New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-01
ATALK WITH THURLOW WEED.
A WIDE RANGE OF "REMINISCENCES AND
OPINIONS

AND THE FIRST sTEAMBoAT-EFFRCTS OF THE
GENERAL USE OF MACHINERY-THE STATESMAN
SHIP OF Tue PAST AND THE PREsENT-COURsE
OF THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
BUTIER-PoIIrcAL AND SOCIAL PRoBLEMs-
RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE WORK.
A prominent public character Of Che cen
fury who means to alag super1uous on the stage
IL Thurow Weed the venerable journalist and politi-
clan. Though eighty years OF age, and much
enfeebed by Ill health, Mr. Weed is active in all manner
ofwork. He attends college commandments and Sun
dayschoOl conventions with the enthusiasm which
he formerly displayed at political gatherings and later
1T the revival meetings of Moody and Sankey The read
mess with which, occasion offers, he dictates letter
OF pertinent "reminiscences or suggestions, Tor
THE TRIBUNE, is a very inadequate index Of the
value and richness Of the store Of unwren history in
struotve entertaining which has been gathering in
his mind these eighty-One years.
Mr.. Weed was not in as good health as usual when
called upon last week; but, with his dressinggown
wrapped about him, he sat in armchair and talked
Of old times and the present recalling affairs Of sixty
and seventy with very few halts to refresh
his memory and he spoke OF matters recent
times, with such animation and growing interest as to
bring On the vertigo. his lurking enemy.
AMERICAS FIRST RAILWAY TRAIN
His visitor had recently old photographic print
of silhouette of the first train of stesm-cars run
in America. This the old Mohawk and Hudson
Railway the first section of the present NewYOrk Cen
trail IL then extended from Albany sixteen miles to
Schenectady. The trial trip made on the last day Of
July, 1882. For a arain two ordinary stage
coaches mad been shorn of their bodies which were
placed single four-wheel trucks adapted to the
track Nothing could be conceived more primitive as com
pared with the present stately locomotives than the ugly
and clumsy engine, which was imported from England
at an expense OF $3.50 g. There cab. The
engineer. who a silk hat had behind him sin
gletruck tender pile OF agots, and two -four barrels
filled with similar fuel The fifteen passengers eight in
the first coach and in the second Zone passenger
being the box and the boot OF each COACH are
all represented as wearing silk hats and there other
evidences of Sunday attire In this conversation this
topic derived its importance from the fact that the tall
est passenger the first coach tail he was thin
and as straight as be was tall, Thurlow Weed,
esq editor of The Albany EDenng Journal" and at that
time thirty-hve years of age.
81 remember the occasion very well," said Mr. Weed
his penetrating eyes beaming with the pleasures OF
memory. ''They hadn't discovered the engineering
tricks OF raroadng in those days The road was six
teen miles long. But instead Of going around an OBJ
stacle in the shape Of q hill, as they would now,
they went over it. They did not understand
the principle of overcoming steep grades. The first
half mile out OF Albany very steep, as was
also the first half mile out Of Schenectady. To pull the
train up these steep inelnes stationary engines
used with drum and cable the engines being placed on
the SUBMITS. Between these two hills, stretch Of
motive carried along at rapid rate. II remember
Alright we trayersed the fifteen miles in less than
an hour remarkably good time, all things considered
know the train was carefully timed, and all had
our watches out"
"Who your fellOw-passengersP
"They were all men of some prominence either at
Albany, Schenectady New-York. Ex-Governor Yates
was in the car or stage with me. John Townsend, a
prominent merchant and formerly Mayor OF Albany sat
by my SIDE Billy Winnie, the penny pOstman, as he
was called, sat In the boot He an historical
character. and made himself hero IN his day by cap
turing murderer under thrilling circumstances. There
was q tavern the road between Albany and Troy.
robber assaulted the tavern-keeper and killed
him. His wife made great outcry. The murderer
took horse from the stable and mounted him. Whine
happened 70 be passing with his mailbag, heard the
cries of the wife, and holly pursued the murderer whom
he overlook and after stout grapple overcame and
made prisoner.
"other passengers were Lewis Benedict, of Albany.
John l. DeGraff Mayor Of Schenectady, and once Mem
Der Of Congress; John Meigs chief Of the Albany po-
Ice and Jacob Hayes Of the NewYOrk police, who is
mentioned on the print the celebrated thiefcateher
They were not known as detectives in those days
"a Philadelphia gentleman named Brown. who stood
looking on when the train about to start and who
was very expert in cutting silhouette kenesses cut out
the profile of the train and the passengers in black
paper, and from that the print was made. Not many
years ago he visited He said that he hadn't time
there to cut the likeness Of all the passengers, so
he went to many Of them afterward and took their pro
les separately working their hkenesses into the main
icture There was no other then Of reproducing
scenes except by the brush or pencil"
"What the main drift Of conversation among the
at was all wonder The general talk that that
was only beginning and that some OF them might live
to see railroad built to Buffalo and to travel there On
Won have lived to be able to travel by rail
the Continent 70 San Francisco.
"Yes. but never have and that greatly regret
Foe vaar IA a
Governor Stanford OF California, TO accept the use OF
his palace car winch ne was 10 senu EaS' ICL me p5
Journey Three years ago was ready. but postponed
English friend, whose portrait you see up there Sir
Henry Holland member OF the distinguished family
after he wrote me that he would 20 he died. have
never further West by rail than the Nssisspp on
the occasion OF the opening OF the Chicago and Rock
Island Railway some twenty or thirty years ago tnen
went down the river on steamboat TO b. Louis
Tns first railway we were speaking OF had s rivals
and Hudson Canal Company, another at New Orleans
and s another at Charleston, South Carolina. There
as s1e 5s Son Ss Sas Albany
possibility of railroads had been discussed for three or
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.
"The first steamboat was the great wonder TO me.
That came seaming up the Hudson in 1907, when
ten years old and living at Catski We had heard for
several days that sort of vessel coming up the
river against wind and without sails Wonder and inered
ullty expressed all sides. Such thing
garded a utterly impossible. II you have been
OF Catskil you must have noticed strip Of road a
quarter Of mile long, leading out to knob OF land that
was once an island We boys in great eagerness to
see the strange craft took or shirts and jackets and
putting them on pianks swan with them out TO the
island. Finally we the monster coming, vomiting
fire and smoke and throwing sparks. The paddle
wheels were not covered We were frightened almost
out OF our senses at first out Of sight but pre-
senty courage and cheered the pioneer steamer
with the people that lined the bank Of the river"
MACHINERY A BLESSING AND A CURSE.
hnI,aIH cna In fffna
"Yes there has been great deal OF progress in this
century, This been the age Of invention and me
chaucal development, and while saw the beginning
and the wonderful development Of machinery, have