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

156 HISTOET OF THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMEKieA.
the first loeomotive-engiiieer in America, will, we trust,
be read witli interest, especially by Ms fellow-engineers
and railroad-men. It was received in answer to some
inquiries made of him by the author, in reference to the
"Best Friend."
" Charleston, September 2, 1869.
"Me. Wm. H. Beowit—
" Deae Sik : Your letter came to hand a few days ago, and
I now hasten to reply to it, with aU. the information I can give you
upon the subject at this distant day, drawn from memory alOne,
as I have no notes to which to refer.
"In the spring of 1830, Mr. E. L. Miller, of our city, entered
into a contract to furnish the South Carolina Railroad with a loco-
motive that should travel ten miles an hour, and draw three times
its own weight.
" Under this contract Mr. Miller brought out his engine, which
was built at the West Point Foundery in New-York City.
" The engine arrived by the ship Niagara in Charleston, in the
latter part of October, 1830. The engine was called the 'Best
Friend, of Charleston.' Mr. Julius D. Petsch and myself had
served our apprenticeship with Mr. Thomas Dotterer, of the firm
of Dotterer & Eason, as machinists and engineers, and were engaged
to put this engine together, and made the first run or trial-
trip, when she proved equal to double the stipulations of the con-
tract, running at the rate of sixteen to twenty-one miles an hour,
with forty or fifty passengers in four or five cars, and making
thirty to thirty-five miles per hour without cars. From this date
I was regularly engaged as the engineer of the ' Best Friend,' the
first locomotive ever built and run in this country, in the actual
service of a company.
"In June, 1831, the boiler of the 'Best Friend ' exploded, while
in charge of myself. She was rebuilt by Mr. Thomas Dotterer,
who substituted straight axles and cast wheels and wrought tires,
for crank-axles and wood wheels with iron tires. Her name was
also changed, and called the ' Phcenix.'
" During the repairs and alterations of the ' Best Friend,' a
second engine, called the ' "West Point,' arrived in Charleston, and
was put upon the road. Of this engine I was also engineer.
When the ' Phoenix ' was repaired, she was run by Henry Raworth
as engineer.
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