WHY EDISON LEFT CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6296, 21 January 1882, Page 7

WHY EDISON LEFT CANADA.

Edison, the electric light man, the other day was interviewed at the Tecuraseh House, London, Canada, by a Free Press reporter. The following is the reason given by Edison for leaving Canada:—"How came you to leave Canada, Mr. Edison?" asked the reporter. " Well, I wa3 young then, and was night operator, at Stratford; on the G.T.R., and, to tell the truth, I nearly let two trains run into each other. This was the way it] happened.' One train was in the yard, going' east, and I got a message to know if I could! hold it. I answered yes,'without stopping to Bee, and when I stepped out to give orders to that effect, I saw the train just a hundred yards ahead, making for the next station. There, was a freight depot about lialf-a-mile down the line, and I thought by running I might overtake her if she stopped there. I started out at a lively gait, but fell into a culvert and got all broken up. When I got to the freight shed the train was gone, and with bleeding face and sore bones I dragged myself back to my post and telegraphed east to have the coming train stopped. The answer came back, ' She has left!' and the only thing to do was to sit still and hope for the best. The two trains did not collide. The drivers saw the danger, and stopped within one hundred yards of each other. Of course I had to go down to Toronto and get a racket, and the prospect was not pleasant. When I saw Mr. Spicer he looked awfully cross, and talked to me like a Dutch uncle. I was threatened with penitentiary and sundry other evils. After a little while Mr. Spicer turned his back to attend to some other person, and I slid for the door. I was scared clean out of my boots, and, not thinking myself safe, in the country, I ran away to the States. This happened when I was 15 years old, and I have never set foot on Canadian soil since up to this time."