But the joy and the triumph of the occasion were destined to be dampened by a terrible disaster. At Parkenside, seventeen miles from Liverpool, the "Northumbrian," which carried the Duke and his party, was drawn up on one track, in order to allow the other trains to pass in review before them on the other. Mr. Huskisson alighted, and, standing outside, was talking with the Duke, when a hurried cry of "Get in! get in!" went up from the bystanders; for on came the "Rocket," steaming along at full speed. Mr. Huskisson, startled and confused, attempted to regain the carriage an instant too late; he was struck down, and the "Rocket" went over him.
"I have met my death!" exclaimed the unfortunate statesman; which, alas! proved but too true, for he died that evening.
A sad confusion prevailed. The body of the wounded gentleman was lifted into the car, or carriage as it then was, and the "Northumbrian" took him over the track home, a distance of fifteen miles, in about twenty minutes. So swiftly and easily done! The use rather than the abuse of the new power made the strongest impression.
The mournful accident threw a cloud over the occasion. The Duke wished to stop the celebration, and immediately return to Liverpool. Mr. Huskisson's friends joined with him in the wish. Others felt that Manchester should not be disappointed in witnessing the arrival of the trains, and that the accident might become magnified and misrepresented, and thus operate mischievously upon public sentiment in relation to railroads; the party therefore consented to proceed to their journey's end, but were unwilling to mingle in any of the rejoicings common to such occasions.
But the railroad needed no such demonstrations to prove its worth. It had within itself more substantial proof. Time was saved; labour was saved; money was saved. Coal, cotton, and every article of merchandise useful to men could be carried cheaper, could be had cheaper, than ever before, and, what was better, had in quantities sufficient to satisfy the industry and necessities of men. And with cheapness was combined comfort and safety. The first eighteen months seven hundred thousand persons were carried over the road, and not an accident happened.
But were not people frightened by the smoke, cinders, fire, and noise of the engines, as the opposition in Parliament declared they would be? No, no. It was not long before everybody wanted land near the track; and land, therefore, near the road rapidly rose in value. The farmers who had scouted the surveyors from their fields now complained of being left on one side; and those who had farms near the stations to rent rented them at a much higher rate than ever before. Barren lots became suddenly profitable, and even Chat Moss was turned into productive acres.
In 1692 an old writer states, "There is an admirable commodiousness both for men and women of the better rank to travel from London, the like of which has not been known in the world; and that is, by stage-coaches, wherein one may be transferred to any place, sheltered from foul weather, with a velocity and speed equal to the fastest posts in foreign countries; for the stage-coaches called 'Flying-coaches' make forty or fifty miles a day."
An English paper, bearing the date of January, 1775, has this advertisement, "Hereford Machine. In a day and a half, twice a week, continues flying from the 'Swan' in Hereford, Monday and Thursday, to London."
What would the people of those days say to a railroad carriage, especially on the "Lightning Train?"