The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-28
A STEAMBOAT RACE.

he s1absan and the 0iIbsFt--Down
fAsy Flew. Past the Lower Bend"
Frua Tie Ivansvle Journal
Wednesday morning the Sunbeam and
Gilbert were both advertised in the trade,
and the fare was cut to twenty-five cents
each way. With the fare equal. the next
thing TO be tested was the relative
speed of the two craft. Yesterday it BE-
came rumored that the expected trial Of
speed would be made, and the officers Of
the Gilbert had expressed their intention
of passing the Sunbeam within sight Of
the city. A large crowd Of people lined
Water street at 3:45, when the boats were
to start, and q considerable number paid
their fares down and back, to see the race
choosing their boats as their confidence
dictated.
A high wind was blowing at the time.
and this, together with shoal water, de-
lsyed the sunbeam in getting out. The
Gilbert. which handles as lightly and
readily as a velocipeGe, waited patiently
for her adversary. While they were thus
combating the wind and water, Dick
Miles, who had chosen the Gilbert, re-
marked tauntingiy to those on the Sun
beam:
Don't you want to get off? You'd
rather get of in your mind"
The Gilbert steamed up above the
wharf hundred yards and turned, while
the SUNBEAM at last backed around and
Strengthened out in the channel. The lit
tie Gilbert was under way in a few sec
onds, while her heavier adversary was
slow in getting started. When both were
under Roadway there was, probably, a
squares difference, the Sunbeam leading.
She went around the bend, hugging the
Indiana shore and running liesurely over
the shoal water. The Gilbert, on the
contrary, cut across the bend and gained
some distance, but lost it by getting
around the swell of the Maggie Smith,
winch had started ahead Of both.
Captain Perkins, of the Sunbeam, had
concluded to let the Gilbert come along
side and make the race from ''eend to
eend," but thinking better of the determ-
nation he pulled the throttle out just be-
low the bridge, and the music began.
The Gilbert was so near that the identity
of persona On her decks could be distin-
guished, but soon the distance widened:
The shore few by and the wind whistled
past the flying craft as if they were rail-
road trains. The admirers of each boat
held their breath as the critical instant
came, and then steadily but slo~ly the
Sunbeam pulled away, gaming every inch
BY fair running. and cutting the river
wide Open" Down they flew past the
lower bend and Strengthened into the first
stretch. When the Sunbeam lad reached
Lockhart's, five miles above Henderson,
she was at least six Fights of mile
ahead. Suddenly the Gilbert Stacked
up and then stopped still and threw out
an anchor. The packing in the cylinder
of her doctor" had blown out and her
part in the race had ended. The Sun
beam ran the remainder Of the distance
leisurely, landing in exactly forty-six and
one-baif minutes from the time she
Strengthened out at the wharf. After ~
ing there few minutes she came back
and took of the Gilbert's excursionists,
bringing them to Evansville. TIE Gil
bert was then nearly ready to go on 70
Henderson, and will be all right to-day.
When the Sunbeam came toward her
disabled rival, Dick Miles, who had been
so confident in his judgement, waved his
handkerchief frantically for relief, and
was friehtfuily "chawed" on the trip up:
The quality Of the fishing" was inquired
into, and the fact was observed that he
was badly sun-burned by the length Of
time ne had been exposed to the rays OF
the sun.
The race was not at all satisfactory to
the admirers Of the Gilbert, who are still
unconvinced and want to try it over
again.