Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-05-12
STORIES ABOUT EARLY RAIL-
ROADING.

related all incident of his first expe-
rience in railroading in Illinois. This
was in le45, and Mr.. Randall was
then boy. The Springfield s. Me-
redocia Railroad, at present forming
the oldest link in the great Wabash
system, had just been built.
One bright Sabbath morning, while
all good little boys were at Sunday
school, Mr.. Randall, with other nr-
chins going out on exploring expedl-
ton in search of fresh mischief, found
a fat car standing OH a side track.
The boys, after many experiments,
hit upon a plan to propel the car.
A strong breeze was sweeping across
the prairies. They obtained a piece
of scantling and a sheet, and rugged
sail upon the car. The wind rose,
the sail filed, and the car moved
down the track. By the time it
reached the main track a good speed
had been obtained, and the boys,
enjoying their first trip upon the rail
road, were in high glee. The car
swept on down the main track, gam
ing speed every moment. Houses,
cornfelds, gardens and orchards were
passed in quick succession, but the
car sped on, its velocity never slack
ening. The boys were becoming
uneasy. They were getting too much
of a good thing. They tried to lower
the sail, but in that they failed, with
the car in such rapid motion. They
could not even stand upon their feet.
An engine whistle attracted their at
tention. Down the track, approach
ing them at full speed was train.
The boys all jumped from the cars
into the soft mud. As they scrambled
out of the slush and dived into the
adjoining cornfeld, Mr.. Randall says
he remembers the impression of a
shock, and something going up into
the air behind him. Fortunately no
one on the train was hurt, but the
collision made a great stir in the
neighborhood atthe time. The boys,
covered with mud, never stopped
running until they reached home.
The country was secured for the per-
sons who wrecked the train, but even
to this day, now thirty six years since
the occurrence, the boys have kept
the secret of their first ride on the
Wabash.
The railroad builders of that day
had some peculiar ideas. The wes-
tern terminus of the Springfield &
Merodocia, was located in the public
square in Jacksonville, right in the
heart of the city. When the road
was finished, a grand excursion was
given to Jacksonville. Thousands OF
people, very few of whom had seen a
locomotive. came into the city from
the surrounding country. The streets
adjoining the square were literally
packed with all kinds of vehicles
Some one cried, "The train is coming
The people rushed into the square tc
see the wonderful sight, and left the
horses and wagons standing al
around the square. The engine, ther
an object mu n more frightful tt
dumb brutes than now, came putting
and screaming and painting dowl
into the square, throwing out grea
clouds of steam and black smoke
the engineer evidently intent OF
showing the people how much fns
the old thing could make. The hor
ses outside snorted and painted in i'm
itation of the terrible iron monste
which was frightening them to dis
traction. Then stampede commenc
ed, and such a stampede was neve
seen before. A thousand runaway
were IA full blast at the same time
Mr.. Randall estimates that in tire
minutes after the arrival of the frs
train in Jacksonville half doze
whole vehicles of any description
could not be found IN Morgan County
Fortunately but few persons wer
seriously hurt, but such a wreck {
wheel carriages was never seen befol
or since.
At this time serious doubts were Ell
4ertained of the success of railrOadini