The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
THE SWIFT.
An Animal of the Plains That Can
Run Away From a Rifle Ball.
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An Animal of the Plains That Can
Run Away From a Rifle Ball.
Sherman CTex) Special St. Louis Globe
ai aos Democrat.
Having always felt an interest in animal
life, made the best of a recent opportu-
nifty to learn what 1 could about an ami
NAL which is so far as 1 have been able
to ascertain, unknown to the authors of
geological works, at least by the name
under which the animal is known where
1 found it. The quadruped Of which I
write is found on certain portions of the
Staked Plains of Western Texas, and is
known there as the swift a name which
but feebly expresses the running qualities
of the animal The name swift is also
applied to certain birds and lizards, but
it is also the only name by which this
heet-footed animal of the plains is known.
Any description of the swift must from
the animaIS nature be incomplete, for
a swift is always on the move when a
human being comes within range of his
vision, and il is claimed BY the people who
live on the plains that a swift has never
been captured. This claim may be untrue,
but as a circumstance going to show the
WIG nature OF the animal, saw only
two OF them during four months stay
on the plains, i'm a locality where they
were said to be rather numerous.
When l. was first told about the swift
/ was Inclined to consider 1t a myth.
said to the old plainsman who was telling
me seemingly miraculous story about its
power to get over ground:
Does the swift have a hole In the
ground like the other prairie animals,
where he may hide from pursuers?"
.. Holy smoke!'' calculated the old man.
"A swift would not give his four legs
for the Mammoth Cave when it comes to
getting away from any fool who has little
enough sense to chase him."
THE swift must be a pretty good run
ner," l remarked.
"Runner!' snerted the old man. "Why.
young man, the swift is the only varmint
on these plains that can run off and leave
a rifle BALI!
1 saw at once that the old fellow had
great faith in the swift's powers of locom-
otion, but 1t was not until / saw one split
ting the atmosphere across the plains, ra-
pidly putting distance between himself
and me, until he faded away on the hor-
lion of the level prairie, that fully real
lied the force of the old mans remarks. /
had seen an antelope pursued by a pack
OF hungry wolves, and ] had witnessed
swifts burst of speed against time was
the greatest run ever beheld. When the
cowboys afterward told me that the fast
est horse on foot could not catch the
swift / readily believed them.
This phenomenal flyer of the plains re-
sembles the fox somewhat, but Is taller
same bushy tail. The thing that first canes
into ones mind at sight of a swift is the
fact that the animal Is constructed r ,esspe..
nothing has been omitted from its make
up that would enhance its ability to cover
distance.
The second swift saw, as well as the
first, was running when | first saw him,
and engaged in the same business when l
last beheld him.
Thousands OF cowboys and ranchmen on
the plains will bear testimony to the fact
that the swift can outrun the feetest
horse / saw young Kentuckian who had
chased a swift on a thoroughbred from
the Blue Grass country. lie said OF the
chase
when started I thought / was chas-
ing a young wolf, but before the chase
ended concluded that was on the track
OF lightning that had taken on the form
OF a wolf 10 test the speed OF my horse"
ibid you catch the swiftY' ! asked.
81 did not stay within sight Of IL for
more than three minutes, was the reply.