The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1858-07-23
THE CAPTAIN WHO WOULDN'T
RACE.
BY THE YOUNG s'uS.

magnificent new steamer was launched upol
the banks of the Ohio river, and shortly af
forwards made her appearance at the leve
opposite the flourishing city of CINCINNATI
Gilt edged covers enveloped the captain
prospects" accompanied with invitations st,
see her through" upon her first trip bein!
forwarded 10 the editorial corps in that vi
cinity, the chalked hats were numerous" oil
the occasion. |: was grand affair, this de
but of floating palace, which has sine,
maintained her repute uBvarnished as Oh,
''crack boat" par excellence upon the West
ern waters. Your humble servant was
among the invited guests-and nice time
he had OF il
| found myself on board this beautiful
craft in close communion with a score of un-
questionable beauties. Thecompany proved
20 be Heterogeneous conglomeration OF
character-made up of editors, lawyers, and
auctioneers, indescribabes and "fancies"-
with a sprinkling Of "nonsuches." There
was stray parson too in the crowd, but us
his leisure time "between meetings" was
spent in trading horses, we dispensed with his
"grace before meals"
We left our moorings an hour before suu-
set, upon a clear cold afternoon, and passed
rapidly down stream for considerable dis
tance, withou. any strange occurrence. The
''son of temperance" and the parson aforesaid
amused themselves over smoking whiskey
toddy-the "boys" were relieving each other
of their supeAuous dimes and quai ters at
euchre, when tall gentleman who wassome
when he was sober, stepped suddenly in the
cabin with the information that a we'll known
"fast boat" had just hoved in sight at the
mouth of the Kentucky river. The cards
were dropped instanter, the punches disap-
peared, and'th "mourners" were soon dis.
tributed in knots upon the promenade deck
to nole the progress of events.
Our "bully boat" sped away like bird,
however, and the craft behind gave us early
evidence that she should offer no child's play.
The fat was in the fire" at once - a
large column of black smoke cured up in
the clear atmosphere-an extra turn or two
was visible upoE our own boat, and away we
went! A good deal Of excitement existed
among the party, as the rival steamer was
clearly gaining upon us. craft like ours,
with such company and such a captain,
mustn't be beaten.
AS the boat behind us fell in under our
stern, and we could count her passengers,
sort Of impression came over us that by some
mistake, we had got upon the wrong boai!--
AT least that was the expressed opinion of
the parson, as he threatened TO 90 down
stairs and take another drink.
Our captain was noble fellow-he paced
the deck quietly, with constant eye to the
windward, but he said nothing. A bevy of
the mourners stepped up to him with
"What speed cap'n?"
"Fair, gentlemen: think it is very fair"
responded the captain, as he placed his hand
upon small brass bell at the back of the
pilot house. This movement was responded
to by the faint jinglng of bell below, fol.
lowed immediately by n rush Of cnders from
the smoke pipes, and an improved action of
the paddles.
"Now we move again"
"Some," was the response and momenta-
ry tremor peryaded the boat as she slid along
right smartly.
But the craft in our rear moved like our
shadow on the calm waters, and as we shot
down the river, it seemed us if we had her in
tow, so calmly and uniformly did she follow
10 our wake.
The excitement of the congregation on
deck had by this time become intense, and II
was pretty plain that the boats must shortly
part company or split something: The ras-
cal behind us took advantage of a turn in the
channel aud "hem starboard" was clearly |
heard from the look out of our rival, rs she |
hove off and suddenly fell alongside of us.
The parson went below at once to put his |
threats into execution, as we came up the |
stream again, "neck and neck" and when he
'eturned were running twenty-five knot
ick, the steam smack on TO as degrees.
"She's going-going-" mutiered an
luctioneer to himself.
"A perfect nonsuit," remarked lawyer TO
iis friend.
"Beaten, but not varquished," added pol.
tcian; and away we scudded side by side for
! half a mile.
"Would'nt she bear leetle more" meekly
sked the parson.
"She's doing very WE'LL" replied the cap
ain. Don't get excited, gentlemen; my boat
8 a new one-ber reputation and mine is at
take. We mustn't rush her-racng always
njures boat, and am averse to il; saying
which he applied his thumb and finger to the
'rass knob again-the bell lng!ed in the
istance-and our rival pilot shortly had an
opportunity 10 examine the architecture Of
ur rudder postl
was acquainted with the engineer. Istep.
ed below (believing we should be beaten at
ur present speed0 and entering the engine
oom,
"Tim, we'Il be licked-givc her another
urn. eh2n