Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-08-14
STEAMBOAT RAGING.
How The Telegraph Beat the Brilliant.

Buz says: What can be more thrill
ing than a race between two steamboats,
Go back thirty-iive years and on dark
night picture yourself standing on the
banks OF the Ohio, then bordered on
both sides by a wilderness. Around a
bend silently sweep two mighty steam
boats. They glide along with the grace
Iulness OF swans. You can see the
glowing furnaces and the red sparks
flying out OF the tall, dark chimneys.
AS they come nearer you can hear the
clank, clank OF the machinery and the
SWISH of the waves as the two iron
prows cut the water in twain. You
look breathlessly on the strange sight
and feeling OF the supernatural comes
over you, and not until the two racers
disappear from view do you wake up to
a realization of your immediate sur
roundings. Thiry-fve years ago there
was such a race, and in steamboating
circles it created more than an ordinary
ripple Of excitement. It was between
the Brilliant, Capt. Redmond Grace.
and the Telegraph, Capt. Samuel Will
son. The distance was 500 miles, or
from Cincinnati TO Pttsburg, and was
won by the Telegraph by just thirty
five minutes.
The Telegraph was then in the Louis
vile trade, while the Brilliant piled be-
tween here and Cincinnati. There was
great rivalry between the boats, and
finally, OH one OF the Telegraph's down
trips il was announced at Steubenville,
/ Mar satt Da III nd
all other landings that on the return
trip she would give the Brilliant tus-
sle.. The Brilliant was almost univer-
sally conceded to be the fastest boat on
the river, and, as might be expected,
the inhabitants of the Ohio and West
Virginia towns anxiously awaited the
outcome. AT Cincinnati the Brilliant
awaited the Telegraphs return from
Louisville, when Preparations for the
race we're concluded. Through passen-
gers to Pittsburg only were given ac-
commodations by both boats, as it was
not intended to make any landings, the
start was made amid the deafening
blowing OF whistles, which completely
drowned the cheers from the Threats OF
hundreds OF sturdy boatmen standing
on the levee, who added to their enthu-
siasm by the throwing up and waving
OF hats. On board both boats the ex-
element, particularly among the pas
sengers, was intense. Wagers on the
result were freely made. For a distance
Of forty-fve miles, and for four hours,
now on straight course and now sweep
| ing around bend, the two boats kept
side by side. They seemed evenly
matched. Suddenly the Brilliant slack
ened up and the Telegraph quickly
forged ahead. For the first time either
boat had shown an advantage, and while
the passengers on the upper deck of the
Telegraph waved the handkerchiefs,
the passengers on the Brilliant grew du-
bious and respondent.
| The Brilliant's steam pump had by
some means failed to perform its proper
functions, and the speed Of the boat was
suddenly reduced from eleven 10 seven
and one-half miles an hour. The defect
having been remedied unusual efforts
to overtake the Telegraph were made.
The blackened firemen worked like
beavers in the efforts 10 redouble the
intense heat in the furnaces. Presently
the Telegraph is sighted and mighty
cheer goes up from the Brilliant. Again
they race side by side, and as the vari.
GUS towns are passed the inhabitants
rush to the bank and wave hats, coats
and impromptu flags and cheer for their
fayorites. Again there is commotion
on the lower deck of the Brilliant, and
she once more falls in the wake OF the
Telegraph. The steam pump is again
disarranged. Four or FIVE times does
this accident happen. Twice the Bril-
liant outstripped the Telegraph, anc
but for the accident to her machinery
would have been victor. There was nj
sleep on either boat until after Wheel
ing had been reached, or when four
lifths OF the trip had been accomplished
Then the tired passengers and por
tons of the crews turned into theii
hunks. When the Smoky City wa
sighted just forty-four hours had elapsed
since she left the Cincinnati wharf
Fifty-fve minutes later the vanquishet