Evening journal., 1897-10-22
ON FIRST CARS.
GREAT OLD wssreRNER TELLS
HIS RIDE
FROM NEW CASTLE TO FRENCH
TOWN ON THE RAIL COACHES
HUNG TO ONE MACHINE"

Davy Crockett is one of the heroes of
every American boy. He and Daniel
Boone and Kit Carson are the trinity
OF the youthful imagination when the
killing OF Indians and the Staying of
wild animals are supposed to be the
noblest works OF mankind. AS the
boys hear or read stories OF them they
long for the time when they will be
able to 20 into the Western wilds and
emulate their deeds of heroism.
Every Delawarean knows that one of
the first railroads operated in this coun-
try was from FrenchtOwn, on Elk
creek, Cecil county, Md, to New Cas-
tie, in this county. IL has for many
years been a thing OF the past but in
many places the grading is still visible.
While reading the autobiography OF
Davy Crockett the other evening an
Evening Journal reporter came across
the following which brings Dayy's tour
of the Northern States right home to |
us:
During the session of this Congress, !
l thought / would take a travel through !
the Northern States. l had braved the
lonely forests OF the West, had shoul |
dered the warriors rifle in the far
South; but the North and East l hadl
Fnever seen. seemed to like members
Of Congress who came from these parts,
i and wished to know what kinds of con-
| stituents they had. These considera-
tions, in addition to my physicians ad-
vice to travel a little for my health, in
duced me to leave Washington on the
25th day Of April, 1894, and steer for the
North
II arrived that same evening at Bar
NUNS Hotel in Baltimore. Uncle Davy,l
as he Is often called, was right glad to-
, see me, perhaps because we were name
sakes; or maybe he always likes to see
folks patronize his house. He has a
pleasant face anyhow and his acts
don't belle it. No one need look for bet
ter quarters; II they do, 1t will be be-
cause they don't know when they are
satisfied.
shortly after arrived was called
upon and asked to eat supper with a
, number OF gentlemen. l went and
. passed the evening pleasantly with my
! friend Wilkes and others.
4 early next morning, / started for
4 Philadelphia, place where had never
: been. | sort OF felt lonesome as l went
. down to the steamboat. The idea OF go
J, ing among a new people, where there
= are tens OF thousands who would pass
= = me by without knowing or caring who
\ | was, who are all taken up with their
n own pleasures or their own business,
made me feel small; ana. indeed II any
;. one who reads this book has grand
= idea OF his own Importance let him go
:, to big city, and he will find that he is
not higher valued than a coon-slkin.
"The steamboat was the Carroll, OF
~ Carrollton. a fine craft with the rum
!, old Commodore Chaytor for head man.
A f,l In fa oil ~ an
II bowling and scraping to the ladies, nod
ding to the gentlemen, cursing the
crew, and his right eye broadcast upon
the opposition line all at the same
g time Let gol' said the old one, and
~ OF we walked in prime style.
n I'VE Immediately came past Fort Nc
< Henry justly celebrated for its gallant
le defence under Armistead, Stewart
III Nicholson, Nevcomb and others during
le the last war; and shortly after we pass
ID ed North Point, where the British land.
of ed to make what they never dared, an
Iei attack on Baltimore. .,n
T. Our passage down the Chesapeake
a. bay was very pleasant and in a yer!
as short run we came to the place wher'
MT we were to get on board of the railroad
ce cars.
c. This was a clean new sight to me;
he dozen big stages hung on to one ma
MT chine. and to start up hill After
ht good deal of fuss, we all got seated an
ne moved slowly of, the engine wheezin
yn as il she had the tizzick. By-and-b
ch she began to take short breaths, an
ne away we went with blue streak afte
les us. The whole distance is seventee
lr- miles. and it was run in fifty-five min
n utes
n while I was whizzing along l burs
out laughing One of the passenger
asked me what II was at. why say
/, it's no wonder the fellows horse
is- run on A Carolina wagner had jus
lly crossed the railroad, from Charlesto
tic to Augusta, when the engine hove /
in sight with the cars attached IL wa
on growing dark and the sparks were ny
Ior ing in all directions. His horse ran OF
rie broke his wagon and smashed his con
ay bustibles into items. He ran to tf
wo house for help, and when they aske
re him what scared his horses, he said
IL didn't jist know, but it must be hell
ew harness.
"At Delaware City / again embarke
ls on board of a splendid steamboa
M which ran to Philadelphia"
nm Later on in his narrative Davy says.
a.. After some time, we got upon a raj
No. road where they say we run twenty-flN
,n- miles an hour. / can only judge OF II
,d speed by putting my head out to spi
~, which | did, and overlook 1t so quiC
that il hit me smack in the face"
ue when "Davy" speaks OF Delawal
a., City he undoubtedly means New Castl
ne as the Philadelphia boat ran here an
~ connected with the cars.
IT. PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD SPI