The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-09-19
Ghe Balletin.
FAST TIME.
One Hundred and Eleven kiiIes
in One Hundred and
Nine Minutes.
detroit Free Press Sept, ~

Ill miles tllat separates St. lHOilas
from Amherstburg on the Canada
Southern railroad The engineer, Ma
Gambler was surrounded by an admirlng
throng, and passengers and railroaders
commented on the handsome appear
ance Of his iron steed. The steam
gauge just before starting showed a
pressure of eighty-live pounds, mod>
crate figure for a locomotive. Con-
duCtor A. b. Crawford sang out "all
aboard" and the special pulled out
from st. Thomas at j:27 p. IN. A grand
hurrah from The platform sIgnaled the
departure.
Once the bridge was cleared Macambcr
''let her out.' Bishop Borgess. IN the
palace scar, after receiving the saluta>
tions OF the gentlemen OF the party, sat
down, and dinner was served to him and
hi. travelling companions upon a small
table. No one noticed any particular mo-
ton In the car. There was no disarrange,
ment OF The dishes, crowded and small
as was the table. The hum OF the train
was somewhat sharper than usual, and
the rushing air against the windows
sounded like the sweeping OF a rain
torn. Otherwise there was no indica.
ton Of unusual speed to a person in the
car.
Presently watches were taken out and
observations made, The reverend clergy,
as well as the more worldly laity, be-
came Interested.
"A mile in sixty seconds" calculated
one.
Shortly altcr-"A mile in iiity-eight
seconds"
Again-"A mile in filty.seyen Sec
onds" and the enthusiastic Frank
Moran, with cheer that intensified the
excitement, announced that his stop>
watch marked but ility-llye seconds to
the mile.
At the rear end oil the last coach sat
General Manager Muir, his eyes fixed
on the ever appearing ever vanishing
track, with a demeanor philosophic, as
il such speed was an every day affair on
the Canada Southern. On the opposite
side sat Superintendent Taylor, and near
at hand Train>Dispatcher Noble; Frank
Il. Taylor counted the miles.
Before one could point out an object il
had vanished. Before question cUuIo
be asked and answered mile had sped:
Ave miles were traversed In the interval
while cigars were handed around and
lighted by as many men. a flock OF
backbirds flying toward the west, will
all their lleetness in cleaying the air, were
soon lett behind and lost TO view.
The wires on the telegraph pole:
swung up and down from the movement
of the train. The bushes by the side Of
the bitches shook as il swept by hur-
rlcane, and the tall and gaudy yellow
coXcombs that grew beside the fences
bent to the ground in o seemingly over
| towering desire to get loose from the
earth and follow the rushing train. The
dust from newly-ballasted portions Of
the track and the chips and leaves rose
up tiercely against the force OF grayita
ton and whirled ant gyrated like vapory
clouds In tempest. \ thin line ofsmokt
stretched unfortunately in the distance
The impetus OF the train increased; the
vehemence with which it rushed for
ward created vacuum that apparently
took nature some seconds 10 overcome
and the spirits OF the passengers vert
exhilarated by the unprecedented speed
at which they moved through space.
A side-track passenger train sauted III
with cheers and locomotive whistles
Neither was heard; before the sount
could reach the ears of the passengers il
the special it was beyond hearing. One
could see the rushing steam and waving
handkerchiefs. Train-Dispatcher Nobl,
reported that six miles between High
wood aud Ridgeton were made in five
minutes; the flity-seven miles between
st. Thomas and Charing Cross were
made in fiity-six and halt minutes. A
halt at Charing Cross Of four minutes
tor water, and then on again will
the same overpowering velocity. Blu
60 as fast as 1t might. the Canada
Southern train could not overtak,
the sun; it sank, and nighttall came on
Then could be seen the work of the fire
man. Each time he opened the furnace
volume OF sparks shot out, and TIT
trailing fire came down upon the tracl
like the pyrotechnics OF an aerial mine
Finally sharp twist that sent tn,
standing passengers oyer to the right
and directly another that sent them il
the other direction, and the yard o
AmhcrGtburg station was reached.
lIurrah. One hundred and clever
miles in 100 minutes! The fastest tim
In tt,no g.,