The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-25
SAILS ON LOCOMOTIVES.
Usai4ue Exhibit for the Charleston
Inter-sta9e Exposition.


Iater-state Exposition.
CHARLESTON. S. c., Dec. Z5.-An in
teresting exhibit ;or the South Carolina
Interstate and West Indian Exposition
Will show the great strides made in rapid
transit since the first locomotive, known
as the Flying DutchInan.' was built for
tie short railway line running ont Of this
city
An exact representation Of this Ioeoipo-
tive viii be placed with the railway ex-
hihit. The old South Carolina Railway was
organized Nay II. 1928. and was the sec
ond railway company formed in the United
States for commercial purposes and for
freight and passenger transportation. Dur
ing the year 1929 six miles of road was
built The same year a premium OF $500
for the best locomotive By horsepower was
awarded 10 c. z. Detmo!d. who invented
one worked on an endless chain platform
or treadmia and which carried y passen-
gers at the rate of u mfles an hour This
was the locomotive which was known as
Tie Flying Dutehman"
IN the same year sailing car Vas tested
in Charieston. According 10 the accounts
printed at the time sail was set on car
while great eonceGrse OF people watched
the proceedings. Fifteen passengers got
aboard aud they were whisked of ct Is
mile clip Thirteen passengers and
three tons Of iron were hauled at the speed
Of ten miles an hour. The account goes
on to describe how, while travelling at It's
marvellous speed Of u miles all hour
saad loaded with multitude consisting OF
u passengers, the mast went by the board
With the sail ana rigging attached, carry
ing with ii several Of the crew. The wreck
was described by several friendly ship
masters, who kindly rendered assistance
n rigging iurymast, and the car was soon
put under way
In spite of the tremendous speed at
tanned By this sail car, the promoters OF
the enterprise commissioned E. l. Miller
Of Charleston, TO construct locomotive
20 make ten miles an hour and 10 carry
three times its weight This was the
Best Friend of Charleston" the first To-
comotive built IN America. -Four months
after the trial trip an accident occurred
and 20 guard against other accidents the
railway company issued rule thst not
more than twenty-five passengers should
be allowed on each car The rules con-
tiIued: The locomotive shall not trav-
ell at greater speed when there is at
ta1ned: One car and passengers at If
teen miles an hour; two cars and passen-
gers at twelve miles an hour and 5hree
cars and passengers at ten miles an
hour On June II. 1891, the existence OF
the Best Friend OF Charleston was ter
minated. at the age of seve3 months, by
an explosion OF the boiler.
The second locomotive built IN the Unit
ed States, The West Point" had. how
ever, already been in use on the South
Carolina Railway for about three months,
and With this the unprecedented speed OF
two and three-fcurths mics in eleven
minutes was attained. when a stop of two
minutes vas required for the purpose OF
oiling the axIes. Remarkable improve
ments we're introduced, and the train,
/ consisting of four passenger cars. bar
rieF car to protect the clothing OF pas
| Sengers from sparks, and the engine to-
gether, carried I26 people, 30 Of whom
were ladies.
The exposition directors have been
looking into the history OF the old loco
motives and trains. and their idea is 10
give an exhibit which will be unique. OF
It's kind, and which viii be interesting to
The great public which is accustomed TO
the ane railroad service OF today.