The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-02-25

i
the route. Mr.. Hogg says that large
crowds of farmers had assembled to see
the iron monster at Frenchtown, and
were greatly disappointed when it did
not reach its destination at the time ex-
pected. When it did arrive there were
but few present.
As the engine was about to make the
first return trip, Mr.. Hogg asked the
engineer whether he could "stop the
thing at any place he wanted to-" and
being assured that this could be done,
had the pleasure of riding part of the
distance on the first locomotive engine
used in the United States on its first
trip.
The veteran railroader showed the
writer an advertisement poster published
by "Young, printer, Philadelphia"
which announced
New Castle and Frenchtown Rail-
road. Passenger cars propelled by a
locomotive engine leave the depot at
New Castle for Frenchtown every morn
ing upon the arrival of the steamboat
from Philadelphia at about $50 O'Clock;
returning leave Frenchtown at about
1890 O'Clock. Another train of pas
senger cars departs from New Castle
for Frenchtown every evening except
Sunday on arrival of afternoon boat
from Philadelphia at about O'Clock,
and on return leaves about O'Clock.
Fare, one ride, so cents !; fare for ex-
cursion over road and back, so cents.
R. H. BARR, agent.
New Castle, June I, 1888.
Mr.. Hogg explained that the reason
the fare for an excursion or round trip
was the same as that for a single trip
was to encourage people to come to
New Castle from Philadelphia by
steamer and enjoy the great novelty of
riding behind the only locomotive in
the country, and large numbers availed
themselves of the opportunity.
A cause of great annoyance on the
road was the ugly fashion the iron bars
used as rails had of curling up at the
ends, caused by the spikes becoming
loose. These curling ends of IRON were
nicknamed "snakes' heads" by railroad
men. The mode of telegraphing, or
signalling, was very crude, but owing to
the road being short it acted very well.
The signalling was done by flags flying
from tall poles along the route. White
| flags meant that the train was moving,
and red that it had stopped. At New
Castle, instead of from a pole, the
signalling was done from the Court
House steeple.
When the construction of the Will
mington and Susquehanna Railroad,
which is now part of the Philadelphia,
Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad,
was commenced (about 1889 Mr..
Hogg obtained a contract to build the
road near Whitaker's Dam, which is not
far from North East. Md. After finish
ing this work, which occupied his atten-
ton about year, he was employed by
the company, under George Craig, to
build all the "sldings," which were then
known as ''turnouts," between Charles
town, Md, and Prices Woods, above
Newark, Del. The road then, and for
many years afterwards had but one
track
While MIR. Hogg was working on the
road, after it began operations, there
was no system of oftelegraphing, and when
there was an accident word had to be
sent for help to Wilmington. There was
an accident at Bacon Hill, three miles
below this town, in which one or two
persons were killed and others injured,
and Mr.. Hogg rode for aid to Whining
ton, distance of over 20 miles, in an hour
and threequarters, without changing
horses. Mr.. Hogg was afterwards en-
ployed as conductor on a freight train
on the Philad lphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Railroad. There was at first
but one freight train each way daily.
He advanced until he became what is
known as through conductor" between
New York and Washington. He had
nothing to do, however, with collecting
tickets, this being done by the conduc-
tors OF the local roads His duties were
to furnish the passengers with informa-
ton and take care of their baggage.
Mr.. Hogg made his home at the Ma
tional Hotel, Washington, and was on
terms of intimacy with many statesmen
who journeyed to and from the capital
under his care, among others Secretary
Seward and Senator James Bayard. He
often carried John w. Forney's Wash
ington letters to Philadelphia.
Mr.. Hogg was compelled to retire
from active service at the close of the
Centennial year, being partially dis
abled by rheumatism. He is still able
TO walk about, and occasionally takes
a ride on the cars. He is widely known
among railroad men, many of whom
famliarly call him "Pap." He was
born May 5, 1905. Mr.. Hogg spends
most OF his time at his residence at
Elkton, where he is tenderly cared for
by his three daughters.
Easily Solved.
Some Of the problems OF life may be
easily answered, if we can content our
selves with a practical solution. Facts
may be less satisfactory Oh the surface,
than spread-eagle oratorY. but they will
sometimes persist in thrusting them
selves forward.
''Wny haven't | a -hundred-acre
farm as well as that man riding by in
his carriage?" yelled red-nosed