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

FIKST LOCOMOTIVE IN NEW TOEK. 177
y
ing of the maclime, tlie tender, the individual standing
on the platform of the machine as its engineer, and the
shape of the first passenger-coach, vs^hen a tin horn was
sounded and the word was given, " All aboard," by Mr.
John T. Clark, the master of transportation, who acted
as conductor on that memorable occasion. No such
officer as a conductor had been required upon a rail-
road before locomotives • and long trains of cars were
adopted. Before this event, in place of conductors, the
drivers of the single-horse cars collected the tickets or
fare, as omnibus-drivers do at the present time.
On this occasion, the two first cars, or coaches, as
they were then called, and the third also, were just as
the two are represented in our sketch. The remainder
of the cars on the train were surmounted with seats
made of rough plank to accommodate the vast crowd of
anxious expectants assembled to witness the experiment
and participate in this first ride on a railroad train
drawn by a locomotive. The cars were crowded inside
and outside ; not an available position was unoccupied.
Two persons stood ready for every place where one could
be accommodated, and the train started on its route,
leaving hundreds of the disappointed standing around.
As there were no coverings or awnings to protect
the deck-passengers upon the tops of the cars- from the
sun, the smoke, and the sparks, and as it was in the hot
season of the year, the combustible nature of their gar-
ments, summer coats, straw hats, and umbrellas, soon
became apparent, and a ludicrous scene was enacted
among the outside excursionists before the train had
run the first two miles.
1'he author was an inside passenger on that evermemorable
occasion. We say memorable, for it was
one never to be forgotten. It was on the 9th day of
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