1 04 HER OES OF INVENTION AND DISCO VER Y 



the great event, published shortly after, duly exhibits the horse- 

 man and his flag. It was not thought so dangerous a place after 

 all. The locomotive was only supposed to be able to go at the 

 rate of from four to six miles an-hour ; and an ordinary horse 

 could easily keep ahead of that. 



Off started the procession, Avith the horseman at its head. A 

 great concourse of people stood along the line. Many of them 

 tried to accompany it by running, and some gentlemen on 

 horseback galloped across the fields to keep up with the engine. 

 The railway descending with a gentle incline towards Dar- 

 lington, the rate of speed was consequently variable. At a 

 favourable part of the road, Stephenson determined to try the 

 speed of the engine, and he called upon the horseman with 

 the flag to get out of the way ! Most probably deeming it 

 unnecessary to carry his Periculum privatimi further, the horse 

 man turned aside, and Stephenson "put on the steam." The 

 speed was at once raised to twelve miles an-hour, and at a 

 favourable part of the road, to fifteen. The runners on foot, 

 the gentlemen on horseback, and the horseman with the flag, 

 were consequently soon left far behind. 



Although only George Stephenson's name is mentioned as 

 the driver of the locomotive "No. i," his principal helper, Mr. 

 William Huntley, who still (1877) lives, deserves some notice. 

 Mr. Huntley, who was born at Acklington in 1798, was ten years 

 in the employment of Stephenson & Co., and superintended 

 the erection of the "first locomotive." On the opening day, 

 he drove it in turn with George Stephenson. Huntley after- 

 wards erected the first locomotive that drew a passenger train 

 in Scotland, in 1831, and since that period he has been 

 connected with the railway system at Dundee. Mr. Huntley has 

 attracted attention by his " continuous grip-brake," for stopping 



