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

FIRST LOCOMOTIVE-ENGINEER. 165
Kailroad Company,, and numerous friends, and the work-
shops were closed in token of respect for the first loco-
motive-engineer in America.
The following statement is from the Charleston
Courier, January 1, 1870, It without doubt will be
read with a great deal of interest, especially by locomo-
tive-engineers of the present generation.
" ' HoNOE TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE.'—Nicholas W. Darrell, and
the first American-'built locomotive.
" In the Novemher number of the Mural Carolinian, the first
credit -was given to Mr. Darrell, as being the engineer of the
' Best Friend,' the first American-built locomotive, which engine
was brought out to this city in the latter J)art of December, 1830."
This article was copied into the New York SoientifiG
American. Subsequently, No. 23 of the same has the
following editorial
:
"
" The first man who had charge of a locomotive in the United
States turns out to be not Nicholas W. Darrell, as stated on page
325, current volume, in an article copied from the Hural Carolinian,
but John Degnon, 48 First Street, New York. We had the
pleasure of a call from Mr. Degnon, a few days since, and he ex-
plained to us that he was the man who took charge of the ' Best
Friend ' on its way to Charleston, and that he run this locomotive
three months, or thereabouts, meanwhile giving Mr. Darrell the
necessary instructions to qualify him for the post. The following
year he executed a similar commission with a second locomotive.
In proof of his statements, Mr. Degnon referred us to Horatio Allen
and other prominent engineers and manufacturers of this city.
'
' ! Honor to whom honor is due
The first article in the ScientifiG American the
author read with great interest ; but, on seeing the
second article in the same journal, he was no less sur-
prised than embarrassed, for he thought he had estab-
lished the claim of Mr. Darrell beyond the possibility
of a doubt. He immediately addressed a letter to Mr.
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