The history of the first locomotives in America. From original ...

EXPLOSION OF "BEST FRIEND." 153
was performed with two pleasure-cars attached, aud a small car-
riage, fitted for the occasion, upon which was a detachment of
United States troops and a field-piece which had been politely
granted hy Major Belton for the occasion.
" Upon the return of the engine, it Vi'as found necessary to
tighten the packing, which occasioned some little delay. At ahout
one o'clock she again started with three cars attached, upon which
were upward of one hundred passengers. At two o'clock a Feder-
al salute was fired by the detachment of troops stationed upon the
remains of the fortification erected during the Revolution near the
Quarter House. At four o'clock the company commenced returning,
and were all safely landed at Line Street before six. The
number of passengers brought down, which was performed in two
trips, was estimated at upward of two hundred. A liand of music
enlivened the scene, and great hilarity and good-humor prevailed
throughout the day."
The " Best Friend " contimied to do tte necessarywork
of tlie road, hauling materials, workmen, ballast,
InmlDer, etc., .used in the construction, during all of
which time she was in charge of Mr. Nicholas W. Dar-
rell, who had assisted Mr. Petsch in putting her to-
gether and on the road when she first came out to
Charleston.
CHAPTEE XXIX.
EXPLOSION or "best feiend."
Ow Friday the l7th of June, 1831, the hoUer of the
" Best Friend " exploded. As this is the first boilerexplosion
upon a locomotive on record in America, we
will give the account of the accident and its conse-
quences, from an article in the Charleston Courier, June
18, 1831
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