CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILWAY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 206, 2 September 1869, Page 3

CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILWAY.

0 The following sensational scene in connection with the completion of. the Pacific Railway appears in the New Yorh Tribune. It is dated Washington, May 10: — "The announcement having been made here about noon to-day that the driving of the spikes in the last rail which would complete the line of railroad between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans would be communicated to all the telegraph offices in the country the instant the work was done, a large crowd gathered in the main ofiice of the Western United Telegraph Company here to receive . the welcome news. MiTinker, the mauager of the office here, placed a magnetic bell in a conspicuous place, where all present could witness the performance, and connected the same with the main lines, notifying the various offices throughout the country that he was ready. New Orleans, New York, and Boston instantly answered that they were ready. Soon afterwards, at about twenty-seven minutes past two p.m.. many of the offices in different parts of the country began to make all sorts of inquiries of the office at Omaha, from which point the circuit was to be started. The office replied, 'To everybody — Keep quiet. When the last spike is driven at Promontory Point we will say " Done." Don't break the circuit, but watch the signals at the blows of the hammer.' After some little trouble in the Chicago office, and the closing of a circuit west "of Buffalo, the instrument here was adjusted, and at twenty-seven minutes past two p.m., Promontory Point, 2400 miles west of Washington, said to the people congregated in the various telegraph offices, ' Almost ready. Hats off; prayer is beiDg offered.' A silence for the prayer ensued. At twenty minutes to three the bell tapped again, and the office at the Point said : — * We have got done praying. The strike is about to be presented.' Chicago replied : — * We understand. All are ready in the East.' Promontory Point: — ' All ready now ; the spike will soon be driven. The signal will he three dots for the commencement of the blows.' For a moment the instrument was silent, and then the hammer of the magnet tapped the bell, one, two, three — the signal. Another pause of a few seconds, and the lightniug came dashing eastward, vibrating over 2400 miles, between the junction of the two roads to Washington, and the blows of the hammer upon the spike were delivered instantly, in telegraphing accounts, on the bell here. At thirteen minutes to three p.m., Promontory Point gave the signal, '. 6 Done !' The announcement that the continent was spanned with iron !"