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

DATE OF ITS RUNNDfG. gl
the date of the experunental trip of the first locomotive-engine
imported by our company. I -waited to hear from a gentleman
who -was to have examined a file of newspapers, published at
Montrose, Susquehanna County, in 1829 ; but I have not yet heard
from him. I have not been able, from any thing I can find in the
books or papers of the company, to fix the exact day on which the
trial-trip took place. I find from our collector's books, at Eddyville,
that two locomotive-engines were cleared at that office, and
started up the canal, July 16, 1829. I do not find any record of
their arrival at Honesdale, which was probably five or six days
thereafter.
"The old inhabitants of this place, who "were present at the
time, agree that the experimental trip was made in August, 1829.
Hon. John Torry informs me that he finds in the books of his
father, Jason Torry, a charge against the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company, dated August 3, 1829, for labor of men and
horses, drawidg stones, ' this day,' to load a railroad-car. This
car, loaded '^^•ith stone, is understood and believed to be the one
which was to be attached to the locomotive on its trial-trip. I
find many, who were present at the time, remember the car-load
of stone designed to be attached to the locomotive on its trial-trip.
At the celebration, on the day the experiment was made, a young
man, by the name of Alva Adams, had his arm badly shattered
by the premature discharge of the cannon which was used.
Dr. E. T. Losey, who is now living here, assisted in amputating
the arm and afterward attended the patient. Dr. Losey finds the
charge on his books, for amputating, dated August 8, 1829. The
trial-trip, no doubt, took place some time from the 3d to the 8th
of August, 1829. Dr. Losey thinks the arm was amputated the
same day on which the injury was received ; but says he might
have omitted to make the charge for three or four days, but is not
certain of this.
" I have had the file of letters for 1829 examined, at our office
in New York, without finding any letters from John B. Jervis or
Horatio Allen which fix the date of the experiment. I am of opin-
ion that there were such letters, and that they have been lent
to some previous explorer, who has failed to return them.
"John B. Jervis's annual report for 1829 I have examined (it
is now in our New-York office) ; but, while he speaks of the causes
of failure as to the success of the locomotive, he does not give the
day on which the experiment was made.
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