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

166
HISTORY OF THE FIKST LOCOMOTIVES JN AMERICA.
John Degnon, No. 48 First. Street. At the same time
he addressed a letter to a friend in Charleston, request-
ing him to institute the strictest inquiries into the sub-
ject. To the first letter to New York, the author re-
ceived in reply a letter from James H. Degnon, the son
of the aforesaid John Degnon, informing the author
that his father had but a few days before breathed his
last, and that he would procure all the information upon
his father's mission, with the necessary vouchers from
the best authorities, to establish his claim to the honor
of being the first engineer in reference to the " Best
Friend." Two years have passed away, but not one
line from young Degnon, to substantiate his father's
claim, has come to hand. Meanwhile, thanks to the
author's friend in Charleston, and unfortunately for Mr.
Degnon, there is still another living witness, in the per-
son of Julius D, Petsch, Esq., who will speak for him-
self. Mr. Petsch is probably the oldest machinist in
our country. He was connected, as " chief mechanical
superintendent," with the South Carolina Eailroad, under
its most successful administration, and is still. We
would like to know upon what railroad Mr. Degnon
gained his experience, ia those early days of railroads,
to be able to teach any person how to run a locomotive.
The following is Mr. Petsch's statement to the
author
:
"Deae Sir:
" I noticed an article in the Bural Carolinian, in reference to
Mr. Nicholas W. Darrell being the first engineer of the locomotive
' Best Friend,' and fully substantiate what is there narrated. ,
have subsequently seen an article in the Scientific American, in
which a Mr. Degnon, claims being the -first man who run the
engine
' Best Friend,' and instructed Mr. Darrell for three months,
which statement is entirely incorrect. I will give the history of
the ' Best Friend ' in as few words as possible, which is as follows
Digitized by Microsoft®
:
I