Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-12-29
THE STEAM BOAT RACE;
OR,
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
A TALE OF THE FAR WEST.

! TALE OF THE FAR WEST.
On the 18th May, lS4-, two boats started
from Rock Island, both destined for the port of
st. Louis. The peals of their last belIs-warn-
ing 10 ato sPasseagers-ming led their clear echoes
tosaAefpa nd bQhtt the same time moved Gu. into
;hs1dteP &hasndic both were noble vessels. lite.
rally daidlfjae l.. laces' G;,od to accommodating,
ind 3fsed axu1Ab4ya accommodating. at least one
-iuaid red palseng;6r3s The Fairy Queen was
lew iiand this was her first voyage up the river
rom New Orleans. tt Henry Clay was good
ds neto, as The captain saw proper to express it,,
and had previously boen reckoned the fastest boat
On the western waters.
Beautifully curled the blue smoke above their
tdl iron chimneys, ard white as snow betwixt
tn eve and sun arose the festoons of steam from
tpir scape pipes. 1t wasa charming sight TO see
thtse wild-fre witches of the wave descending
tn, steps OF their liquid stairs. Signals waved
fran their decks as they darted, and hutering sig
mas answered from the shore, signals of friends,
pehaPs final adeus till the great day.
they were both commanded by excellent Off
ce.s having, man and captains, but a single
prominent fault but unfortunately, that was an
n,incbe propensity 10 gamble. t.-
From the moment the vessels got into the mid
dleof the current, and began 10 dash the foam
from their prows in the straightes possible course
down stream, ny persons on board thought the
rate Of velocity unusually rapid, and congratua-
tedone another on the prospect of speedy trip;
bu, presently it was observed that extraordinary
excitement reigned among the officers and crew.
Liquor was dealt out freely to the fremen, and
the furnaces stuffed with wood 10 absolute
extravaganza. The true state Of the case became
evident to some shrewd passengers on the Fairy
Queen. thereafter shall contne our attention
mostly to this vessel.) that the boats engaged
in race. The fact was repeated. and flew from
lip TO lip, producing most serious CONSERVATION, as
the newspapers had recently chronicled many
horrible calamities resulting from such unwarrah-
table races. Some of tho men, and all the ladies
Numbering more than thirty, some of whom
had children in their arms-manifested symptoms
of fear; and petition 10 desist accompanied by
an earnest remonstrance to the dangers OF
racing, was unanimously preferred TO the captain.
The officer q fine specimen of Louisiana CHI
yalrv with the eve of eagle, and mouth rigid
as q ma rble where uncOnqucrable VIII had set It's
seal, graciously responded to the committee on
behaI of the ladies, that he would pledge his own
life for their safety and remarked, moreover
that they had even stronger security than Ms
oath in the presence of his wife and chdreH; de-
on board. This assurance, and the ,.oofed nud the
meanor of the captains lady, who musement,
subject as matter of adhpii ;i and restored
ouieed all apprehensions o.
mirth and genial humor .st continued the mos,
Gradually, a. from their trn.ss.d 70 the b,rr;-
,yoraen, and Illness the brilliant struggle
zane deck. onger n.ggeed, it was vision that might
# speed xcaiod stole to the madness of excite
l.ye ave mn Nov the Henry Clay would glide grace.
nnIiy ahead, amidst the joyous cries of the crew i
an shouts oil the passengers; then the Fairy r
Qeen, having found the proper current, or stimn e
latd her fires o more vigorous ac1or. world snJ.
deny shoot forward and pass her rival. with denf
ening cheers; 'ed then, again, bc,h.sssuId move d
ts twere, t0ssAessSite sg16j - in a line ii
Algsples 8 ,fan n1 fQ6{ifpe abreast
~ niles, w'ttss sgy app 5sS 6llses.- Il .;,,sl ,sc c
esssy Ossast 1essd VIII ks1scs' Nv edM
ls| ii1