The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-11-26

Jane MARS was found a copy of the
Laurensyille Herald of the date of oc
tober "a, 1851, which Mr.. l.. G. Bale
has kindly loaned to The ADVERTISER
and from which the letter reprinted
below is taken. The author of the let,
ter was DR.. John w. Simpson, grand,
father of Col. H. Y. Simpson. His
notes about the early days of railroad.
ing are especially interesting.
This old copy of The Herald contains
the salutatory editorial Of the late R.
Nj. Stokes and in the paper also appear
the following marriage notices.
Major j. O. Eiohelberger of New,
berry and Miss Lizzie Addison of New
berry at Lexington, Oct. IS, 1851.
VIM Blakeley and Miss Melinda Ma.
hafy of G~reenyiile, September 30.
A. Alexander and Miss Mary Willis,
both OF Spartanburg, Sept. "a.
Franklin Blakeley and Miss Susan
Moore OF Spartanburg, Sept. 25.
|. Samuel Simpson and Miss Lucy Mile.
ner OF Laurens, Sept. 25.
Capt. VIM. Leek and Miss M. M
Willis, Oct 81.
The following is the letter of DR.,
Simpson describing the wonders O
railroading in those early days when q
trip from Columbia TO Laurens in IL
hours was regarded an "annihilation Of
spaces"
Mr.. Editor: Having just returned
from Columbia, 1 have seated myself
down for a few moments, while all the
incidents of the journey are fresh be.
fore me, to spread before the public
generally, but more especially the
stockholders of the Laurens Railroad
all the Information I possess as to Its
present condition and its future pros.
pects.
On Thursday last, Maj. Eichelberg
err, Mr.. George Irby and myself, sci
out for Columbia, having in charge
Miss 1. Irby, Miss r. Farrow, and my
daughter, Corry--the two former for
Mr.. Miller's school and the two latter
for BerhamvIlle.
The old and oft travelled road tic
Newberry presented no new attrac-
tions for q few miles, until we came in
view of the Laurens Railroad track,
which we saw about four miles below
the village, and from that point to
within about six miles Of Newberry @.
HI. it is rarely out of sight of the stage
road, running nearly parallel with 1t
for about twenty miles; and from an
off-hand Rehabilitation Of my own, l esti-
mate that about five-sixths Of the grad.
ing from three and q half miles below
Laurensville to eight and a half miles
above Newberry G. II. is completed, to
which latter point, the timbers are now
put down, and to which the engine will
run by Thursday, the 23rd inst. 1t is
confidently expected by Mr.. Gibbs,
chief engineer, to have the road COM
pleted to Martins by the first of Feb
ruary, and to the Trussle, at Milam's
branch, which is four miles below Lau-
~rensvllle, early in June.
Having meditated with much solicit
tude, upon the grand enterprises of this
"go-ahead age," I could but feel proud
that Dame Fortune had sent some of
them this way, and that we Laurens
people were so soon to witness the con-
summation OF this great thoroughfare
that is to work wonders in the pros
perity Of this up-country.
Having now reached by u own
conveyance, the pleasant site, known
by the name of Jalappa, about seven
miles above Newberry @. H., to which
point and q short distance above, the
iron is laid, and a depot and water
tankard is located and now ready for
use, we met with our friend, Mr.. J. G.
| Gibbs, our very worthy and efficient en-
gineer, through whose kindness, as well
| as that OF Mr.. Warren, the conductor,
and Mr.. Miles, tie engineer OF our
Laurens engine, we were permitted
| the pleasure of 8 ride to Newberry G.
| H., where we spent the night-was fed
and lodged by Mr.. Marshal, at the
| Magnolia House, than whom you need
! not want a more attentive and accom-
modating landlord. By about 10 the
next morning, we were all on board
for Columbia, and being pleasantly
seated In a car of fine finish, with q
tried locomotive and engineer, we
feared no evil. The little incident OF
cutting off the leg OF a mule, and the
pitching OF q horse off a trussle, so that
he died, and the running off the track,
was calculated rather to heighten the
romance of the scene, than to produce
alarm, for 1t was all over 30 quick,