The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-03
GOLDEN SPIKE is DRIVEN.
Little Boy Gets Frightened and Mother
HELPS Drive II.

While cannons doomed, whistles blew,
crowds cheered. handkerchicfs and hats
waved, and bands played, the two special
trains arrived over the new Seaboard Air
Line in this city yesterday afternoon at
40 O'Clock. There was a deafening noise
about the grand-stand erected for the
driving of the last spike of the new road
and proclaiming its opening to all the
world. The tremendous crowds cheered
themselves hoarse when the first locomo-
tive was seen approaching around the
curve near Main Street The first locomo-
tive to arrive was No. 524 made by the
Richmond Locomotive and Machine Works,
bringing about ten coaches. This train
came to a standstll at the srand-stand.
The second train, with locomotive NO.
5O4 came to standstiu near Franklin
Street.
LITTLE BOY FRIGHTENED.
The Richmond Howitzers fired a salute
of twenty-one guns, three being Tor each
State traversed by the Seaboard Air Line
While the salute was being ilred Master
John Shelton Williams. Jr.. the three-year-
old son OF the president Of the dSeaboard
Air Line, was led by Mr.. ". f. Williams
superintendent OF telegraph OF the Sea-
board Air Line, to the hole where the
spike was to be driven. The little boy
was given the silver hammer and assisted
by MI Williams in driving the spike The
little bay became frightened by the noise
Shelton Williams caught him. and with
her assistance he finished driving the spike,
which connected with the telegraph wires
and signaliZed the opening of the road at
every station along the entire system OF
$500 miles. At every station along the
line between here and Tampa the operators
hoisted flags over the stations Immediately
after the driving of the spike.
There was no Speechmalling at the spike
driving. but all eyes were on the little
boy who was completing the work OF the,
great railroad system. He was dressed in
a white duck suit, a white cap, and a
pair of white kid shoes. On his packet and,
cap We're the letters, rs. A. L.
THOSE IN GRAND-STAND.
Among those who were in the grand
stand We're: Governor Joseph f. Johnson,
of Alabama, together with his staff, con-
sisting of Colonel w. w Brandon. Adju-.
tant-General: A. II. stephens. Paymas-
ter-General: r. J. Lowry. Inspector-Gene-
raj; Jack Spalding. Quartermast er-Gene-
raj: E. S. Brown, Commissary-Gen
Others who were present were Mayor ].
A. Smythe, of Charleston. S. c.: eN-Mayor
Robert C. Davidson. of Baltimore; Cover
nor TYLER. Mayor Taylor, Messrs. L. 2.
Morris. Leon Wallerstein, E. B. Addison,
E. Randolph Williams, B. B. Munford,
Irving Keyser, Heth Lorton; Robert Low
~. of Atlanta; Civil Engineer r. B. Sey-s
mour, John Shelton Williams, r. A. Lam
caster, Master Samuel Bemiss. Messrs. E.
l.. Bemiss, Thomas Cochrane. Henry Lee
Valentine. Chief of Police 3. F. Howard,
and two newspaper reporters.
The words on the golden spike Were
..Te Deum Laudamus." Shortly after it
was driven in the hole it was drawn out.
Both the spike and the little silver ham
mer will be given to Master John Shelton
Williams, Jr.
PARADE TO CAPITOL
After the conclusion of the spike-driyins
the trains pulled into the Broad Street
Chesapeake and Ohio depot, where the.
passengers took carriages and followed.
the parade to the Capitol where the public
exercises took place, The Richmond How
itzers preceded the Richmond Light In-s
fantry Blues Band in the parade; then
came the battalion in charge of Captain
Cheatwood. The HoWitzsrs were COM
manded by Lieutenant II. G.. sWhittett.
The decorations al tho grand-stand and
along the trestle were profuse. Even the
engines bringing the two trains were deco
rated with flags and colors.
This crowds were assembled in every
available space. The Seaboard Air Line
employees were standing on the wooden