The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-07

1cC GusOrtS T2ec EhUESDlo-.-An gec-
Boat 0stvuEis t!lc Chicago Express
Traiil-.-Js PcTisous Trip.-.simasi:ina
Into IL wharf.
Hudson river lcc-boatmcn at Poughkecp$ic
have had rare sport for the past two days.
For nearly forty-eight hours gale has swept
the ice. On Monday Commodore Booth
hoStcd sail on the Snowflake, and taking q
boy on board, announced his intention of
going to Milton, four miles south. The wind
was a hurricane. Under close reef his
craft dartcd sou,hward like lightning. The
sharp runners cut into the ice with Il hum,
and clouds Of flint-icc were whirled to the
rear, the boat at times being enveloped with
an ice-iog. The boy was on the wintward-
runner plank, and held on to the shrouds for
dear life. \ minute passed, and the boat
was mile away. She flew down along the
east shore like a phantom. 1t was no child's
play. The least mishap would hurl the oc-
cupants out Of the boat. In four minutes
she accomplished the four miles, and was
standing at Milton wharf with sails Tapping
i'll the wind.
While al Milton an ice-boat was seen head
ing toward the wharf from the east shore.
She was running at fitty-mle clip, and
there wis only enc person on board. The
boat smashed into the pier, head on. The
bowsprt was driven straight through til
stern, and spar and rigging were carried
away The helmsman was driven forward
over the torn boards and bent nails and
hurled against the wharf His clothing was
almost stripped from him, and his flesh was
badly lacelated. He sat for ten seconds gazing
on the wreck, and was helped away.
At j o'clock Monday afternoon, the wind
still a gale, Aaron 1nnis, of the ice-boat Hall,
resolved to enter in race with the Chicago
Express train which leaves PoughkeepSie for
New York ut 4:45 =. VI. Accordingly he
got sail up. and shook out all but one reef in
Inainslil and jib, lashed his coors 10 the
MIST, and started with four persons to stand
on tic runner pIaukS and keep the craft
down to her work. Arriving at the wharf,
he beat oil and OH, waiting ior the train to
make her appearance, rs when 1t passes the
point mentioned it is under full headwaY. y
Duff of smoke and the sharp clang of the en-
gine-bcll told him his rival was at hand. The
boat was not hundred feet from the train,
and the faces Of the passengers tillcd the win
dows. Gently the helm Of the Hall was put
down, the boat answering it promptly as size
wore away. -s.
Then followed one of the finest races ever
witnessed. While the Hall was getting in
position the train shot some distance ahead,
but the victory OF the iron-horse was but of
short duration. The ice-boat gained and
gained yet more rapidly. Every cord was
taut, and the sails were crowded with wind.
She swept over the ice like q tornado. The
lust 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, handkerchiefs and hats
were waved, and, though the train did no
more than hold its own, the engineer lifted
the whistle valve and sent forth shrill
scream of defiance. At that moment a tre-
nendous flaw of wind struck the ice-boat.
She lifted and reeled and staggered like
drunken mau; but it was only for Sc
cond, for rs soon as the forward runners struck
the ice again, the Fall passed car after car on
the train, then Tapped the engine, and, de-
spite the powers OF the locomotive, dashed
ahead of the entire train, the men on the
runner plGnks waving their hats with one
hand and holding on to the shrouds with
Death grips with the other. For two miles
did the winged racer lead, when she was put
about OH the home tack, and Is the train
passed the boat again, the passengers cheered
from the car windows and were cheercd at
hv the ice-boatmen, while the locomotive
gave suiky whistle, and the great race was
over. 49,.