New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-08-27
The Captain who wouldn't Race.
By THE YOUNG 'rN

shortly afterwards made her appearance at the -four
ishing CITY Of Cincinnati. Gilt edged covers enYel-
oped the captains g respects accompanied Hithinyf
tations % zee her through apon her rst trip being
forwarded 70 the editorial corps III that vicinity the
chalked hats we're numerous on that occasion. IL
was grand affair, this debut Of floating palace
which has since maintained her repute antarnisbed as
the crack boat par excellence npon the Western
waters. Your humble servant was among the invited
guests-and a nice time he had 0g i'll
found myself on board Of this beautiful craft in
In close communion with score 0f uuouest0nabIe
beauties. The company proved to be heterogeneous
conglomeFation Of character, made up Of editors,
lawyers, and auctiOneers fndeserbabies and fan
cies with q sprinkiing Of $ nonsuches.V There
was stray parson, too, ii the crowd but ss his leis
ure time between meetings" was spent in trading
horses, we dispensed with his " grace before meals
We left our mooring an hour before sunset, upon
clear, cold afternoon and passed rapidly down stream
for considerable distance without any strange 0c-
currence. The son of Temperance" and the paTson
aforesaid amused themselves over a smoking whisky
toddythe boys were relieving each other Of their
superduous dimes and quarters at euchre, when tall
gentleman who was some when he was sober,
stepped Suddenly into the cabin with the information
that WeEknown " fast boat had just hove in sight
at the mouth Of the Kentucky river. The cards we're
dropped instanter, the punches disappeared and the
m)urners were soon distributed ia knots upon the
promenade deck TO note the progress Of events.
Our bully boat sped away like bird, however,
and the craft behind gave early evidence that she
should offer no childs play. The fat was in the
fire at oncea large column Of black smoke eHrled
IN the clear atmosphere-an extra turn two was
visible upon our own beat, and away we went! q
good deal Of excitement existed among the party az
the rival steamer was clearly gaining on u.s. craft
Ike ours with such company and such captain,
mus mt be beaten.
As the boat behind us fell in under orr stern. and
we could count her passengers, sort OF impression
came over u.s. that by some mistake we had got upon
the wrong boat At least that was the expressed
opinion Of the parson as he threatened TO go down
stairs and take another drink
Our captain was noble feiiOw-he paced the deck
quietly, with constant eye to the windward, but he
said nothing. beVy Of the mourners stepped up to
him with
What speed, cap'n?n
Fair, gentlemen think it IS very fair, respond
ed the captain, as he placed his hand upon small
brass knob at the back of the piI0tbouse This move
ment responded to by the faint jngling OF bell
| below, followed Immediately by rush of cinders
from the smokepipes, and an improved action Of the
| paddles.
e Now we move again.
'Some,' was the response, and momentary trenb-
ling peryaded the boat she aid along right smartiys
But the craft in onr rear moved like our shadow
the calm waters, and as we shot down the river il
seemed as if we had her in tow SO calmly and uni
/ f0rmly did she follow in our wake.
The excitement OF the congregation upon deck had
by this time become intense, and it was pretty plain
that the boats must shortly part company q split
something. The rascal behind Us took advantage of
a turn in the channel, and /" helm q starboard was
clearly heard from the look out Of rival, as she
hove off and suddenly fell alongside OF u.s. The par
son went below at once to put his threat into eXecu
tion as we came un the current again. neck and
neck and when he returned were running a twenty
five knot lick, the steam smack on to fortysix de-
grees
She's eoing-gonr, go--5 Douttered an auc-
tioneer to himself.
q perfect nonsuit,' remarked a lawyer to his
friend.
Beaten. but not yanuushed n added politician ::
and away we scudded side bv side for half a mile.
4 wouldn't she bear a Ieetfe more?n meekfy asked
the parson.
\ "Shes doing very well, 7" replied the captain.
oDon't get excited, gentlemen nv boat il new
one-her reputation and mine are at stake We
mustn't rush her-raoing always Injuries boat and
am averse to it :; saving which he applied his
thumb and finger to the brass knob agan-the bell
tngled in the dstance-and our rival pilot shortly
had an opportunity to examine the architecture Of