Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-15

ONLY FoRrY-NNE YEARS AGo.-Just
iorty, nine years ago-that is September
To- iS3O-the first passenger railroad in
England, the Liver pool and Manchester
railroad. was opened with great ceremony.
A year before prize of $500 had been
offered for the best locomotive engine,
which had been won by Robert Stephen.
sons Rocket upon which were subse
sequently modelled the old grasshopper
engines of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road. their appearance being suggestive of
their name. Eight locomotive engines
had been completed and placed upon the
line, and all had been tested with entire
success. To every engine were attached
four passenger carriages, each containing
twenty persons. The first engine, the
Northumbrain, drew the most distinguish
ed guests-the duke of Wellington, Sir
Robert Peel and other members of the
ministry. 1t had ono line of the double
track to itself. The other seven locomo.
tives. with the carriages, followed each
other on the other line. The procession
started from Liverpool at II o'clock, with
flags, music, fine weather and enthusiasm.
Seventeen miles from Liverpool they stop.
ped 10 take in water and in order to afford
the duke of Wellington an opportunity OF
seeing the procession. the seven locomo-
tives. with their carriages, were ordered
to pass slowly by the Northumbran
standing on its track. Several gentlemen
had alighted while the locomotives were
taking in water. and one of them, Mr..
Huskisson, member of parliament for
Liverpool, and an earnest supporter Of
the railroad cause, catching sight of the
duke of Wellington, between whom and
himself there had been some political
GOODNESS, ran eagerly across the track to
shake him by the hand. At that moment
the order was given for the seven engines
to move forward. Mr.. Huskisson was be-
wildered. The Rocket, which was the
leading engine. struck him while he was
still in doubt where to flee. The wheel
went over his leg and thigh. and he ex-
pired that evening. The accident cast a
deep gloom over the days festivity. The
trip was concluded, that people waiting
along the line might not be disappointed.
but all rejoicing and gaiety were at an
end. The next day the railway was opened
to passenger traffic, and carried 40 per-
sons from Liverpool to Manchester in two
hours. The original calculations of the
construction had been based on probable
returns from heavy merchandise traffic
coal, cotton and iron. They had formed
no high expectation of any great emolu-
ment from transporting passengers. But
the railway was hardly opened before IN
average of 1920 persons daily were will
ing to trust it with their lives. In few
years it was found that the enormous
traffic was too heavy for the original rails,
and it became necessary to relay the road
at considerable expense. But though Sep
tember Is, 1880, is the greatest day in
railroad annals, being that on which the
worlds first railroad was opened complete,
our own Maryland railroad preceded the
Liverpool and Manchester in utility. The
first sod of the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road was broken for its construction July
4, 1928, and by the next year horse cars
assisted by one locomotive engine, were
carrying passengers and traffic between
Baltimore, the Relay house and Ellicott's
mills.-Baltimor american.