The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-09-30
detroit Free Press |

detroit Free Press.
There was only one stop in the fl mite
that separates ST. Thomas from Amherst
burg on the Canada Southern Railroad
The engineer, Macomber, was surrounded
by an admiring throng. and passengers and
railroaders commented on the handsome
appearance IF his iron steed. The steam
guage just before starting showed a pres
sure of eighty five pounds, a moderate
figure for locomotive. Conductor Craw-
ford sang out Gan aboard !" and the special
train with Bishop Borgess. on board pulled
out from st. Thomas at 5:27 Pm A grand
hurrah from the platform sgnalled the
departure.
Once the bridge was cleared, Macomber
''let her out Bishop Borgess., in the
palace car, after receiving the salutations
of the gentlemen of the psrty, sat down,
and dinner was served TO him and his
travelling companions upon small table.
No one noticed any particular motion in
the car. There was no disarrangement in
the dishes, crowded and small as was the
table. The hum of the train was some
what sharper than usual, and the rushing
air against the windows sounded like the
-sweePfag ef q FaiasteEm.- Otherwise there
was no indication OF unueual speed to q
person in the car.
Presently watches were taken out and
observations made. The reverend clergy
as we'll as the more worldly laity, became
interested.
"a mile in sixty seconds !" jacu ated one
Shortly afteE-."A mile in fifty eight sec
onds!"
Again-"A mile in fifty seven seconds 7"
and the enthusiastic Frank Moran, with
cheer that intensified the excitement. an
nounced that his stop watch marked fifty
five seconds to the mile.
Before one could point ont an object it
had vanished. Before a question could be
asked and answered a mile he'd sped; five
para frn in - ILL
cigars were handed around aud lighted by
as many men. A flock of black birds flying
toward the west with all their feetness in s
cleaving the air were soon left behind and |
lost to view. IL
The wires on the telegraph poles swung {
up and down from tho movement of the
train. The bushes on the eide of the bitches '
shook as if swept by hurricane, and the t
tall aud gsudy yellow coxcombs that grew Il
beside the fences bent to the ground in t
overpowering desire to get loose 1
from the earth and follow tho rushing f
train. The dust from newly ballasted
portions of the track and the chips and Q
leaves rose up fiercely against the force of a
gravitatiOn and whirled aud gyrated about c
like vapory clouds in a tempest. A thin
line of smoke stretched interminably in the q
distance. The impetus of tie train in 8
creased; the vehemence with which it
rushed forward created vacuum that II
apparently took nature some seconds to @
overcome, and the spirits of the passepgers D
were exhilarated by the unprecedented Y
speed at which they moved through space. "
A side track passenger train sal1ted Us u
With cheers and locomotive whistles. Nei- =
ther was heard: before the sound could ;.
reach the ears of the passengers in the spe
cial it was hey oud hearing. One could see
the rushing steam and the waving hand a a
kerchiefs. Train Dispatcher Noble re- :,
ported that Elk miles between HIghwoUd g
and Ridseton were made in five minutes .
the fifty seven miles between 81. Thomas -
and Charing C!oss were made in tiEty-six =
and a half minutes. A halt al CbariDg =,
Cross for four miuutes for water, and then :;
on again with the same CvetpoweTiug We =
locity. Bat go ss fast as it might, the Cao- \
ada Southern train could not overtake the -
sun it sank, aud njgotfall came on. Then :,
could be seen the WORK Of the fireman. y
Every time be opened tie fnrusce volume n
of spsrks shoc ont, AID tie trailing ire h
came down upon tue track like the P!ro- +
technics Ct a. aerial uioe- 0
Finally : LsAGp IWlsV that sent tie star d. Q
IDE p&ESt.2 Ee!s 0FeT 10 tte TlEtt, ard then
N1Ut,,tT JnEi s+-ri them u tie other dIrec-
Ilp1., AID TIE YARD Cf AuhersibuTg Station i
WAS reached. E
EurrAt, ODe hundred And eleven miles {
II one torirea AID Lire minutes The !
fastest ilDe - Awerscz-beatatg by three
uir ates tse ruo Of N&pdeEtnI's sPeeial I
tyAir. {