The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-28

Inquiries In Bchair of Some Nervous Inhabi-
tnnts of Richmond ounty.

Many people who travel in the ferry boats
between this city and the North Shore Of Staten
Island have grown nervous lately at what
seems to them The racing Of the rival boats Tho
Thomas Collycr, Of the Peoples Line starts
from Pier ~, North river. at the same hour at
which the Castlcton. of tho North Shore Line
stcams out of her slip at Whitehall She is Ivy
construction a faster bout thnn the Casilcton
and arrives at Staten Island about the same
time. Notwithstanding the greater distance she
has to travel II is said that thcrc is always a
virtual race down the bay. aud n contest be-
tween the two steamboats, Us to which shall gain
prior possession Of the several llnding places
member Of the firm " Pine. IIilycr Co Of
West Brighton told u representative of The
Sun that he was In one OF the boats on Tuesday
when there was a race He knew il because
both boats were side hy side for some time. and
each opparently, doing it, best The prcsc,rip,,
brighton. said he had seen the boats try to
"hother each other AT the landing"
On y trip down in the Ca-tleton the reporter
saw no positive evidence OF racing. When the
boat was about opposite Governors Island II
passenger pointed out the COllycr lust steumng
out from her slip on North river. II was stern
chase. When the Castlcton made her first
landing the CQllyor was close behind her. All
the way down the bay two circles of white fiamc
Jettnd out around the Casllctons furnace doors
with II roar that was heard on deck. She was
n separate engine. Superintendent Aiming
Smith Of the line explained that she always
nStl inc blower. us an most OF lnf ~lfHlllPIS IN
the harbor. except short distance Terry boats.
Builders Of steamboats,. he said. had lately been
putting in small boilers. and Increasing thor
ability to make steam rapidly by Introducing
the blower. which forced a draught Of air
through the furnace. For his part. however.
he looked upon "a blk boiler rs the best paying
irc ight "a steamboat can carry.
The, Cqstlcton kept ahead Of her rival
ut all the stations, but on returning it
was noticed that she started from every
one about three minutes ahead OF time.
On the trip to New York the Collycr again
caught up To- the Cu-tiotuu. John Belchcr. her
engineer, pointed carcleSsly 10 his steam gauge.
whose Indicator was quivrring NJ thirty-two
pounds His certificate Is good ioriilty pounds.
Ihrr" Mas no blower IN OPERATION. lie sad That
Mr.. j. II. Sturin. the owner of the line had posi-
tivcy lorhidden racing. and mat accordingly
the Collycr WIS Kept away from tn" tHstleton IA
far n possible. Tho Castloton kept crowding
upon her to keep her away from the landings,
On the New jersey side OF the chan
mel I've seen the people piled up NIL
along the shore watching us the engineer
said. "On Tuesday tho Cas'lnton raced US three
times. but W" kept right along about our bust
against us at Sailors Snug lIarhor. and we have
to land our passengers am \ freight over her
once We ran ahead OF her H. she lay at the land
bow and the pier. where tAcrc WIS room for MS
10 put our gang plank. The CaStl"tOn threw
! out hrr stern in such a way A. 10 bring her bow
! IN ana tnr 'ni'n To- tr'hN ~ our SIDE. once she
/ crowded u So close To- tl.e ,gln buoy On Kohbn
Reef That We stopped ami blew our whistle We
! IS Up"d u boy only -FOUR l''i.
Superintendent Aiming smith. when told Of
/ ia" charges nude against TN" Cn~tl"tun. pro-
/ nouuocd them untrue. le had noticed. how
/ eyer. only a lew minutes previously. that tho
/ Ca-tlrt0n WIS about g. start from her New urk
/ slim three minute. nhaal of time. and ON in
/ quiry had boon told that the CAPTAINS wat IA
| WIS wron-. This was Very singular. Ii was "a
/ tine watch that huu been presented TO the Cap
lion ~ his duties. nhr dp'llrr. said. is a last
/ boat, and her Captain liN'- "a show her IN. He
/ had known h.rtu ~ oN i.r cuur-, rs far as
/ Govcrnor- island 80 that her passengers might
So. her pass the h-tlrtnn.