The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-08

tlIttl ue Was lue uTSI locomotive eQSl-
neer on the South Carolina railway,
and consequently the first one in the
United States. Mr.. Haddon also stated
thath was an Englishman, and was
sent over by George Stevenson, the
father of the locomotive engine, as an
expert IN charge of four locomotives for
the South Carolina railway. These
engines were the Sumter" 'sOrange-
burg" "Ohio' and Tennessee" which
will probably be remembered by some
of the older Carolinians.
This interview has been widely copied
by papers in this State as we'll as else
where, the statement being matter of
wide interest has generally been read.
1t was especially commented upon in
Charleston. where historical facts in
reference to the South Carolina railway
are always interesting. The "old
timers" Of the railway also took great
interest in the statement.
Itseems after all that Mr. Haddon
was not the first engineer of the first
real railroad in the country.
Mr.. Thos. B. Hacker, connected with
the firm of George S. Hacker & Son of
this city, as boy, was connected with
the mechanical department of the
South Carolina railway when it first
commenced operations and he is per-
fectly familiar with the circumstances
in reference to engineers and engines
in the infancy of the road. In addition
to his own recollection in the matter,
Mr.. Hacker has carefully treasured
some pamphlets of the report of the
directors and the master machinist of
the time, which clearly show that Mr..
Haddon was neither the first engineer,
nor were hisservices necessary in teach
ing the American employees of the
company how to put up the engines as
they were first received from England,
because they did it without English
instruction.
Mr.. Hacker said to World reporter
yesterday that being personally ae-
quainted with most of the facts, and
having received others from Haddon
and others mentioned later in this
article, he was prepared to state that
Mr.. Dorrell, the master machinist at
the commencement Of the road, was
the first engineer. He was the first to
nthe "Best Friend" the first loco
motive ever placed on a railroad in the
United States. That engine having
exploded and gone to pieces, It was~
rebuilt and called the "Poenix," and
was still run by Mr.. Dorrell.
After that came Mr.. II. G.. Raworth
who is now the veteran engineer Of the
country, and who lives at present in
Augusta.
Mr.. Hacker thinks Mr.. Haddon's
description of the engines of that time
very imperfect, and describes them as
follows: The main peculiarities these
engines was in the arrangement Of the
eccentrics for which there were two
uses for back or head. They were fast
ened to harrell, which revolved on the
driving axle and the engines were
given direction by clutch fastened
thereon, which placed the eccentric on
the proper angle with the crank. The
steam pipes were placed on the outside
while now they are placed on the smoke
box.
THE engines had no cabs, but four
stanchions were fastened to the foot
board to support frame work, over
which was stretched tarpaulan to
protect the engineer and fireman from
the weather"
Returning to the question Of who was
the first engineer, Mr.. Hacker referred
to Mr.. Haddon's statement that he
came here in 1888, and showed from
the company's reports that the "Suna-
ter" Marion" and "Ohio," which he
claimed be run Immediately after he
came to this country, were not put on
the road until 1885, and that it was not
probable that he should come from
England from Stephenson, the loco
motive builder, to take charge of his
engine, and then not assume duty until
1885, while the road had been running
before that time.
Mr.. Hacker is very much interested
in the road and is naturally desirous
that so interesting an historical fact
should be set straight. Mr.. John Her
nandez, who served his time in the old
Line street shops. who for several
years was foreman. agreed with Mr..
Hacker in his recollections.