Here are some of those "slightly reported" items.
The rendition of subject matters are not necessarily in order of reality, but bieng shown as to the "facts" of happening. Although this could be classified as "trivia", it is the compiled story of research which sort of makes it a "book of History". Such story is that of which is not normally whole reported as a news article. The item articles were taken from a book titled, "Empire Express" with sub title, "Building the First Transcontinental Railroad", the Author compiling the story or narrative is Dadid Haward Bain.
Presenters of the Ceremonial Spikes: W.H.Harkness - the inscribed Golden Spike, "The Last Spike" is 18 oz of pure gold, with names of Central Pacific Officers, dated May 8, 1969 ( original scheduled date) and followed by:
"May God continue the unity of our Country as this Railroad unites the two great Oceans of the World".
>>>added note:(a rough nugget of gold had been affixed to one end, which later, Hewes would have broken off and melted down, into finger rings, and presented to Standford, Oakes Ames, President Grant, Secy of State Seward, and the Reverend Dr.John Todd, narrator of an opening statement. The rings were inscribed :
"The Mountain Wedding May18, 1969"
Tritle of Nevada - voiced - To the Iron of the East, and the Gold of the West, Nevada adds her link of Silver to span the Continent, and wed the Oceans.
Governor Safford, - Cantoned - "Ribbed with iron, clad in silver and crowned with gold, Arizona presents her offering to the enterprise that has banded the continent and dictated the pathway to commerce".
There would be two other spikes, one of silver, forged with one hundred men striking a blow. The other, had been forged of iron, silver, and gold, and both being inscribed. (however there was not mention of that inscription.)
The ceremonial tie, donated by the, a well-helled tie contractor, and prepared by the San Francisco billiard- table manufacturer, was cut from a California Laurel on Mount Mamalpais, sawed into an eight foot length, eight inches by eight, rounded and polished until it reflected light, and it bore a silver plate that indicated that it was the
"last tie" of the Pacific Railroad, followed by the names of the directors and officers of the Central Pacific, and the presenter, West Evens.
>>>note added.(Sacramento Union & San Francisco: May 11-12, 1869: David Hewes, who donaed 1 golden spike, later claimed that he donated the laurel tie also, but it was West Evens. Late in his life, Hewes made elaborate silver tipped canes from laurel wood, and presented them to his friends, with engravings purporting them to be "Made from the Tree of the Last Tie.)<<<
>>>added note.(Union Pacific Magazine, May 5, 1926: The bona fide laurel tie, burned in the Southern Pacific Office in 1906, after the Sn Francisco earthquake.)<<<
>>>added note.(The laurel tie's last spike would be that of a businesslike iron, though fittingly, there would be the ceremonial spikes, which, because of their delicacy, would not stand up to pounding, but would be dropped into pre-drilled holes.)<<<
Between the 2 locomotive, the 2 ceremonial rails were laid down. The Union Pacific gang of Irishmen, placing theirs on the Wes side of the tracks, and the Central Pacific gang of Chinese, placing their on the East.
It was agreed, that Governor Safford would strike the first blow to the East Spike, and Dr. Durant the second on the West Spike. As to the "missing" swings, it was the "initiation" of a tie freight driver, as proof of notable witnesses indicated otherwise, and then being reported as a "myth".
A little lengthy, but hope you enjoyed it.
