Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-28
THE IRON LINK
THAT BRINGS SAVANNAH AND
JACKSONVILLE IN CLOSER
INTERCOURSE.
Formal Opening of the WaycrOss
and Jacksonville RaiIrOad-Ene1-
dents of the Trip and sketch of The
ROad-WhaG is Thought of 1t
Jacksonville RejOices and Savan-
nah Is Glad.
From a staf correspondent.

!
the 26eh, marks an epoch of no inconsid-
cradle Importance in the relations between
the Forest City and the chief city of the
Land of Flowers, and especially by the com
muuity Of the latter is it regarded as one Of
the greatest events In the history of the
! town.
The special train, which was selected for
the occasion, left Savannah at 1920 a. no.
on Tuesday, and was composed of the
cars ordered for the Short Line, all new,
and admirably constructed, comprising bag
gage and express combined, a first class
passenger coach, smoker considered the
best designed and most comfortable in use
on any road, the private car of the General
| Manager and the Presidents car, drawn by
the new locomotive No. "a. The train was
in charge of Mr.. Henry Mckee, conductor,
the engineer being Mr.. Charles Fulton, one
of the most skillful and experienced in the
employ OF the company. The pioneer eX-
! cursion party consisted of Colonel I'll. s.
! Haines, General Manager of the Savannah
Florida and Western Railway, and President
OF the Waycross and Jacksonville Road, G.
| 5. GadSden, ESQ, Superintendent Charles
ton and Savannah Railway, C. d. Owens,
E.q., General Agent, Felix s. Prendergast,
| Assistant Superintendent, j. e.
Prendergast, Supervising Engineer, all
! of the Savannah, Florida and Western Rail-
way; Mr. w. W. Mcdowell, stenographer
for Colonel Haines; j. d. Holister, Master
| Transportation Jacksonville Pensacola and
Mobile Railroad; j. s. Davant, General
Freight and Passenger Agent Port Royal
| and Augusta Railway; j. NJ. Edwards, Gen
eral Manager Macon and Brunswick Rail-
road; Jos. W. White, General Passenger
Agent Magnolia Route, and your represen-
tatiye. The occasion was also graced with
! the presence Of Mrs. II, s. Haines, Miss
Daniels, of Wilmington, N. c., and Miss
! O'Neill, of Charleston.
The trip from Savannah to Jesup was
made in good time, and at this point there
was stoppage of some minutes to allow
Savannah bound trains to pass
Nothing of particular note occurred du-
ring the run to Waycross from JesuD, dis
tance OF forty miles, the time being employ
ed in intelligent discussion of railroad af-
| fairs generally, and more especially the ef-
feet of the completion and opening to the
public of the new short line.
just before reaching Waycross, attention
| was directed to the extensive and f0urishing
| vineyard on the Lott place, pronounced to
be the finest in the State. On reaching the
town of Waycross, the party were joined
by DIR. W. b. Folks, one of the directors of
the new short line, and withal very clever
and accomplished gentleman, Captain H.
| NJ. Drane, Superintendent of construction
of the new road, and Captain w. L. Wal
| thour.
The regular station of the main line is at
Febeauville, distant about one mile from
! Waycross, and here there was a change of
| engines, No. 81 being considered too heavy
to make trip over the new road, until the
| bed is more firmly settled, hence No. 3, a
| lighter engine, was substituted. The new
road connects with the main line about mid
way between Waycross and Tebeauville, and
/ forms 7. AT this point the company have
| secured large tract of land, and have the
| plans drawn for nice little town, the most
| prominent building to be first class depot
| with offices. The lots are laid off, the lum-
| Der purchased, and work is to be commenced
| at once, and within few months the corpo-
| rate limits of Waycross will be adorned with
another attractive and thriving little village.
After the change of engines had been
made, the train backed down to the Y and
| ran upon the new line. Here Supervising
| Engineer Prendergast took charge Here
| the interest of the party was aroused; every
| one wanted to see the new road, and pre-
pared themselves to take observations along
the route. Through the courtesy of Colonel
Haines, your representative enjoyed the
novelty OF ride on the engine the entire
length Of the road, seventy-four miles.
| Provided with as comfortable position as
| possible in the engine cab, by the Super
vising Engineer, he took his place, clutch
ing fermly the frame of the small window,
| and nerved himself for the novel and exciting
ride which followed.
THIRTY-FIvE MILES AN HOUR ON THE IRON
HORSE.
| At 2:30 everything was in READINGS for the
| start. The genial engineer by whom |
stood nearly shoulder to shoulder, suddenly
| became silent and grim; with hand on throt-
tie, stood erect this silent and stern man,
seemingly oblivious of aught else than the
mighty responsibility which rested upon
him; on whose clear brain, true eye and
steady nerve depended the lives of
| loved and precious ones. AS gazed upon
him, thus standing, the thoughts inspired
assumed shape, and presented to my Wis
ion the vivid picture of hundreds Of trains
| traversIng at lightning speed the broad ex-
panse of this continent and the thousands
Of human lives which at that moment were
entrusted to the keeping of single man at
| The throttle; whose hand pressure con-
trolled this mighty engine, and whose slight
| est error might work destruction, suffering
| and untold horror. Reflections crowded
| thick and fast upon my mind, of how little
do we realize the grave and important
responsibilities Of the engineer, as seated in
| the beautiful and comfortable coaches, or
4 C.
experience no other sensation than that of
pleasure, and are lulled to peaceful serenity
| by the incessant and monotonous clang!
| clang! claDg! of the wheels as they reyolve
| swiftly over the smooth rails. But musings
are over, the conductor waves the signal:
'the man at the throttle" glancing over his
monster horse, and throwing a sweeping
look as though to embrace everything
within vision range, gently moves his hand
The iron horse gives an angry snort, few
growls, trembles, and starts. The big
wheels are in motion, we hear the rattle of
the wheels of the cars in the rear, there is
"puff, " "putf'' from our gallant steed as
though gathering his wind" for the
heat, and we are off, first canter, then
gallOp, then furious run. Calm and silent
stands the engineer at my side, his clear
keen eyes fixed steadily on the long straight
track which stretches out before him, and
all the contingencies of a first trip
over a new road impressed upon his
| mind. Pressing my hat down tight
on my head, as the fearfully strong bret re
created by the rapid motion is liable to
whisk 1t off into the misty distance as legiu-
mate spoil, brace myself against the side
of the cab, and give myself up to the exhil-
| arating excitement. Swifter and swifter we
speed, the iron horse ever and anon giving
himself a sort of shake, sort of swaying
motion, unpleasantly suggestive of q turn
over; but 1t is only for an Instant, and faster
and faster he tears through woodland,
by hut and hamlet, over creek and
river, ,trestle and solid bed. Those In the com
Portable coaches hehind are only conscious
of the delightful sensation of rapid travelling
over a smooth track. and give expression to |
fattering commendation of the new road,
But a station is reached, the iron horse
shrieks the signal of his approach, the en-
gineer pulls the lever, turns the handle of
the air brake, and in an
instant, without an unpleasant jar,
the train is quickly and suddenly brought |
to a standstill, The pressure is over, and
'relaxing his features - and turning, he says |
in pleasant tone: "Well, old friend, how |
do you like thirty-five miles an hour on the |
deck of an engine 20 | express my intense |
satisfaction and willingness to retain my /
position to the end of the line. and in a few |
minutes we are off again, and | do not leave /
my perch until the train rolls into the depot |
at Jacksonville, and the pioneers are vel
coined with the waving of hankerchiefs by /
the ladies, and the hearty greetings of gen.
tlemen. But there are
INCIDENTS OF THE TRIP
which deserve mention, and will now be re-
viewed. The road was found to be 10 excel
lent condition generally, though there are
certain spots which require filling up and
improving, but this will all be done before
the double service goes into effect on the
first of May. The road has but few curves
and for miles is perfectly straight on dead /
level. It passes through magnificent pine
forests, and at the points selected for sta
tfons there are advantages favorable to the