The locomotives were moved forward until their cowcatchers met, and photographs were taken. In the United States, the event has come to be considered one of the first nationwide media events. Stanford and Hewes missed the spike, but the single word "done" was nevertheless flashed by telegraph around the country. To drive the final spike, Stanford lifted a silver spike maul and drove the spike into the tie, completing the line. Strobridge, at a dinner in his private car. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the participating Chinese workers were honored and cheered by the CPRR officials and that road's construction chief, J.H. Eight Chinese workers laid the last rail, and three of these men, Ging Cui, Wong Fook, and Lee Shao, lived long enough to also participate in the 50th anniversary parade. 539 shows the "Chinese at Laying Last Rail UPRR". On the Union Pacific side, thrusting westward, the last two rails were laid by Irishmen on the Central Pacific side, thrusting eastward, the last two rails were laid by the Chinese! A.J. With the locomotives drawn so near, the crowd pressed so closely around Stanford and the other railroad officials that the ceremony became somewhat disorganized, leading to varying accounts of the actual events. This second spike is now on permanent display, along with Thomas Hill's famous painting The Last Spike, at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. It was held, unknown to the public, by the Hewes family until 2005. It has been noted that the first Golden Spike engraving appeared "rushed", and the Hewes family spike lettering appeared more polished. A second golden spike, exactly like the one from the ceremony (except for the date), was cast at the same time, and probably engraved at a later time with the correct Promontory date of May 10, 1869. The spike was removed immediately after being hammered in to prevent it from being stolen. Hewes Family Golden Spike at the California State Railroad Museum
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