Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-11
!. BEpo4 DR WAH.n
An Old Time and Exessins BeatsRaec from
new Oriesas 70 Gaivessos.
frkcnxcf Naval

49,
Atlantic reported by telegraph the other
day, said he was reminded OF race that
he witnessed once between two steamers
from New Orleans 10 Galveston, Texas.
"If you have no objection l will tell you
the story"
On being told to 90 ahead he spun the
following yarn:
This race took place partly on the Mis-
sissippi and partly on the Gull OF Mexico.
nearly twenty-five years ago. The port OF
departure was New Orleans and Galveston
the port Of destination. The time was Sep
tember, 1859. The Harris & Morgan line
had lust put on new steamer called the
Charles Morgan. she was side-wheel
bcam.engine craft OF about two hundred
feet keel, and was believed to DC at that
time the finest specimen Of naval architec-
ture ailoat In those waters. The owners
and their friends 1attered themselves
that they had the fastest and staunch-
/ est steamer In the Gull OF Mexico.
/ But future events proved the falIacy
OF their dreams. Some time IN September
/ II was announced that the Hargon
! Brothers, Of New York, were going to put
/ on a line OF steamers between New Or
/ leans and Tehuantepec. shortly after a
| steamer arrived in New Orleans called the
Coaizacoalcos. The papers Of that day
briefly announced that she had made the
fastest time on record between Havana and
/ New Orleans, and that she had passed the
Uabana in the open gulf. The Habana was
aiterward the famous Confederate priva-
teer Sumpter. and her speed was proved
in MANY race 10 eude the Federal
cruisers. When | read the accounts OF
the wonderful speed OF the craft with a
long name / concluded 10 visit her. The
instant glanced at the model knew that
had seen something like il before. She
was built Of wood, about 300 feet keel, 80
feet beam, and 10 feet depth OF hold. Her
lines were the perfection Of beauty 10 the
way OF speed and seaworthiness. Her en-
CINE was a pure type Of the American beam
pattern, about 20 inches diameter OF cyin-
der by II feet stroke. IL was evident that
she had not been built for the ocear or gulf
trade. Alter taking survey OF her outside
j stepped up the gang plank to takea look
at her interior. Her cabin was on the main
deck, and magDihcently finished and fur
nished. The engine glistened like a new dol
lar. Every thing about her showed that no
expense had been spared 10y her builders.
After looking her over 10 my satisfaction
concluded 10 take a look at her register,
which showed that she had been built for
ply between Toronto and Ogdensburgh,
and that having no use for her after the
Suspension bridge at Niagara Falls bad
been finished, she had been sold 10 parties
In New York, who had fitted her up as an
ocean steamer by cutting of her guards and
upper cabins. My survey satisfied me that
the claims Of the Morgan line to having the
iastast steamer in the Gulf OF Mexico were
TO be demolished ii the two steamers should
ever come together in fair, smooth water.
There was some hitch about the Tehuan-
tepec lne getting into operation. and the
CoatzacOalcos lay at the wharf in New
Orleans for some time. Finally, to get
something out Of her, il was announced
that she would enter the New Orleans.
Galveston, and Vera Cruz trade, and the
day OF her departure was fixed the same ne
that OF the Morgan. Every one knew that
il meant race, although the captain and
agents OF the CoatzacoalcOs stoutly denied
that such was the intention. The steamers
which run in that trade then usually lief.
their wharves i'm New Orleans at 8 O'Clock
in the morning. and promptly at that
hour the Morgan hauled in her lines,
rounded out into the river, and headed
down stream at the top OF her speed. As
she passed the wharf OF the Coatzacoalcos
she blew long blast from her whistle as n
signal for a race. The officer in charge OF
the Coatzacoacos promptly sounded his ac-
ceptance of the challenge, but there was no
indication OF any hurry TO let go the wharf.
On the contrary, freight was arriving and
being slowed away in the hold IN most
careful manner. The crew seemed TO be in
no hurry TO take hand in the anticipated
race. An hour passed by, and tug
Ill xtsis N .Aul-a M
the process OF coaing was gone through
with, and still there seemed no indica-
ton that she was likely to leave. Two
or three shipping clerks sat idly look
ing at the steamer from under an avn
ing, but most OF the spectators had left, As
the heat OF the advancing sun OF a semi
tropical autumn made other quarters more
agreeable. The clock IN the eneine.room
pointed directly TO 10 when the whistle OF
the CoatZacoacos was sounded; her lines
were let loose and she slowly rounded out
into the river. The engine worked very
slowly. barely enough TO give her headway, |
but as soon as she was headed down stream |
the gong sounded three bells 10 the engi- |
Deer. Half a minute passed and every one |
on board the steamer realized that a
race had actually begun. She fairly |
trembled in every timber under the |
gigantic power OF the engine. The |
spray curled up and forward from her stem
in a style that would have craced the |
finest HudsOn-riyer packet. The city was
soon out Of sight; plantation after planta. |
ton iloated rapidly astern. About O'Clock |
Fort Jackson and ST. Philip were passed
Then came few fshermen's huts, and |
the only things visible. About 5 O'Clock a |
tug of the Saxon line was sighted ahead, |
going down the river light. She was
claimed to be fast, but slowly she drifted
toward us, and while passing her she
seemed TO be tearing the river open. About
4 O'Clock Pilot town was reached, the
river pilot discharged. and the bar pilot
taken aboard. The dull, monotOnOus
shores OF Southwest pass soon faded in the
distance, the bar pilot stepped IN
To his boat, and the CoatZacoalcOs was in
The open gulf. heading almost due west for
Galveston. The distance, 40 miles, had
been covered in six hours. There was no
Morgan in sight. The glare OF the sun pre-
vented good view forward at that time,
but when the short tropical twilight came
il showed small black cloud OF smoke lust
above the water ahead Of us, but long
way of. II was the Morgan. A visit to
the encine-room revealed the fact that there
was thirty pounds Of steam on the gauge,
that the vacuum-gauge showed twenty
seven and twehty-eight. and that the en-
CINE was making about twenty.iour turns
per minute, with scarcely percepible halt
when on The centre.
Outside there was hight breeze from
the southeast. but the gulf was almost SIS
quiet as a mill-pond. At O'Clock there
was still three hundred miles to cover be-
fore reaching our destination. aud the Nor
gan was fully twenty miles ahead. Bets
were freely offered that the Coatzacoalcos
would moi overtake her, and many OF them
taken. Soon the darkness OF night settled,
and the race became dreary enough. The
laboring of the engine and trembling OF
the vessel prevented the slightest desire
for sleep. When morning came it showed
the Morgan in plain sight about four or
FIVE miles ahead, with black smoke pouring
out OF her sm0kcstack. Slowly the dis
lance between the two vessels decreased,
and about the time the buildings and trees
OF Galveston were visible the Morgan was
passed, and in half an hour the C0atzacoll-
cos was alongside her wharf at Galveston.
having beaten the Morgan two hours and
fifteen Minutes in A rim NJ dh0 milas