The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-14
A RICHMOND STEAMER
GOES TROMBONE TO BECOME FAMOUS
The City OF Richmond Gaining an EnvIabls
Reputation for Speed I'm New York Harbor-
Rivalry Between Her and the NJ. Johns-An
Interview with the Captains.

| line, and one which bears the name OF our
city, is gaining reputation as being one OF
the fastest steamers In New YOIk Aarbor, az
the subiOined from the New York Herald
Of Friday last will show. The steamer st.
Johns has heretofore been celebrated for
her speed, and IS the City OF Richmond has
passed her on straight run some twelve
or fifteen times lately, the proud privilege
OF "csrrying the broom" seems TO belong
to the City Of Richmond.
| II will be remembered that the City OF
! Richmond was built about n year ago by
the Virginia Steamboat Company, Of which
Mr.. LucIen b. Tatum. OF this city, is SUI
perintendeBt. She was running regularly
on the line from here to Norfolk this sum-
mer, when very handsome charter was
offered for her to run between New York
and Long Branch for the balance OF the
season, and the company decided TO let
her go.
The City OF Richmond and 81. Johns
start every afternoon at quarter TO 4
O'Clock from neighboring piers-the one
! from Pier 3, and the other from Pier 13-
| for Long Branch. The City Of Richmond
goes direct TO the iron pier, while the st.
Johns transfers her passengers at Sandy
Hook 10 the railroad, which takes them TO
the Branch. 1t is 4 matter OF everyday
observation that from each boat the pro-
gress OF the other is watched with the
keenest eaeerness by the passengers, that
| iimprompiu wagers are almost daily made
as TO which steamer will pass the other,
and st what point, and that the greatest
rivalry exists between the two boats, al.
though, for obvious reasons, ii is not ad-
mitted by the captains and other officers.
But let them speak themselves.
CAPTAIN TINBALL, OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
Captain Kimball. OF the City OF Rich
mond, is an energetic seaman, though he
has soft blue eyes and is but a very moderate
better. When asked how much he would
stake on the victorious issue Of the City OF
Richmond In a race with the rival boat he
very moderately thought he would "win
his cigars"
"Ob, we pass the ST. Johns every day
when we feel like it," Captain Kimbal
said lightly when approached on the ques-
tion. "When we first started her
on this line they laughed at us and thought
| II was absurd on our part 10 run against
the ST. Johns, because our boat Is seven feet
shorter, and all that. But" added the
Captain with grim intensity, "they are not
laughing now, can tell yOu!"
"Has the st. Johns ever passed you,
Captain ?"
"NeVer," was the proud reply, "neverW
! (ThiS denial is TO be carefully remembered
in view OF what Captain VOgel, OF the st.
Johns, will sooE tell the reader.)
"NeVer OnceP"
"NOt Once!" was the firm response; and
the Captain gave vehement pun from his
| cigar as though he mesnt to say, WY,
can blow her away lust like that "
"Is the City OF Richmond, then, the faster
boat of the twoi"
"Why, there's no doubt OF it,. The City
OF Richmond is the fastest boat in these Wa
ters. don't back before any Of 'em except
only the Mary Powell"
"How would YOU like race between the
two boats!'
"Oh, / don't object to It,"
Here the superintendent Of the line broke
in with a diplomatic suggestion which,
while it was meant TO cOnciliate the prn'
dental objections TO a steamboat race, was
yet intended 10 maintain the supreme glory
OF the City Of Richmond. "The Captain
neither courts q race nor does he shrink
from it," And well pleased with having put
| il so neatly, he queried, "lsn't that 50, Cap
tain?"
"Yes, tnat's about the way to put it,"
| the Captain pleasantly responded.
"Did the st. Johns ever try to pass you,
Captain"
"Onen. One day she went considerably
out OF her course and hung around us a
| long while, but she couldn't do any better
| 0hough she tried with all her might than
| TO reach, say as FAR as our paddle-boX, with
! her bow. Her passengers got greatly eX-
cited, waved handkerchiefs and hurrahed,
and then they hois'ed the pennant as
token OF victory. They thought they bad
US that day. But it was just little too
soon, for she could make no headWay, and
! iuaIly steamed of into the channel without
having passed Us after all, and leaving Us in
possession OF the field. They claim thot
they are oHly running on schedule time
"What theny"
"Wen, next day she had a considerable
start over us, and Qhis was said with mock
dignity Just to return the Ompliment-fOr
| always like to return compliments, you
kDOw-we made for her and hung round her
for about two or three minutes just TO give
her fair warning as TO what We were about
to do, and then steamed ahead so quickly
that they didn't know where they were."
WATERLOO FOR THK ST. JoHNs.
"Was there much excitement among
your passengers" 7"
On, they called out iOcOscly to their
friends on the St. Johns, 'Waut a liner
.Good-by!' 'Going to stay here over
mighty and all that sort OF thing, and We
had quite a scene Gu board. Why, it was
complete 'walk-oyer' tnat day--a regu
lar Waterloo for the 81. Johns! We bad
been quarter Of mile behind her, and
left her about an eighth OF mile behind
us. tell you they didn't like that
"Would YOU bet on the City Of Rich
mond in a race with the st. Johns ~
ayes, | think | would, and I'd win my
cigars, too -.
"How much would you SurplsS her?"
"a quarter OF a mile in race to Sandy
Hook, easily
"Is there much betting now among the
passengers 2"
"Yes; good many bottles Of wine, cigars,
and ten and twenty. dollar bills are won
an&l lost on wagers as to whether well pass
the st. Johns on a certain day, and where"
How many times, as far as you can re-
member, Captain, have you passed the st.
Johnst'
"Oh, | should say twelve or fifteen
times" Captain Kimball responded. after
careful reflection. You see. we don't al
ways start simultaneously. Whenever we
have started ahead Of the st. Johns she has
never overtaken us-never once; but when
the ST. Johns has been ahead OF Us we have
clearly passed her, as | said before, at least
twelve or fifteen times"
"Do you think Captain NOgel Will admit
that you always pass herr"
al don't see how be can deny it," was
the triumphant reply.
CAPTAIN yOGEL DOES DENY IT.
The ST. Johns il the fastest boat that
"A. l. G.v - Ia. IL