The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-05
Man Who Was Engineer Of
First Locomotive In America.
DIES At NEW YORK PENNllESS.
Three Cscadss Ago v, Was IN Comfortable
Circumstances, bot Lost HIs Property
Through Wall Street Speculation

New York oct 5.-wood Benson, en-.
rineer Of the fire locomotive operated in
America. died yesterday In the county
simshouse. lie was alone and penniiess
lie was prominent and comparatively
wealthy thirty years ago. but criends ad-
viscd him into making unfortunate spec
ulations. lie survived his associates ~
other days and vas forced 10 take refuge
In the workhouse on Blsckwelis Island.
lie asked permission 10 make a trip 70
Manhattan N the carly part of June
I'm ninety.rve years old, he said.
and am getting near the end OF my
run. want to see the old place again
and hunt up some Of The boys"
Benson could mover realize that all Of
his friends were dead and talked IN
cessently Of his former associates, whom
he imagined were still about The old
hauuts.
The warden OF the vorkhouse made
an effort 10 detain him. but the old
gentleman insited so strongly that " Was
decided To let him go TO town. Shortly
after he got OF the ferry boat he stumbled
and received scalp wound, and was
taken to Bellevue hospital, where he re-
mained until June Is
HIS CONDITION SERIOUS.
His condition became SO serious that
in spite Of hts protests II was decided
TO commit him 20 the keeping OF Super
intendent Blair Of the outdoor Poor DC
partment. lie got the most comfortable
room M the almshouso, but failed 10 rally.
and his death came Yesterday afternoon.
During his illness the old engineer had
talked OF people In sblnston ID G..
and had given the name OF Marcus g.
Roselle, Arlington Hotel, washington, as
his only friend. Last night = telegram
was received by Undertaken John j. Ma
loney. who had taken charge OF the body.
from Mr. Roselle saving that he would
be responsible for all funeral expenses
The old engineer tod marvellous tales
OF other days and gave "A graphic de-
scription 10 the attendants at tho aims
house Of the first run made on locomo-
tive ia America. IL was on May p, 1870.
that he made this run onsth John Bull
from Schenectady 10 Albany, through the
Mohawk Valley
The engine had been built in England
and shipped to this country. " was
made mostly from wood Several DAYS
ago the old engineer told OF the wonder
ing crowds which saw the start. and of
how the people gave him a ride on their
shoulders when the trip was ended
HAD LIST or PASSENGERS.
He carried with him always a list Of
passengers on the first train This in
cluded the names of Erastus Corning
Ex-Governor Yates. J. j. Boyd Thurlow
Weed. Billy Winn, High Constable HAYS
Joseph Alexander Of the Commercial
Bank of New York: Lewis Benedict j.
]. De Graft, u. L. Gibbons and John
Townsend
Benson told OF his boyhood career in
the Dutch settlement about New York.
lie was born near the junction or old
Amity lane. now Third street, and North
River. HIS grandfather owned farm
in this locality. Benson served his ap-
premiership as an engineer with his uncle
In Brooklyn. and went to Albany. where
he was residing when selected TO run the
John Bull on its first trip
Benson was for fifty years an engineer.
lie ran the De Witt G. Clinton and the
Bordentown, the Arst locomotives built
IN this country.
lie invested most ~ his savings I'm war
bonds, upon which he made $50 0O0. lie
lived I'm comfort until. some years ago.
he decided TO speculate in Wall street
His whole fortune was wiped out and
he went 10 live at a Mills Hotel Two
years ago he made a voluntary applica-
ton to serve IN the workhouse on Black
wells Island. Here he was made libra
rian. or which position he was very proud
Among his effects are pictures of the
locomotives which he first operated.