The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-29

Mr.. Wright and j. A. Wilson who SUI
perintended the construction of the wires,
and Joseph TetlOw of the Union Railroad
Company. Inside the car were n half
dozen electrical experts and few espe-
cially invited guests, among whom was
the NEWS representative.
The first run was to the turnout oppo-
site the gate at Roger Williams Park,
and IL was made with the greatest ease.
The motor and car seemed to be on their
good behavior and none of those vexatious
delays, so common in new machinery,
road with one or two exceptions were not
in the least frightened by the car. Only
In one instance did any driver need the
slightest assistance, and in that case Mr.
Tetlow jumped quickly from the car
seized the horses head as 1t was prepar-
ing to spring forward, and in an instant
had quieted IL. The second run was to
the turnout at the city line, and as it was
mostly straight track, Mr.. Potter gave his
lever an extra turn. Thelpeculiar whir-
ring of the brushes grew more and more
distinct and in three or four seconds the
about twelve miles an hour. 1t was a
delightful sensation to one who has been
so long used to moving along at the ''jog
trot" speed of the car drawn by
horses. Faster and faster she.sped along
until the horse car which followed
tance. Bicyciists found it hard and hot
work to keep up with this new-fangled
machine" which moved so swiftly and
easily along the iron rails. All along the
line eager faces filled every window and
handkerchiefs were waved by hundreds
who were glad TO see the innovation that
is to bring the suburban workingman
within a few minutes ride of his home.
Gray-haired men who knew the country
long before the advent of the steam rail-
road, stood in the dooryards of their
homesteads and shook their hats Justify as
the car sped by. From every cross street
people rushed to see the wondrous car. BY
the time the top of the hill in Pawtuxet
was reached large number of the village
people knew of its coming, and scarcely
had the end Of the route been reached
when hundreds of eager sightseers gath
cred around the car. Men, women, chill
dren, with hats and coats, and without
coats and hats. The dogs even barked for
Joy, and little ragged urchin stood shiv-
ering in the cold while his chum said TO
him "Say, jim, she don't have TO have
hosses, does she That there round
wheel on the long pole moves her, and she
goes fyin'."
"How fast did she come" said one man
to another as they stood gazing at the car
"Well, / tell you" said No 2, II was
eatin' supper and heerd the gong sound,
and aiore could git up from the table
and run TO the front winder she was al
most out Of sight | only seed the tail end
of her as she flew along the road"
At this point the guests and the gentle
men in charge were informed by a tele-
phone message that an accident had hap
pened in the Power House of the Nara
gansett Company, and delay of nearly
two hours was caused But there was
ample entertainment To be had. Walter
Watson, proprietor of the Pawtuxet
Pharmacy, kept open house and his clerks
were kept busy drawing hot chocolate for
the crowd.
The return trip was begun little after
O o'clock, and the cleaning incandescent
lights inside the car and showing through
the glass sides lit up the roadway for hun
dreds Of feet around. With one exception
of an imperfect connection between the
rails, causing slight delay, the return
trip was as successful as the outward one
IL was nearly quarter of seven when the
car finally reached the barn and the first
trip of the "Broom handle" car in Provi-
dence was ended.