The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-26

Through the gloom and the darkness OF
the woods along the north shore yesterday
morning an engine. with a single car be-
hind it, dashed like a meteor. says the
Chicago Tribune.
Around curves flew the screaming en-
CINE, so fast that the car behind threat
ened again and again to leave the track.
Across bridges it went with roar and a
rattle that left the structures clicking for
minutes after it had passed.
As the car pitched from side to side in
its flight against time the single passen-
ger held desperately with one hand to the
arm of the scat in which lie sat. With
the other ne wiped the night mist off the
window and peered out into the darkness
at the telegraph poles and tall trees,
which dimly seen in the flash of light
from the train. reeled by with dizzying
rlpidity.
The passenger was L. F. Swift vice
president of the Swift Packing Company
son of George f. Swift. 1t was just after
1870 a. m. when he had driven in a gallop
to the Northwestern depot. The horses
had not stopped running before he leaped
out and dashed up the steps. He want.
ed to go to Lake Forest. and at once. The
train dispatcher was sorry, but it could
MT be helped. The fast mail had Just
pulled out, and there wasn't another train
until O'Clock. He must wait and go on
that.
wait four hours? I tell you I must
have train" said Mr.. Swift.
A whistle on a locomotive down in the
yards blew shrin note.
There" cried Mr.. Swift, put that en-
CINE in front of car and let it carry me
to Lake Forest"
The yardmaster was called in and told
to make up a special Word was sent to
the roundhouse, and minute or two later
a fireman was throwing coal into the
glowing frebox of one of the fastest en-
gines on the road. IL had just come I'm,
and still had plenty of steam up. The
engineer sprang into the cab. The engine
backed down the track and coupled to
a single car There was a few minutes
stop for coal and water, while the mar
who was to be the solitary passenger
stamped impatiently up and down the
platform.
Ready" cried the conductor.
The passenger climbed aboard and the
engineer gave e yank to the throttle that
threw the fireman against the side of the
cab and rolled the conductor, who was in
the back car, up into a corner. The pas
senger dropped with a thump into his seat
and smiled.
Tell him to keep 1t up" he said to the
conductor.
1t was just ten minutes of 4 o'clock by
the big Illuminated dial in the depot tower
ton had Whizzed past even before the con-
ductor had picked himself out of the cor
ner where the first plunge had thrown him.
Ravenswood was only a black outline in
the darkness, and the great stone gate of
quiet Rosehill cleaned red for a moment
as the fireman threw open the door of the
fire box and fed in fresh coal. Past High
Ridge and Rogers Park flew the train, and
then Calvarys white stones echoed back
the wild shrek of the whistle as the train
flew on.
Evanston next Then Wilmette, Winnet-
ka Highland Park, and Highwood were
passed in a rush.
Soon there was kissing sound under the
car and the speed began to slacken. The
passengers rushed out on the steps and
waited. The train clattered along and
stood still, with the engine putting and
snoring like a winded horse.
Forty minutes" said Engineer OBrien,
(which hajnt so bad for thirty-three
miles and the night so black that the cow
catcher had ter push it off the track all
the way up"
The passenger didn't stop TO hear wheth-
er his train had beaten any records or not.
He leaped off the car before it stopped
and climbed into a carriage. The door
was slammed behind him, and the coach
man climbed to the box and whipped the
horses to a lather as they dashed around
the winding avenues of Lake Forest.
Under the trees past the dark mansions
the horses ran until they came to a house
where the coachman drew rein, and the oc-
cupant of the carriage jumped out and
ran up the steps.
The door of Mr.. Swift's summer home
flew open and man rushed out, caught
Mr.. Swift's hand, and said:
It's a boyi'