The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1910-03-13
SOME FOLKS
I'VE KNOW

'"e~">e~>s~~-~~s>~-->~s>~~ >Sne~~--~~>~~~es.
| Comparatively Few people are con
| Fersant with the early history Of
| Brunswick, and it is only when an OLD
| citizen becomes reminiscent that one
OF the present generation gets any
| information concerning the 'befo de
wah period of cur little city. Little,
If anything, has ever been written of
the times and people who aided in
the initial struggles to make this the
city and seaport that it is.
In this connection probably no more
interesting citizen can he found than
Capt. j. S. Morris, the venerable old
rallroader who lives at the old Lamb
place just beyond the Taylor-Crok
cypress mills. Captain Morris remov-
ed to Brunswick from Spartanburg,
S. c., in the early sos. when Bruins
WICK was mere village. and has
been conversant with her history ever
since. He played a part in the first
railroad enterprise ever started here
and talks most interestingly of the
events of the time, for he bears tbe
distinction OF having carried the first
train across the SatllIa river.
It was in 1852. according to CAPTAIN
Morris, that work first commenced TO-
ward The construction Of the Bruins
wick a. Florida railroad -afterward
the Brunswick & Western. For per
icd, only five miles of railway was
constructed and operated, and this
only part Of the time. The line then
ran as far as the AItamaha canal.
There seems to have been consid-
efal le indecision on the part of the
promoters of the railway as to wheta-
er to attempt to extend the road to-
ward Waycr0ss, as the crossing of
the Satilla river appeared an insur-
mountable barrier against the compile
ton of the enterprise as at first in
tended. Finally in 1856 the work was
extended to Satila Station. now Lu-
laton. An excursion Of Brunswick
folk went up, for in the meantime the
railway bridge had been completed
Robert Powell was the engineer in
charge of the crude locomotive of that
time and Mr.. hiorris was his fireman.
After the passengers had alighted,
just before the bridge was reached.
the engineer went in advance and
eckoned his fireman to bring the
train slowly over the, bridge, which he
did in safety. This was the accom-
p!i>nment OF years of hope and spec
nlation, for there were many civil en-
8ineers who doubted athe permanency,
not to mention safety. of a railway
orid2e. HoWerer, gais inspired new
hope and soon the gtrack was under
way TO Waycross, the original desti-
nation. This latter city was named in
those days Tebeauville.
In 1861 Waycrossr was reacheasi
While many peorle took advantage of
sthe optA rtunity 10 exchange visits be-
Teen the two places. ~2t here were
many citizens WHO looked upon the
improved mode Of travel with dis
trust.
Some knowing ones tell also that
many years elapsed afterwards be-
ioIS SO1lIe III Tue country IOlk llAlnS
at Intermediate points could be recCn-
ciled to the iron horse.
In 1863 the confederate government
tore up the track, taking the iron to
other parts of the country for war
purposes 1t was reconstructed after
The war and has ever since been a
potent factor toward the upbuilding
of Brunswick.
Mr.. Norris. who Is now in his Saith
year, is remarkably well preserved.
/ or nearly twenty years he was d
locomotive engineer in the employ of
the state road. the Western & Allan
tic. He attributes his good health ard
longevity to SOod habits. He acknoWl-
edges however. tia he has used to
bacco for the greater part of mis-
life. and takes tOddy whenever he
needs it, without observing any bane-
full effects. He is the grandfather of
J ohm w. Simmons, the circulation
manager OF the Atlanta Journal, who
is also one Of its Stockholders, and
is himself large holder of realty
values both here and in Fulton coun-