The Portland daily press., 1875-08-09
DRIVING THE LAST SPIKE.
Portland Cannon Arouse the Echoes Of
the Notch.

Portland Cannon Arouse the Echoes Of
the Notch.
On Saturday the last spike was driven which
allowed the train from Portland to pass
through the Wiley Notch to the junction with
the Boston, Concord and Montreal Railroad at
Fayban's, and the feat, by so many pronounced
impossible, of climbing through those steep
passes, was accomplished; the first train passed
through the Notch, and, once more, the old
road, through which thirty-fve years ago flowed
the Vermont trade to Portland, is opened to
our merchants not in the restricted manner in
which it was of yore. limited by the capacity of
the two-horse teams which plodded their way
through the mountain roads and tarried at
wayside taverns, now only recognizable by the
lonely lombardy poplars which testify of their
ancient glory, but with capacity increased a
thousand fold so that another thirty five years
will behold countless trains putting through
these hills, bearing grain to load thousands of
ships which will certainly crowd our harbor.
With justifiable economy the directors de-
cded to indulge in no expensive and formal
opening. but invited the city government, as
representing the principal stockhold er, the city,
anu HtmucIS VI Guo pIcSS W NC PlcoeHu. Lhoec
gentlemen, with the authorities of the road
took the regular morning train for the noun
tains. The weather was threatening, Old
Probabilities prophesied local rain, and thick
fog shut closely down over the landscape,
while kilograms from the upland stations an
nounced rain there, but as the train passed
through Conway the height of old Kiarsarge
was lighted up by sunbeams piercing through
the clouds, and at noon as it wound along the
precipitous side of Mount. Wiley, whence came
the fatal slide that overwhelmed the Wiley
family as they fled from their house, which
could be seen $50 feet below the summit of
Mout Webster, opposite,
''Was streekit about wiz blue,''
aud bright sun shone forth to gladden. the
hearts of those participating in the long wished
for and long anticipated ceremony.
A short distance farther, and the train
stopped in front of the beautiful Crystal and
"Flume" Cascade, while the passengers walked
forward to James Cut, over which the last rail
was being laid Mr.. Donnell had brought
with him silver spike, which at twenty four
minutes past twelve was driven by Gen An
derson. Hon. w. W. Thomas, Jr, who had
joined the party at North Conway, with his
usual enthusiasm, sprang forward and shouted,
'Three cheers for Gen. Anderson and the last
spike which completes the railroad which
pierces these everlasting hills" which was en-.
Enthusiastically responded to by the assembled
party, by Chief Engineer Anderson and his
workmen, who had been working diligently
since early morning to place the last girders on
the trestle work, and re-echoed by the laborers
and their families at their little settlement on
the cliff across the Saco river. The train then
started up slowly and passed through the gate
of the Notch, where it stopped in full sight of
the Crawford House. Adjutant General Muir.
ray had kindly loaned Gen. Anderson field
piece for this occasion, which, mounted on a
platform car, followed closely, and now the
mountain echoes loudly answered to ten guns
fred in honor of the achievement. The band
at the Crawford House struck up "Hail Conm-
bia," followed by the "Star SpangledlBanner,"
and the train proceeded, going through to
Fabyan's, where it connected with the Boston,
Concord and Montreal train. Here also salute
was fired, which failed to elicit any recogni-