thought that 10 person
who saw train OF cars i'm motion for tho
first time the sight must be most miraculous
and astounding As Jack Downing once said,
"twas so queer to see hull lot of wagons
chuck full Of people and things agoin' of at
that 'ere speed, and no hoss to draw 'em.n
A genius of the SOFT referred to lately made
his experimental trip. He was green horn,
genuine back-woods- s-man, who feared moth
ing IN the shape of man or beast; but any
thing that he could not understand puzzled
him even more than it did, perhaps, the Or
dinary run of his fellows Well, he came 10
| Ca'ersvlIe, Short time since, for the Dor.
pose OF taking his first railroad trip.
He'd hearn tell on 'em, but didn't believe.
he said, halt the nonsense folks said about
EN-. When the cars arrived at the place
our hero was there, patiently waiting, and
much excited and elated in anticipating his
intended ride. AS the cars approached, he
stood gazing with wonder and awe at the
engine, putting and smoking. Following the
example of the others, as soon as the cars
stopped he hurried aboard, with his saddle
bags on his arm, and seated himself near
window, Then looking around at the pas.
sengers, manilesly much surprised, he pu.
his head out of the window, 10 gee the 0crt.
Ter start" While in this position, watching
with much anxiety, the whistle sounded..-
Our hero, much surprised, and evidently a
nj 1
motion that might be called a jerk and turn
ing TO gentleman sitting near him said
"Well, stranger did you ever hear such
| snort as that ?''
"Ihe engine ?" suggested the other.
swell, don't know what it is, but-hollo,
how she goes ~
"Gness you are not acquainted with rail.
road travelling 2"
"iiang it, no. haint they runaway Crea-
ton, how it jerks r
'lt's all safe enough, you may rely, the
cars are starting.n
"Thats all well stranger, | amt afeard
you know, but kinder surprised like, that's
all" said the mountain boy half ashamed -
Il golIy stranger, did you hear tha,'ere
snort! 1t beats dads jackass, aud he's a
roarer, no mistake. Whew, how it does
somethn' busiin,' puff Pm sure.n
"Oh, fudge, it's all right" said the other,
settling himself for nap.
~ swow! | don't see how you can sleep,
darnod eff do"
"Nohing like getting used TO it," said the
other. "You've heard of the eels that had
been skinned SO many times they rather
liked it, and used 20 come ashore every few
days 10 get their hide taken off, haven,
you!"
"Youre gassin' stranger"
The bell rang, the engine moved of, away
went the cars at rapid speed and before ou,
hero had recovered from the shock which
the "snop" produced, the cars were moving
slowly over Etowah Bridge. Discovering a
change in its gait he popped his head out Of
the window again, "lo see how it moved,''
saw that he was some distance from the
earth, and supposing the "criter" was flying
swooned, and fell from his seat speechless.-
Several gentlemen sitting near caught hold
of him, raised him up, shook him and rubbed
him until he revived little.
"This mans crazy" suggested some o
f the bystanders sagely."
"No he's not" answered he who had be
fore spoke, "he's frghtened.'
Enlightened %
"les, scared half TO death"
! GA bOut what ~
"The caIs he never was in a train before
:, he told me So"
A harty laugh ran through those abou
The half tanting man, which had the effee
: to arouse him to consciousness, at least par
t TALLY so, for his breath began TO come an
T. go more regularly, and at last he opened hi
eyes as large as saueers, and seeing seyera
OF the gentlemen who had just come to hi
= assistance about him, he looked up most be
seechingly in the face of one of them, an
" said
" "Strongcr, has ii WW