Evening star., 1921-04-24

press. it ran into a COW and the pas
sensers. having been tilted out and
rolled down an empankment, were,
naturally enough, unanimous in con-
deming the contrivance. And 80 the
horsepower car. after countless bad
jokes had been perpetrated on the
cowed editors. passed out Of existence.
and probably out of mind.
Following the horsepower car on
the Baltimore and Ohio came the "Me-
teor. This was a sailing-vehicle, the
invention of Evan Thomas. who was.
perhaps the first person who advo-
dtted railroads in Baltimore. The
Meteor required a good gale to drive
it and would only run when the wind
was that sailors call abaft. or on the
quarter. Head winds were fatal 20 it
and Mr.. Thomas was afraid to trust
strong side wind lesi the vehicle
might DO upset; so it rarely made its
appearance except a northwester was
blowing. when it would be dragged
out several miles and come back.
literally with flying colors. The Bal
timore and Ohio railroad being the
first in operatio in this country. and
almost the first in the world for the
TRANSFORMATION of passengers and mer-
chandise. of course was visited by
the United States. as we'll as from
parts of Europe. Among them -, as
Baron Gruderer. envoy from RuHia.
who. by invitation Of Mr.. Thomas.
made an e cursion in the sailing-car.
ma naginG 'he sail himself. On his
-eturn from the trip he declared h"
hnd ne~er before Travelled SO agree
ably. Mr. Thomas caused a model sal
ing car TO be constructed. which he
presented to the baron with the re-
d to the "mDeror. This courtesy on
the part nf NJ Thomas was hand
somely acknowledged by the baron.
T IKE the horse car. the sailing car
had it's day. II was an amusing
toy-nothing more-and is referred
to now as an illustration of the crud-
ity Of the ideas prevailing ninety
years ago in reference to railroads.
The South Carolina railroad. extend
ing 1876 miles from Charleston to
Hamburg. also had an inning at horse
and sail power. The Charleston
Courier of March 20, 1890. contains
the following account of Sailing on
Land:
4 sal was SGT on on our railroad yes
tsrday .f'erno @ in the p1@:ence r'sl Of large
got On hoard and few OF! at the rate Of twelve
10 fourteen m les an hour. Thirteen parsons
and three tons ot ircn were carried a.ru ID ten
mics an hour. The preparat ons for sailing
were very hastily got up and of rours" wee
Tot q tie hest kind but owing to this ycircmn-
-t"nte the 'xpermen. Afforded high sport. The
wind blew very fresh from about northra>t.
Nh 'h- as sailor would say. .a5eam,
and would drive th" car either way with equal
sI~ed. Wien going nj the rate Of abo.d
twelve mills hour and loaded with fifteen
Passengers. the mast went by the board. with
ihe sail and Gsing attached. carrying with
Ilt,. rrerk q
cred by several friendly sh.pmaster>. vino
nd'v rendered assistance in rigging jury
master, and the ear was again soon pTt under
WAY During fhs afternoon the wind changed
=" as 10 bring it nearly ahead when Soin: in
AZ i ~'a> ascerfaineJ that the car would sail
within four points Of the wind. We under
s!nhd II = iniended by some Of our seamen 70
rig ear properly. and shortly TO exhibit their
sA.ii in nansg'n= vessel on land.
Much laughter and ridicule was
induigcd in when an inventive
genius named. Peter Cooper. took to
Baltimore tangled dingus,
which. he said, was steam locomo-
tive Mr.. Cooper named his engine
TON Thumb." The Arm having the
contrac- 10 operate with horses that
part OF the Il. & O.. then finished
as far as Ellicotts Mills. sought to
put a quietus on such foolish con
race between a car drawn by their
speedy dapple gray and one drawn
by the locomotive This celebrated
race occurred Angus; .s. 1880. Here
is description of the race from a
publication of that period:
The great stage propr:etors OF the day
Stockton & Stokes; and vu that occasion q