The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-23
CINCINNATI SOUTHERN.
The First Trains for Chatta-
nOOga.
Celebration Of the Opening Of the
Road.

Through business on the Southern Rail-
road has at last begun, and the important
event was duly celebrated in the city TO-
day. This being the anniversary of Wash
ington's birthday additional interest was
lent to the occasion, and as it was a
National holiday better time could not
have been selected for celebrating the great
local event of the opening of the Southern
Road.
A harmless competition sprang up among
the merchants last Saturday, when it was
announced that the first through freight
trains would start for Chattanooga on last
Saturday evening. Each merchant desired
the honor of being the first to ship goods
over the city's road, and large amount Of
freight was conveyed in the course of few
hours to the depot on Gest street.
The George Fox Starch Company OBJ
tained the first through bill of lading. but
Roberts & Sellers delivered their goods
first at the depot Within few hours a
hundred carloads of freight, bound for all
parts of the South. was ready to be
shipped, and at twenty minutes. before 8
o'clock two trains were dispatched.
The first train consisted of 20 car loads of
goods shipped for Chattanooga and South-
ern points by f. A. Laidley & Co., pork
packers and the second train Of about the
same size carried freight for large number
of houses in the city. The shippers had
decorated the sides of the cars with such
notices as First freight train on the Cincin-
natl Southern" Going through on light
ming time" etc., but there was no formal
ceremony at the starting of the trains.
After these trains had gone the depot
was still crowded full of freight and an
other train was prepared and started yes
terday, and this evening one train and
probably two will be ready. This being a
holiday the freight has not come in as fast
as it did Saturday, but the Company have
all that they can load.
The event was celebrated to-day by a
street parade, ringing of the fire bells and
the firing of hundred guns.
A large detachment of police and the
First Regiment Band met the Fifth Ohio
Battery at the G., H. & D. Depot, and es-
corted them up Fourth street to Vine,
down Vine to Third, up Third to Broad
way, down Broadway to the landing, where
the firing took place.
After the police formed two lines the bat
teries we're placed in position on the land
ing, facing the river, between Main and
Broadway, and at IL o'clock the fire bells
began to ring.
Andy Brands Band struck up Hail Co.
lumbia," and then the salutes were fired
by the cannoniers of the guns.
AbSnt the sixtieth round Ernst Herman,
the rammer, was loading the gun, and the
thumber and trigger failed to adjust his
thumb to the touch.hole, and thus
allowed air to get into the gun, causing a
premature discharge. The result was that
Herman's right-hand thumb was blown off
and his arm burned badly.
The ramrod which he was handling was
blown into splinters, and part of It was
sent into the river Herman was taken
Immediately to the Hospital.
The firing from the other gun was kept
up without inficting any more injuries to
the attendants.
When the firing ceased the police escort
ed the battery to the G.. H. & D. Depot,
where the police dispersed anG the
members of the battery proceeded to the
Gibson House, where dinner was pre-
pared for them. They return to Dayton
this evening.