The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-15
POTTER IS CHAMPION.
She Beats the Gatzert and ALI
Records From Tacoma.
TROPHIES oFucToRy GIVEN UP.


Potter came oil victorious YESTERDAY In
the greatest steamboat race that has ever
occurred on Puget sound. aud proved her
self the fastest boat in the Pacific North
west. The steamers opponent was the
speedy Ba1Iey Gatzert. which, few weeks
ago. defeated the Potter and covered the
distance between Tacoma and Seattle in
An hour and twenty-five minutes. The
handsome Bailey Gatzert vas mot In IT,
YESTERDAY from the very start. The Pot
Ter was abottled up" for. the race Of her
existence and she came into Seattle harbor
long before the sharp prov OF the Gatzert
shot in view around Duwamish head. The
Pottcr's time from the buoy in Tacoma
harbor TO the buoy in Seattle harbor.
distance Of twenty-eight and one-hah
miles, was one hour and TWENTY-FIVE and
one-half minutes; thus ali previous records
were broken by two and one-haIf minutes
Even then the Potter did not have every
thing in her favor. for the tide was COM
ing in and held her back materially.
with the tide in orr favor" said Captain
Pease Of the Potter last evening, I'VE can
beat the present record two and half
minutes. We have money TO bet that the
Potter can easily come from Tacoma TO
Seattle in an hour and twenty minutes"
Tacoma takes quite as deep an interest
IN steamboat racing as Seattle, and when
il was announced yesterday that there was
70 be woodworking test between the
two fastest steamers on Puget sound, the
people commenced gathering on the docks
and on the heights above the docks, which
commands an nnobstructed view OF the
49, a. Ia
O'Clock IN the morning, bat waited for the
Gatzert until 1915. At that hour. with
shout af,nndred expectant passengers on
board and swelling boilers, she backed out
into the broad bay, and waited for the
Gatzert. The latter boat came out behind,
and the Potter rested nIotionIess while the
Gatzert steamed By. IL sas evident 10
everybody that both steamers were III ex-
ceilent racing trim, and as they started off,
the Gatzert length and half in the lead,
the crowds gave vent TO pent-ap excite
ment In resounding shout, which vas
soon lost in the deafening salutes Of scores
Of steam whistles from the various craft in
the harior.
Near Browns point the ting Susie was
stationed with a crowd Of excursionists.
waiting 10 see the steamers pass. When
they passed the Susie the Potter had
caught up with the Gafzcrf, and the two
boats we're coughing sayageIy IN time and
were slipping rapidly through the water,
neither percepiibiy ahead. The Susie sa-
lnted with her whistle until nearly all the
steam in her boiler was gone. and the
crowds on all three boats yelled themselves
hoarse
fx.~f afso~ rs~n~ns. 49, -. 80. In t.o1.t.I
The Potter forged length ahead. and was
rapidly slipping further and further away,
Shen suddenly something popped on the
Gatzert with loud report and piece Of
metal went flying out Of her smokestack.
Just what had happened only the engineers
knew, but whatever il was. the accident
materially affected the speed Of the boat.
for her savage coughing subsidized and no
further attempt was made al racing.
The Potter's captain noticed the acct
dent but Engineer Smith still kept up
steam. determined 10 beat the record. and
the steamer seemed 70 fairly nv through
tie water. The weather was very clear
asd the scenic effect OF the swift motion
~ss grand, objects appearing and passing
ssay with startling rapidity.
As the Potter circled into Seattle harbor
thc triumphant blasts from her soDorous
whistle soussied her victory From every
masthead and from the several dayits
brooms were hoisted and the Potter's
streaners we're all hoisted to the breeze.
Across the steamers forepeak was barrel.
and over the barrel was placed stuffed
effigy. Above this was hoisted a banner.
on which was painted in glaring letters.
ssThe Gatzert Is Dead"
As soon as the Gatzert arrived in port
Captain Pease, of the Potter, ACCOMPANIED
by several passengers who were on board.
went to Captain Hatch, Of the Gatzert. and
demanded the gilt greyhound and broom
that stood at the top OF the piiot-house.
Captain Hatch very gracefully turned over
20 Captain Peasc these emblems of victory.
which now ornament the piIot-house of
the Potter. The greyhound and the broom
were first held by the Gatzert, They were
later won by the Greyhound; then the Cat
xert won them back and held them until
yesterday.
As soon as the Potter arrived in port
Captain Pease telcgraphed the result of
the race 20 Port Captain Clancy al Ia
coma and Superintendent James W. Troup
al Portland
Among the passengers on board the
Potter were Captain George r. Monroe, OF
the American ship J. +. Mcneil, now at
Tacoma: Mr.. Yerkes, travelling freight
and passenger agent of the Puget Sound
and Alaska Steamship Company, and
Samuel Mcclellan, purser of the steamer
State of Washington; Captain G. II.
Parker of the Greyhound, and w. T.
Arthurs, of Seattle.
The official time of the steamer was
taken as follows by Mr. Arthurs:
Left buoy st Tacoma. I0:l&
Arrived OF Browns point, 10 $751;
Arrived OF Rohinson's point, io;lS<.
Arrived of Three Tree point. ll.lC,s
Arrived on Alki point. IL .5Sla.
Arrived Off puwafaiSh head. il :O6i.
Arrived at buoy in Seattle hsrbor, y .c.t.
To guard against the possibility of the
time being disputed. and to preserve the
fact that the record was broken, a notary
public was sought cut and the following
affidavit was sworn TO:
We. the undersigned. do hereby make s,ida.
Wit, that in race on June Il, i>9I, between the
steamers I, ]. Potter aad Bailey Gatxert, from
the buoy in Tacoma TO the buoy in Seattle, the
steamer L. j. Potter made the distance in
hour .2as minutes. In testimony whereof ve
have hereunto set our hands and seals. at the
city of seattle. this l4th day OF June. A d. lssl
A. l. PEAsK,
A. +. sTkrSoS
GEORGE E. MONROE
q. II. PARKER
W. 1. AKTHURs
witnesses TO signatures:
r.F CLARK,
u. II. BLAckNAR.