The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-11
FLYING THE BROOM.
The Sound Pennant Claimed by
Two Rivals.
THE VICTORIAN AND FLYER.
Great Excitement Over . Race to Ia
eoma-victorian Won Going Over
and Wouldn't Race Back.

though no records were broken, one Of the
MOST exciting steamboat races on Puget sound
occurred Yesterday between the greyhounds of
the inland waters, Victorian and Flyer, in
which the former beat the latter from Seattle to
Tacoma fully two miles. The start from Seattle
was even and was witnessed by hundreds Of
people who crowded every available place on
the JOCKS The race was very exciting as far as
AK point, but after that the Flyer was prac-
ucaiiy out of the race by the breaking OF a
steam JOINT in a three-inch pipe which
fec the electric engine plant. The
preak allowed so much steam to escape
that 1t was almost impossible TO keep up high
pressure on the big engines. The return to Sc
attic can hardly be said to have been q race, for
though both boats left Tacoma al the same time
and the Flyer arrived at Seattle away in the
lead, the Victorian at the start declined to an
swer her smaller rivals challenge, and instead
OF rounding the points at close angle she took
great swing, and thus lost time at every turn
After the Victorian arrived in Seattle her Off.
GERS declared that the steamer did not race.
Wednesday evening the Victorian lay in wait
for the Flyer, and after an exciting run beat her
to Tacoma The defeat placed the Flyers crew
on their "pins, and they thirsted for revenge,
SO upon the return OF the boats to Seattle it was
given out that the Flyer would postpone her
1:30 o'clock morning trip aud race the Victo-
rian again. Accordingly when the Flyer ar
rived from Tacoma at 1880 o'clock she was tied
up and a fresh lot OF extra good coal was put
on board. At 100 the Victorian arrived
from Victoria and tied up at City
dock. While part of the crew were
discharging freight, another force was
working like Trojans ct wheeling coal into
the bins. The fiues were cleaned out by steam,
and at 2:So o'clock all was expectancy. The
Flyer, few blocks below, could be heard blow
ing off steam, and the Victorians boilers were
belching with emotion.
The tug Mystic, with a line from her stern.
pulled the Victorian's bow out into the stream.
This little by-piay materially aided the big
steamer In the start and was entirely
unexpected by the Flyer. As soon rs Captain
IL. K. Strive, from the Flyers pilot house,
noticed the action, he gave the signal to cast eff
lines and moment later the steamer had
backed out into the stream. The Victorian
steamed slowly toward the buoy and then slowed
down. As soon the Flyer had righted herself
and was IN position to run, Pilot stetson, of the
Victorian, pulled the whistle cord and gave
three sharp blasts. The challenge was i'm
mediately answered by Captain Struve. Then
the signal to "open her up was given the en-
gineers The black smoke rolled from the great
stacks of the steamers, leaving bank OF dngy-
hued murkinesS IN the wake.
The steamers quickly passed through the
water, and the keen north wind which sent q
shiver across the water of tho bay was scarcely
The Victorian reached puwaiffsh head length
In the lead, and when she turned to complete
her course the Flyer passed astern. On the turn
the Flyer crawied up at least length, and tho
crowds on both steamers yelled themselves al
most hoarss. The Flyer fell back after thsturn
was made, but at the bend around Alki point
she again crawled up to within two lengths of
her handsome rival, but again fell astern.
From that time the race was all in the Victor
ian's favor, II being afterwards learned that it
was here that the steam joint in the electric
light plant feed-pipe burst
The Victorian held her gait all the way to
Browns point, when she came In full view of
Tacoma. Previous to this time her wheel had
not been driven at greater speed than 10 revo-
buttons q minute; but just after passing the
point the engines were crowded and turned 122
revolutions minute. The steamer slid across
the bay in . remarkably short time, and instead
of stopping at her DOCK made a circle of the
harbor with brooms at her masthead. The
footing of her sonorous whistle in derision OF
the gallant steamer two miles in the rear tended
to increase the enthusiasm OF the thousands of
people on the docks who cheered and waived
hats and handkerchiefs. The Victorian steamed
around the Flyer as the latter boat came in, and
mingled her blasts Of victory with those of
locomotives on shore and steamers ct the
docks.
The Flyer took her defeat gracefully and sa-
luted the Victorian emphatically, while her
colors were run up ct half-mast
Shortly after the accident on the Flyer &C.
cured, Mr.. W. L. Gazzam, Of Seattle, who was
on the Flyer, drew up the following petition,
which was signed by all the passengers on board
and given to Captain Struve.
We, the undersigned, passengers aboard the
steamer Flyer deplore the accident resulting in
the blowing out of the steam valves, and re-
specially petition you TO wait for the Victorian
on her return trip tonight from Tacoma to Seat
tie and feel satisfied that victory will rest unou