The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09
rRrp ON THE rls1Esr BoAr.
The Truth About the Racing stcamboats on
the East River.

The report has obtained crcdence TO
considerable extent that the boats plying to
Harle "a have recommended the racing practice,
which was viewed with so much apprehension
couuIe Of years ago, and that their passengers
were liable TO be at any moment tossed into
eternity by tho explosion Of boilers taxed be-
yond their powers Of resistance.
Investigation showing that there was but one
trip per diem on which two boats OF the rival
limo, could be near enough together for race,
owing to the arrangement ~ their time tables
sun reporter took me lsures to be in at the
death" Yesterday morning, II thore was to be
anN de tn. on that exceptional trip.
At SIS a. NJ, Harlem seemed to have rubbed
It's eyes oucu sufficiently to begin straegling on
dinarily the most crowded one of the day On
the opposite side Of the river passengers were
longing to the Morrisania line.
1.-The Syly N DELL said ono OF the omcers OF
belonys' ia the swiftes, boat about New
YOrs. She can beat any OF tho big hoats TO Al
banv nv two hours. We can get $4,000 Tor her
nny day We want to sell hor. but we don't want
to sell. All our boats are swift, 9ut she Is the
racer OF them all. he Morrisania line has some
good boats. too, but not "a swift as ours. Their
heat Ia the Shady side which YOU see living over
there; but she Is cranky, rolls badly when she
ia in a hurry, and 40 broke her snaft few days
ago. and il now / aid up Tor rephrs.
At S:ls the steam whistle OF the sylvan Doll
gave hOarse yell, to which the Harlem replied
hy one somewhat hoarscr. Challenge ana de-
nnncc. tho salutes were understood TO mean.
Passengers coming on board rubbed their hands
and said eNpec:lntly to each other, " Race TINS
morningf" ives, | guess so" would be the
hopeful response. Down stairs could tie heard
the rattle OF the stOkers' shOyels, heapinl coal
into the furnaces. Tho needle 81 the steam
gauge stood at ri. and was auivetinx toward u
riso Deck hands lhbnrlnusly moved over - the
shore side Of the vessel the great chest ana cisk
of metal used for ballast. as N getting ready Tor
"a rush Of passengers to the opposite side TO wit
ness the race.
Really the prospect looked promising. The
reporter inspected the vessels United states
! rcrtinc Ite conspicuousiv displayed in tho lower
! cabin II set forth that the sylvan Dell was a
vessel Of 440.45 tons. built In BROOKLYN In 1872,
having one condensng engine OF 81 lnchcs
| oil meter II cylinder md 1cot stroke, aud one
low pressure boiler 81 fcct In lenLth by feet In
diameter; that she was permitted TO carry ~
! pouuds pressure to the square inch, and that
| The number OF passengers allowed ny her license
! was loo.
| dock. with 29 passengers on board. moment
| later the Hnriem moved into the stream. he
| former let tue way down 70 tue toot OF LII ~
| street, whore she stopsef and OK on board III
! more PAS sengers. While she laid here the Har-
| lem drew up alongside her dock Just below
| took on much smaller number Of passengers,
and cast of again about half minute auead OF
| the sylvan Dell. leading her when both were 90
inr RE fully two lengths and throwing the foam
from her paddles a. Il she meant to snow tue
! Dell a clean pair o. heels. But the Den was not
to be shaken 81 so easily More and more
swiftly her wheels spun around. the needle OF
! n.r steam gauge Jrcmnled on thirty SIX. and her
speed was vtsioly incrca sing m'mentnrily. Hs'
]
and She beg al steadily aud r,pidly closing tins
! gan At the head Of Wards Island. the bow OF
| the Dell WA already tapping tue stern OF the
| Harlem. Ine y .ssengers OF tue former boat
| seemed to take amid interest IN the situation
! tempered, however, Oy slightly depressing con
| udencc IN the certainty If VICTORY, and though
! tuey made general movement toward the sid'
| next tine Harlem, did not IN iulge In any Insult
| ING cheers u triuW ph. But the iaoorefs unload
/ ing \ sand barge ON the New YORK side OF th'
/ river were not 50 forucaring. Ihoy stopp. 4
work. waved their hats, ana hurthed heartily
At the lowcrend OF W nrd's Island the Del hac
made up her lost distance. and the two Doat
were ne -rly abreast, running 50 close togethe
that "A biscuit could have been tossed IRON
either TO the other. Nnen opposite ths York
vile ferry, they were exactly even, and minut'
later the Dell forged rapidly ahead. Her steau
gauge now Indicted n pressure OF but thirtN
I'VE bounds. From this point the Harlem d.
Ver-ed across the river - Astoria, and was seer
no more curing the rest OF the trip by the pas
sengers on tn Dell. Tue little contest was over
As a race IL was u nzLle, devoid Of protracte'
interest, and entirely Tree from danger.
There were lS5 more passengers on board thai
the boats license formally restricts her to, bu
they did not seem overcrowded, and no reaso
! was apparent why toe sylvan Dell should no
carry 8t5 persons as safely "a 100 She has onl
no life preservers, however, visible To earef.
search, OF which As are IN the upper cabin. wher
more than half her passengers are carried. an
LIZ below stairs. ia view Of the possibility I
accident, " she continues 10 carry so many i
seng-rs. the number OF her life preservers Shoui
be In reaseu.