Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-10-04
a STEAMBOAT STORY.
A THRILLING BOAT RACE ON THE
FATHER or WATERS.

\
FATHER OF WATERS.
Desperate Work Of a Reckless Pflot-Risk-
ing the Lives Of Hundreds Of Passen-
gers-A Great Tragedy Prevented by a
Courageous Captain.
knew Capt Jim Maginnis' and worked
for him-remarked mate Of the ancient
days-and | once saw him cool headed and
courageous under the most trying circum-
stances 1t was in 1851. The Rose Douglass
and Julia Roam, both splendid boats Of their
class-stern wheelers, good carriers and fast
left Little Rock for Memphis within an
hour of each other, the understanding being
that the boat that reached Memphis first
should have day in the Adams Mail line.
both boats were loaded with Confederate
soldiers. The trip down the Arkansas was
without special event, except everybody on
both boats learned that race was on and
naturally took great interest. Both boats
went through the ''cut off," entering the
Mississippi by way of White river Then the
real race began.
ACROSS HER BOW
Just as the Douglass came out Of White
river the Roam was Strengthening out up the
Mississippi. The Douglass had to land, and
the delay gave the Roam about one hours
start It was just little after noon. Bill
Reilly was the pilot on the Douglass, Capt.
Jim standing one watch himself. Bill was
at the wheel when we started up the Missis-
sippi, and he said he felt sure of overhauling
and passing the Roam before supper. And he
did overhaul her. but he did not pass her, for
the simple reason that her pilot don't
know who he was-wouldn't allow her to be
passed. When we ran up close enough to
make it apparent that we could pass excite
,, ment Oh both boats became intense. The
soldiers especially took a lively interest, and
those on our boat set up cheer.
Those on the other boat hurled back a veil
of defiance. Less than two miles ahead was
chute into which only one boat could enter.
and the pilot on the Roam realized that if we
entered the chute first his boat would be
practically out of the race, and they would
have to trail in behind us and run slowly.
He decided on a desperate scheme to prevent
US reaching the chute first Pulling his
wheel hard down, he turned his boat around
| at right angles with the stream and ran
squarely across our bow, passing not ten feet
ahead of US. Reilly saw the danger, and did
just what the Roan's pilotintended he should
do-stopped the boat, and backed to avoid a
collision. 1t was q desperate trick, and
placed several hundred lives in jeopardy, as,
had the Douglass not backed, she must inev-
itably cut the Roam in two amidships, and
both boats would have gone down where the
water was so deep that even the smokestacks
would have been covered. It had the de-
sired result, however. By stopping and
backing we lost time enough to permit the
other boat to get into the chute first.
Reilly was mad, and he let it be known
The soldiers were mad, and in their rage they
hurled curses at the soldiers on the other
boat, who responded with cheers and ieers.
Capt Jim was asleep. Bill Reilly decided to
stick to the main channel, and not follow the
Roam through the chute. The result was
that we We're about five or seven miles be-
hind when we caught sight of the Roan
again.
He WAS THE COMMANDER.
Meantime watches had changed and Capt
Jim was at the wheel. Reilly explained to
him what had occurred and told Of the ex-
citement among the soldiers The Douglass
gradually crawled up on the Roam until
about 10 o'clock, when we were less than a,
mile behind, with the width of the river be-
tween the boats. The Douglass had demon
strated superior speed, but the Roam evident
with less current to contend with. SO that
they were about on equal terms.
Thus they ran along until nearly midnight.
when Reilly again came on watch Several
| times during the night the boats had run
quite close together, and all night excitement
ran high. When Reilly took the wheel Capt
Jim cautioned him to keep the width of the
river between the boats, if possible, and to
be very careful, and then retired. His wife
was on the boat, and she sat up reading after
the old man went to sleep. About 80 o'clock
she heard shouting and cheering, and looking
out saw that the Roam was coming toward our
side of the river. She reused the captain,
and he jumped up and looked out In an in
slant he saw that we were nearing another
chute, and the situation was exactly as at the
time the Roam had crossed our bow. With
out waiting to put on his clothes he sprang on
the guards Of the cabin deck, and, catching
hold of the low guard rails of the roof, swung
himself up, and in less time than is required
was standing on the hurricane deck clad only
in his undershirt, drawers and socks Close
beside him was the captain of the Confederate
troops, while the soldiers completely filed the
upper deck.
1t was evident the same desperate game
was going to be played by the Roans pilot,
and it looked as though Reilly was going to
run her down Capt Jim gave the order to
stop and back At the same instant the Con-
federate captain pulled his revolver and
pointed it at the pilot on the Roam. The
scene was wild one; all the soldiers on both
boats were yelling and cursing like fends,
great showers Of sparks were pouring from
the chimneys Of both boats like fountains Of
fire, and the conditions were good for one Of
the most sensational tragedies ever enacted.
Capt. Jim was perfectly. cool. Selling the
wrist Of the officer with the pistol be fjerked
thesarm downfand shook the revolver from ON
his grasp. Quick as 9 fash another officer
seized the pistol and pointing It at Reilly,
our own pilot, shouted TO him to run her
down, coupled with the threat: st will blow
your head Of i you stop this boat . 4 # s|.
Before the words were out Of his mouth.
Capt. Jim landed 9 blow under his ear, and
he fell to the deck like stunned 81. 81 sAt the
same time he commanded Reilly 'to stop her
insuch tones that enforced obsdience, and.
the Roam glidedsb by.so closely that sher9wheel
threwwater over our forecastle Again the
/ eS1iedfa sVnrkAdsgand the Roam oft tfossd.