Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-30

persons on board thought the rate Of We
locity unusually rapid, and congratulated
one another on the prospect Of speedy
trip, but presently it was noticed that ex-
traordinary excitement reigned among the
officers and crew. Liquor was dealt out
freely to the tiremen, and the furnaces
were stuffed with wood to absolute ex-
travagance. Then the true state of the
case became evident to some shrewd pas
sengers on the Fairy Queen-hereaiter
we shall confine our attention mostly to
this vessel that the boats were engaged
in a race. The fact was repeated, and
flew from lip to lip, producing most Sc
rious CONSERVATION, as the newspapers
had chronicled many horrible ca!ami,ies
resulting from such unwarrantable races.
Some Of the men, and all the ladies-num-
bering more than thirty-some Of whom
had children in their arms--manifested
symptoms Of fear; and petition to desist,
accompanied by an earnest remonstrance
as to the dangers Of racing was unani-
mously preferred to the captain. This
officer, fine specimen of Louisiana chiv-
airy, with the eye Of an eagle, and mouth
as rigid as marble, where unconquerable
will had set its seal, graciously responded
to the committee on behalf of the ladies',
that he would pledge his own life for their
safety and remarked, moreover, that they
had even a stronger security than his oath,
in the presence Of his wife and children
then on board. This assurance, and the
heroic demeanor Of the captains lady,
who had treated the subject as matter Of
admirable amusement, quieted all appre-
tensions of peril, and restored mirth and
genial humor.
Gradually, as the contest continued, the
most timid recovered from the transient
alarm and men, women, and children,
crowded to the hurricane deck, eager to
witness the brilliant struggle Of speed
Indeed, it was vision which might have
intoxicated man to the madness of ex-
element. Now the Henry Clay would
glide gracefully ahead, amids. the joyous
cries Of the passengers then the Fairy
Queen. having found the proper current,
or stimulated by her fires to more vigor-
Gus ardor, would suddenly shoot forward
and pass her rival with deafening cheers;
and then again, both would move, as it
were, together with equal velocity, in a
line par railel to either shore, and thus COR
tinue abreast for miles, without any ap-
preciable difference, till every breast
heaved with painful suspense.
Finally, the most rhlegmatic caught the
contagious fury, and one impulse alone
swayed all bosoms on both boats-,he
burning passion for victory. This ab-
sorbing thought annihilated fear, and van
quished reason. Even delicate ladies
uy,rr. .,,rei--re-pe...i1e espsoir,s Nv {. eater
exertions. All alike participated in the
emotions of the gambler. But little need
had the respective commanders OF any ad-
litional stimulus. Ten thousand dollars
had been bet, on the issue Of the race, as
to which vessel should first touch the
wharf at ST Louis.
The struggle went on, and still with
equal success. The excitement grew
maddening. Ladies clapped their hands
and waved their handkerchieis, to encour-
age even the smoke -begrimed fremen.-
Exqnisites in broadclo,h tossed their gold
headed canes into the river, and aided in
woodng like the lowest menials.
Such is the passion of competition, the
master impulse of the souls of sage and
savage, prince and peasant! Such is the
Unsuitable appetite for hazard in the human
heart. always developing itself in some
one of its Pro,ean forms. But talk not of
the excitement Of horse race, where
s,eeds contend swift as the wind. Away
with the stimulus OF cards. dice and chess!
What are such paltry affairs as these,
compared to the fire race Of laundering
steamboats,! II is the nature Of all emo
tion to expand, and thus accommodate itself
TO the grandeur Of the agents which arouse e
it, and to the sphere in which it operates.
"Onward !" The shout rolls down the
ancient river, and startles the blue crane
from her perch on the tree top, and the
white swan from her bath in the lake.
Onward" The crews curse! The
commanders rave! More wood! More
water. Ten thousand dollars is the costly
! prize! ..e ....
"Onward." The smoke boils The
furnace is red hot, seven times heated =
The tubes whiz 10 the touch Of the engi-
neer! The wheels fly and the imprison-
ed steam means like fiend in the torture,
uttering occasionally sort of thrilling
wall, as if to warn his masters not to urge
him too far.
All day long the race is protracted; and
never was there fairer path for the trial
| Of speed. II lies over Gods imperial
highway Of the magnificent West. 1t is
the road through the valley Of a dozen
States. Breakfast, dinner, and supper
were prepared, and eaten only by snatch
| es, or not eaten at all for who could think
| cf his stomach, amidst the mental drunk
enness OF such a scene as that?
We have said that all on board the
Fairy Queen partook Of the common ex-
| ci,emeut. The statement, for the sake of
truth, requires slight qualification -
There were two who avoided the vortex.
William Grey, wealthy young man Of
| New Orleans, stood unmoved and i'm
movable in the general tornado of animal
passion. He was sole son, and he had
been left an orphan in his infancy. From
bis inherent disposition rather than favor
able education, he had inbibed rigid code
of ethics, which, blending with a poetic
and highly imaginative turn of mind, led