The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-03-09

AOAs NSA oAh4c ON ALE AAOOpONs Ns-auuSOu
river ice-boatmen at Poughkeepsie have
had rare sport for the past two days.
For nearly forty y-eight hours gale has
swept the ice. On Monday, Commodore
Booth hoisted sail on the Snowflake, and,
taking boy on board, announced his
intention Of going to Milton, four miles
South. The wind was hurricane.
Under a close reef his craft darted
Southwark like lightning. The sharp
runners cut into the ice with hum. and
clouds OF dint.ios .were whirIed to the
rear, the boat at times being enveloped
with an ice fog. The boy was on the
windward runner plank, aud held on to
the shrouds for dear life. A minute
passed, and the boat was mile away.
She flew down along the East shore like
a phantom. It was no child's play The
least mishap would hurl the occupants
out Of the boat. In four minutes she
accomplished the four miles, and was
standing at Milton wharf with sails flap.
ping in the wind.
At half-phst O'Clock, Monday after
noon, the wind still gale. Aaron Innis,
OF the ice-boat Hall, resolved to enter in
race with the Chicago Express train,
which leaves Poughkeepsis for New York
at 45 P. NJ. Accordingly he got sail
up, and shook out all but one reef in
mainsail and jib, lashed his colors to the
mast, and started with four persons to
stand on the runner planks and keep the
craft down to her work. Arriving at the
wharf, he beat off and on, waiting for
the train to make her appearance, as
when it passes the point mentioned it 10
under full headwsy. A puff Of smoke
and the sharp clang of the engine bell
told hin, Il; rfuol 40 .
boat was not 100 feet from the train, and
tue faces of the passengers filed. the
windows. Gently the helm OF the Hall
was put down, the boat answering it
promptly as she wore away. Then fol-
lowed one of the finest races ever wit
messed. While the Hall was getting in
position the train shot some distance
ahead, bnt the victory of the iron horse
was of short duration. The ice-boat
gained and gained yet moro rapidly.
Every cord was taut, and tho sails were
crowded with wind. She swept over the
ice like tornado. The Inst car of the
train was reached, then the next, and the
next, until the boat was abreast of the
train. On the cars windows were showed
| up, hnndkerchiefs and hats were waved.
and, though the train did no more than
hold it's own. the engineer lifted the
whistle valve and sent forth a shrill
scream of defiance. At that moment a
tremendous flaw of wind struck the ice
boat She lifted and reeled and stag
gered like drunken man; but it was
only for q second, for as soon as the for
ward runners struck the ice again, the
Hall passed car after car on the train,
then Tapped the engine, and, despite the
powers OF the locomotive, dashed ahead
of the entire train, the men on the run
ner planks waving their hats with one
hand and holding Oh to tho shrouds with
death grips with the other. For two
miles did the winged racer lend. when
she was put about on the home tack, and
as the truin passed the boat again, the
passengers cheered from the Car window ws
and were oheered at by tho ice. boatmen,
while the locomotive gave sulky whis-
tie, aud the great race was over.
Tho 1,1o clr z Kluv ora MT