The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-21

old lady's eyes and a flood of memories
from the past filled her mind. She remem-
bered the day when, q schoolgirl. she stood
by the track and saw the John Bull putting
along and how her lover waved his cap to
her from the window of the roughly con-
structed cab. Her husband died In this
city two years ago, but his aged wife
remembers every detail of his life. and that
is largely history of early railroading in
America.
The engine was first built in England in
1881, but was knocked down" year later
and sent TO New York. The West Point
Iron Works at that time was TO the mechan-
ical world what the Schenectady works are
to-day. In the works was lad 49, years old
who was serving one of the Olf-time appren-
ticeships. David Matthew was already a
skilled workman, and when the parts Of the
engine arrived at the works and the supern-
tendent, who had more faith in the boy than
he had iu the success Of the John Bull, told
young David that in the event OF his put
ting the machine In working order he would
give him a master Workman's paSers, the
boy set to work with a will. Early in the
winter of 1928 the official of the Mohawk
and Hudson Railway announced TO their
friends that the new engine would make a
trial trip on Head West plain, one mile from
Schenectady. On that aus pieOuS day The
great men of the road, attired in their old
fashioned but very swell garments, entered
the coaches with a select party OF friends.
On tie JOHN Bull were David Matthew,
engineer, and John Mills, fireman. The
| boy engineer opened the throttle and took
the now queer looking little cars sailing
over the country.
In The throng which gathered along the
| road to see the steam, Dgne was the
| engineers future bride.
Robert Crooks of New York was at that
| time president OF the road and Whitney of
| Schenectady the general superintendent
The John Bull proved success and for
many years af;erward made the round trip
| to Albany. The coaches would hold Just
| one dozen passengers each. They were
strikingly similar to the body Of a modern
| stagecOach. As the trip was short snch
| modern attachments as uniformed porterS,
| dining-cars and newshoyS were not TO be
seen. There was 10 crossing from one car
| to another, no aisles, as the seats extended
| entirely across the car. Four wheels were
enough for each car, as they were by far
| lighter than those used on the narrow-gauge
| roads of to-day.
Bat the John Bull" roaring, putting and
whstling. was what interested the old New
| Workers. Mrs. Matthew says that it was
the talk of all. School children, housewives
| aud their masculine relations would assem-
| Bile al points on the road to seeyoung David
and his flying machine. The oddness of the
| John Bull would amuse rather than terrty
! the modern American. Wood was the fuel
used, and small quantity was taken on at
| points on the line. The water was not all
| placed in the boiler to be heated at once,
| but was carried in large hOgShead arrange
ment on truck, or what is now called the
tender of the engine proper. The six
| wheels were small, and evidently the I'M
| p0rtance of powerful drive wheels was not
appreciated by the builders Of the first
| locomotives. The smokestack resembled
an ordinary piece of stovepipe, while the
| sandbox was missing entirely. The cab
| was a slightly constructed umbrellg-like
affair, and afforded the engineer and fire.
man little comfort from the elements. The
4 very important pist0n-rod did not have the
| smooth stroke that the ones on the tiiers
| of to-day have.
| Verify, it was guerra mere ghost or
frame Of the great engines of to-day.
The English builders of the John Bull
| had been complimentary enough TO Ameri-
can genius to call it the Fulton, and her
| purchasers returned the courtesy by be-
daubing her Engine No. 1, the John Bull
| The great engines on the Hudson road OF
to-day may do all kinds of work, may cost
| thousands of dollars, but the little machine
now en- route to Chicago holds the title of
| Mol
The knowledge of Mrs. Matthew on rail-
way subjects is surprising. Although past
! threescOre years and of thoroughly
| dOmesticated nature, she delights TO talk on
this subject. She can also relate many in-
side facts Of the early Improvements in this
| class of machinery. According TO her, the
spark-arrestel which made Thomas Shocks
| of Rochester q millionaire was an inven-
| ton of her husband. He gave the rights to
Shook as an act of friendship. little realIz-
ing the money there was in the simple in
vention.
Before he died Mr. Matthew made diary
like history of the early locomotives. among
them the John Bull, and also made draw
| lngs from memory. The collection he had
| copyrighted and sent TO his wife and emil
dren, believing that in the lapse OF time
they would, as they have, become valuable.
lie also had valuable rights in the headlight
invention, but like many other inventors he
lost all, leaving posterity only an honorable
career and name.
With his wife be came into the Oakland
| mole on the first westbou1d train over the
then newly completed Central Pacific.
He was particularly anxious to make the
trip on account Of his never tagging interest
| in railway affairs.
Mrs. Matthew values her collection and
believes 1t to contain the best authority on
subjects pertaining to early railroad build
ing in America.
Il can remember all about the engine and
inc trial Trip Just as If were yesterday,
says Mrs Matthew. II was a schoolgirl
then aud was very anxious TO have a ride
on the new steamcars. Very happy was
| when, rugged out In my Sunday best, l wa:
| allowed 10 take short trip. Everything
was new. and even well-bred and intelligent
people acted in manner that would cause
laughter in these days. AS soon as read
the item II all came back to me-"
Mrs. Matthew did not know that the John
Bull was still in existence. and the news
that in his old age John has started fol
Chicago rather startled the good lady.
a few years before her husband died
Mrs. Matthew wrote a lengthy poem de.
seriblng the advent of the locomotive int
New York, and this so pleased her husband
that he had few copies made In book form
for immediate friends and relatives. Wher
she spoke of thunder it was not in tht
quantity that the compounds OF to-day
make. Twenty miles, more or less was
fair hours run for John Bull including tn,
stops She thinks that the trip to Chicag
will be successfully made, however, ant
will eagerly await the news Of the arriYa
in the exposition city.
The engine used 20 consume ms much oil
As fuel. and its old acquaintance naturall
wonders bow much will be consumed o