The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-06
OUR FIRST ENGINEER.
Wood Benson's Hand Held Throttle
of Americas First Locomotive.

WOOD b6nSC0'S hdnO deln 'hFoIIIc
of Americas First Locomotive.
Wood Benson is a man "a 49, and
yet TO history unknown, and he lives in
a big east side lodging house for men,
says the New York Mail and Express.
The manager introduced him as
character" and as he came forward
to shake hands his looks did not belle
the title.
A straight, lank, vigorous old man,
with cleanly shaver face. composed of
innumerable little wrinkles and sur
mounted by wig of bright brown hair,
Carefully oiled and brushed into smooth,
shining waves; his eyes blue and clear,
and holding a whimsical smile as he
apologized for not being prepared for
company, at the same time STOPPING to
turn down the trousers, which had been
we'll rolled above his shoes and a gen
erOUS length of white socks
An air of simple cOrdiality lent dignity
to his hOmely surroundings, and in his
manner were both mOdesty and pride
as he related his experience of long
ago.
1t was on May p, 1929. that the first
locomotive in America made its trial
trip. but in spite OF the intervening
years that day is still fresh in the
memory of the old engineer as he tells
of the run between Albany and Schen-
ectady, with Thurlow Weed. General
Scott and Commodore Vanderbilt
among the passengers.
"Oh. that was a day-a proud day
for all of US. and then the handshaking
began at the end of the line. General
Scott stepped up and shook mine the
hardest of all, 1t was a great run, but
there's no one left that made il but
me-"
The old man closed his eyes, and soft
ly strOked one thin hand over the other,
as he travelled back along the route
now leading him so near to the
terminus.
u began life as boy down in the
there long I'd heard a lot of talk
about railroads and engines, till the
wheels got into my head. ] wanted
to go off and see what was in the world
and many'S the time I'd have cut and
run if il hadn't been for Eaving my
mother After awhile she saw how I
felt and told me to 60 She said if I
kept straight and there was anything
in me it would find a way to get out
And | did, for l worked my passage to
England on a freight Ehip and when
there the first thing started in to see
was a locomotive.
For days and nights I didn't see
much of anything else. There were two
roads in operation over there then, and
1 just lived on them by hook and crook
until 1 learned the business Finally I
was taken on. first as fireman, then as
engineer and then when the old John
Bull vas built to be sent to America.
it was 1 that came over with it and
my hand that held the throttle on its
maiden run.
He paused, forgetfuI of the present.
and l waited while he lived again his
youth, his ambitions and his triumphs.
Slipping trembling hand beneath his
coat he drew forth worn and yellowed
paper, bearing, as ghostly Endorsement
of his story, the autographs of men
whose names have been framed for al
most century as the financiers of the
first railroading on this continent.
With a pride plainly showing it to
have been to him the browning glory
of his career, he told of the gift pre-
scented by Commodore. Vanderbilt set
of false teeth fearfully and wonderfully
made at a cost of $50
You must be much older than YOU
look" I said. Now, if the man lives
above 30 who does not enjoy being told
that he looks younger than he is. that
man IS certainly not Wood Benson. I
had touched his little weakness. and
supplied the brown wig and braced the
bending back made ready response.
Why. ma am. I'm a wonder. really
am SO years old and sound as a nut:
never wore glasses in my life. shave
every day, read and write and feel sprv
as / did at so. l don't drink. smoke or
chew. and don't mix with those men,
Ny eyes followed his through the big
cherries hail to the groups of unkempt
tramp-like beings, absorbing all the
warmth and comfort they could find
for the meager price of a nights Iodg
ing, and then returned to rest on the
quiet. Datient figure of this wonderful
old man. He read my thought and an
swered:
I'll tell you what has kept me from
being one of them-a good wife. Cod
bless her! 1 had her with me for over
fifty years. and there's never A dav
that ] can't feel her with me now 7
want to tell you that there's nothing
on earth 10 Keep man straight like a
good woman"
Are you not unhappy here?"
No. he replied, with queer little
WTinkled smile, nothing makes me nm
happy but tight boot. Every one is
kind to me, and have all I need
Tn pretty low down. and T
shouldn't like any old friends to know
just Whefe YOU II und me. But it's bet
ter Tran to ooSr house. / couldn't
stand charity. | won't owe the world
a dollar. lave enough laid by for
bread and bed as long as I need them
and something over TO bury me. and
one thing that no one can ever take
away. and that is MY God"
Al re door he turned and extended
friendly hand
~ glad you came he said. 1T does
me good TO talk. don't suppose 1 shan
be here long. it's almost time for nv,
last run, but if you ever visit the
Smithsonian Institution in Washington
and see there the old John Bull. per.
haps you will give a kindly thought 10
the old engineer"
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