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

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mSTOET OP THE FIRST LOCOMOTIVES IN AMEKICA.
" I am sorry that I am unable to fix the exact day on -which
the trial-trip of the first locomotive was made, but there is no
doubt it occurred some time from the 3d to the 8th of August,
1829.
" Yours very truly,
" C. F. YOUITG,
" General Superintendent."
Determined to leave no stone unturned and no
effort untried to estaUish. tlie exact day tlie first loco-
motive was run upon a railroad in America, tlie author
(taking tlie Mnt from Mr. Young's letter) addressed
the postmaster of Montrose, relative to the old file of
newspapers said to be in existence, stating the ohject
of his inquiry. In a few days he received a reply from
a lady, Miss Emily C. Blackman, offering her aid and
services in examining the said file, and through her
energy and perseverance he received much valuable
information, by following which, he was rewarded with
complete success. In one of Miss Blackman's letters,
she corroborates Mr. Young's information, by the fol-
lowing extract from the -Montrose paper
" Melancholy Accident.— "We are informed that a young man,
by the name of Adams, was severely injured on Saturday last, at
Honesdale, by the sudden and unexpected discharge of a cannon.
Adams and others were engaged in firing signals on starting the
locomotive-engine." M-om the Dundaff Republican, hut no date.
Through the kindness of Miss Blackman, the author
learned that a file of the Dundaff Republican of 1829,
could be obtained from Dilton Yarrington, Esq., of
Carbondale ; who, on application, kindly forwarded the
same to the author. From this file, under date of Thurs-
day, August 13, 1829, we extract the following
"Melancholy Accident.—^We are informed that a young man,
by the name of Adams, was severely injured on Saturday last, at
Honesdale," etc., etc.
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