Figure 48. — Mississippi, probably built in the 1830's, with tender of a later 

 period. Photo may have been taken after locomotive v/as rebuilt for exhibition at 

 World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago, in 1 893. 



The Mississippi, however, has none of the characteristics 

 of Enghsh locomotives of its period, and it is well known that 

 a representative of Dunham took several locomotives from 

 New York to Natchez in late 1836. It is m^ost probable that 

 the Mississippi is a Dunham-built locomotive of the middle 

 1830's. 



Its first recorded service began in April 1837, between 

 Natchez and Hamburg, Miss., a distance of about 19 miles. 

 A violent storm lashed Natchez on May 7, 1840, and 

 destroyed considerable railroad property. From this and sub- 

 sequent financial blows the little railroad shortly succumbed, 

 and the Mississippi passed to other owners. Among these 

 were the Grand Gulf and Port Gibson Railroad, the Missis- 

 sippi Valley and Ship Island Railroad, and the Meridian, 

 Brookhaven and Natchez Railroad. The latter road was 

 acquired in 1891 by the Illinois Central Railroad Co. 



56 



