The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-01-04


shall have it, patent or no patent:' And
with that, pulled the crank that
twisted the connecting trunnel,hcad
into the travelling. wheels, and in
an instant away went the machine,
with Jabex on top of it, with the
wh,z and rapidity of a flushed par
fridge. The side of the old build
| ing presented the resistance of wet pa-
per. One crash, and the first locomo-
tive was nslicrcd into this breath
ing world. hurried TO the opening,
and had just time TO Chamber to
the top of fcncll to catch the last
glimpse of my fast departing friend.
True to his purpose, ! saw him alter
nately scrcwing down the valves, and
olllng the Pistun-rod and crank joints
evidently determined that, although
he had started off a little unexpected
", he would redeem the pledge he
had given, which was that when it
did 60, it "would go lectle slow
er than streak Of chains lighlnin,' and
a darn'd lcetle tool
Like cloud in the dim distance acoting.
Like an arrow hc flew away.
But moment, and he was here.
IN moment he was there; and now
'Dherc is hca,-or, rather where is he
notl But that for the present. is
"ncilher here nor there
| The vile Moslcm ridiculcd the be.
lief SO religiously cherished by the
Christian Don, that in all the bloody
conflicts that laid the crescent low in
the dust, Saint Iago, on q white horse.
led on to battle, and secured triumph
to the cross; but as this has become
matter OF history, confirmed, by
the fact that on numerous occasions
this identical warrior saint was dis
tlnctly seen pounding the Afoors."
successfully and simultaneously, in
battle scenes remote fiom each other.
thus proving his identity by saint.
| y ubiquity; SO we may safely in-
dulgc the belief, that the spirit. if not
the actual body and bones, of Jabcz
Dcolittle, stands pcrchcd on every To-
comot!ve that may now be seen in ev
| cry direction, threading its way at
the rate Of thirty miles an hour. to
the total annihilation Of space and
time. The incredulous, like the Moors
OF old, may indulge their unbclief; but
ior myself, never seen a locomotive in
full action, that do not also sec Ja-
beg there, directing its course, as
PLAIN rs see the immortal Clinton in
every canal-boat, or the equally i'm.
mortal Fulton in every steamboat.
i Unfortunately, however, these, like
Jabez Doo!ittle, started in their ca.
rcer Of glory without patent; trust.
ing too far to an ungratcf'ul world; and
now the descendants of either may iii
they pay their passagc) indulge the
luxury that the inventive spirit of
their ancestor has secured 10 the are.
But my task is done. ALI now
ask is, that although some doubt and
mystery hang oyer the first inven.
tIon OF stcanlboat-in which doubt.
however, for one do not participate
-nonc whatever may exist in regard
TO the origin of the locomotive branch
OF inc great steam family; and that,
in all future time, this fragment of
authentic history may enable the In.
test posterity to rctrace, by back
track and turn out, through long
railroad line Of illustrious ancestors
the first protector and contrivcr of
The First Locomotive their i'm
mortal progenitor, "Jabez d, o.ttle,
Esq, nigh Wallingiord, Connccticut.'
In the number Of the Knickerbock-
or, succeeding the one in which the
above appeared, We find the follow
ing characteristic letter from that
golden hearted gentleman, Washing
ton Irving, which We also copy for
the editication of our readers:-1
70 the Editor Of lie KnickerJocker,
Slr:-ln your last number,
read with grent interest all article, On.
titled, The First Locomotives 1t
throws light upon an incident which
has long been u theme of marvel in
the Far West. You must know that
| was one among the first band of
! truppcrs that crossed the Rocky Noun.
, tans. We had cncampcd one night on
a ridge OF the Black Hills, and were
wrapped up i'll our blankets, in The
''ooV VI oul HTSG Steep, Wnen we
were reused by the man who stood sen,
tinel, who cried out, wild fire, by
j. -! We started on our feet, and
t beheld streak of fire coming across
! the prairies, for all the world like
: lightning, or shooting star. We had
g hardly time to guess what it might be,
Y when it came up, whizzing, and clank.
!; ing, and nnking tremendous rack.
: ct, and we saw something huge and
5 black, with wheels and traps of all
t kinds; and an odd, looking being on
c top oft, busy Us they say the devil i.
, in gale Of wind. In fact, some OF
i. our people thought it was the old gen
t tleman himself, taking an airing il
Q one of his internal carriages; 9th
c crs thought il was the onenng of one o
Q the seals in the Revelations. Some o
the stoutest fellows fell on their knees
Q and began to pray; q Kcntuckian pluck
9 ed up courage enough to hail tn,