Evening journal., 1912-12-20

The work of building the railroad
was continued during the winter
months. The cold was intense, the
ground frozen so hard that the work
men burned great piles of wood to
thaw the earth enough to enable them
to dig
Jacob Pluck was one Of the garri-
son at Fort Defiance. He had a num-
Der of teams employed on the rail-
road. His son, Stephen Pluck, was
kindly genial old man whom | knew
very we'll. as he died less than dozen
years ago at the advanced age of "a
years. Mr. Pluck has often talked to
me Of. the building of the railroad.
One bitter cold evening a boat from
Baltimore brought lot Of visitors,
they expecting to return the next day,
but ere they could get away the boat
was frozen tight and fast in the ice
and had to remain there for weeks.
Elkton merchants were obliged TO
haul all their goods from FrenchtoWn
in winter usually on sleds. When
navigation was closed for any great
length Of time the Elkton stores felt
their need of new goods. as their stock
was much depleted, and hailed with
delight tn breaking up Of the ice
Jonathan Spencer, of oxford, Mary
land. was captain of the Surprise,
the fastest steamer on the Chesapeake
Bay in 1918. and for some years was
on the regular steamboat line from
Baltimore to Frenchtown. (See Col
onial Families" by Mary Bourke En-
ory)
steam power being used, in 1888
the railroad had to rebuilt and iron
rails were used, these rails being hol-
low. During the use of horse power
there we're two stations, Glasgow and
Bear. at which places, horses were
changed. Only one horse was used
TO draw a car. The first steam loco
motive on this road was made in Eng
land and named the Delaware At
ter running a year it was rebuilt and
called the "Phoenix." This engine on
its arrival at New Castle, was put to-
gether by a person who tried to make
a model Of each part before he began
putting il together, and the length OF
time consumed may be imagined. Fin
ally the railroad company found out
what he was doing but history does
not record whether or not they al
lowed him time for his Yankee
trick. But after a long delay the ami
NAL was put together and started for
Frenchtown.
One of the greatest oversights in
planning this locomotive was that
there was no provision made for
water to supply it. The engineer was
compelled to stop at springs and wells
along the route to get the necessary
water. Several days were consumed
In making the trip from New Castle to
Frenchtown. New Castle was after
ward the place of manufacture OF
locomotives used on this road. They
were not of great use but as there
we're no grades to speak of they were
better than horses, and made the trip
from Elk to Delaware in one hour
Their speed was greater but the fear
OF accident was so strong that for
the sake of caution no attempt was
made to develop the power of these
engines The cars were curiosities
Each one had several doors in the
sides and would seat about ten OF
twelve persons. The Delaware Ga
zette and American Waterman,
printed and published by ]. Newton
Harker at No. 4 Market street, vii
mington. Delaware, Friday. October
26. 1892, contains this amusing no.
tice New Castle and FrenchtoWn
Railroad. A passenger car will be
dispatched from the depot at New
Castle on Wednesday afternoon al
two O'Clock and every afternoon al
that hour except Sunday, for French
town, thus offering to those who may
wish a pleasant aud delightful ride
over the railroad. Returning, leave
Frenchtown at FIVE o'clock in the
ha agpnn1nlrdaf I.
ed with one or more splendid car:
for the whole route or a shorter dis
tance. at any hour OF the afternoon
John ID Bird, Agent, \. Castle"
When the road was first in opera
ton. there were no conductors who
took tickets or attended to the wants
of the passengers. The captains anC
clerks at either end did this part o
the business.
The first attempt at telegraphinl
was by means Of black and white
flags, which operators raised on pole
thirty-hve feet in heighth. Their
were six Of these poles or stations
and when the train started the oper
ator or flagman at the next station
saw II he raised a white flag and 81
on along the entire route The whit
flag signalled the approach Of tn
train. Should the locomotive balk, a
it often did, the nagman hoisted
black nag. Various positions AM
combinations indicated other things
and as it was the work of a few min
utes to raise the flags, information
as to position OF the train could b
transmitted i'm about two minutes
from end to end of the line The NeN
Castle terminal had a curious arrange
ment OF frames covered with blacl
and white muslin. These were hoiste
in the Court House steeple and coul
be seen long distance.
One of the duties OF the TELEGRAPH
operator was similar to the track
walker of today They had to inspec
the track after the passing of eac
train. The tire frequently becam
loose and also the spikes, the creates
vigilance being necessary. When tn
business of the road was greatest tw
trains a day each way were run.
Pine wood was used exclusively o
this roads locomotives. and also o
the steamboats,. The wood came froi
the lower counties of the Easter
Shore. many vessels carrying
Frenchtown would have at one tim
as may as twenty-five or thirt y {
these lying at and near her whar
This. with the arrival and departur
OF two steamboats,, made much bus
ness. (JohnstOn's History Cecil Coz
After the building OF the Philade
phia. Wilmington and Baltimore raj
road, the Frenchtown and New Cast
railroad soon lost business. The tw