Morning journal and courier., 1893-07-03
ruE n1CHaRD PECK WINS.

L Pre-Arranged Race With the Puri-
tan of the Fall River Line Took
Place Yesterday-The Peck Leaves
Her Adversary Three and One-Aan
Miles Astern in a Forty-Five-Mhe
StraightaWay Race-No DouDt Ahat
s. the Peck IL the Fastest Boat ON the
sound.
Yesterday there surely was race De-
tween the sound steamers Puritan OF Inc
Fall River line and the Richard Peck OF
this city. No denials are made from any
source this time and the steamboat ON
cials are only too glad to acknowledge
themselves the winners in fortJ-hve-
mile straightaway race. couple OF
weeks ago the New Haven Steamboat COM
pany challenged the Fall River line to
race between the Puritan and the Richard
Peck, and Chester W. Chaplin. president OF
the company, put up wager OF S1o'ooo'
but 1t was not accepted. Yesterday morn
ing when the Peck arrived at Peck Slip In
New York she found message awaiting
her, announcing the acceptance OF the
challenge, but not Of the wager. Inc ar
rangements for the race were completed
by both the floating palaces as soon as pos
sible, but it was too late to send word to
anyone in New Haven to come down to
| the race, consequently nothing was
known of the race here until the Peck
| arrived at Belle deck at 1913 last evening.
According to all accounts the race was
most exciting one and 1t was glorious
Triumph for our New Haven boat. The
| Peck crossed the Puritan's bow several
1 Lee Iav orI q S1f
miles astern at Middle Ground light, where
| che left her The Puritan had had new
blower put in since her race with the Peck
last October and flames were bursting
| from her smokestacks during the entire
| duration of the race, reminding one of the
| old racing days on the Mississippi.
Under the command of Captain Hardy
l the Peck left her dock in New York at 5:21
yesterday evening and proceeded as far as
Sands Point, where she waited for the
Puritan. The latter boat did not arrive
until 1880, at which time the race started
The Peck was ahead from the start and
had an easy time of 1t with her more pre-
tentious adversary. Captains Island was
passed at 7:49; Norwalk at 8:22; Middle
Ground light st 500. Here the two steam
ers drew away from each other, the Puri-
tan being three and one half miles in the
rear. Howard Patterson of the United
States navy estimated the distance of the
entire race at forty-fve miles. Both
steamers followed the Fall River course.
The Peck passed the New Haven light at
9:57 and arrived at her dock at 1919.
This makes the second victory of the Peck
over her rival of the Fall River line and
her supremacy among the sound steamers
as the Flyer Of the Sound ought to be fully
| established. The race took place under
l the most favorable circumstances pos
| sible. The sound was IN excellent
! condition for race. Both steamers were
| entirely without freight as 1t was not a
| regular trip for the Peck and the Puritan
| had rscsived no freight on account of it's
| being Sunday. The Peck's screw made 100
| revolutions per minute, which was three
| more than In the last race. The Puritan's
| sidewheels made "a revolutions per min
| ute. The Puritan used eight boilers and
| the Peck six. The officials in this city are
| justly jubilant over the result Of the race
| and say that the Peck can beat any steamer
| on the sound. The victory Is certainly
| q most brilliant one. The alleged race
| which was reported to have taken place a
| few weeks sgo bstween the steamers was
nothing of the sort, the Peck making no
attempt at racing. The Peck did not
| notice her endeavors at all but proceeded
| on her course in her usual way. This race
l UeiDS al arranged sNair ceItatnly settl6s
the matter and can leave no doubt in the
minds of any as to which the fastest boat
on the sound is. There were no passengers
on the Peck. Captain Frederick J. Peck
was on board a witness of the brilliant
| euccess.
Next Sunday the Peck commences he,
regular Sunday trips from New York, leav.
ing Peck slip at 1890 a. m. These trips
will afford a fine opportunity for de.
lightful sail on the sound-on this beautiful
steamer and prove also a great public &C.
/ commodation.
To morrow the Northam will go to New
York at 1890, and the Peck will 60 to the
| mouth of the Connecticut river, making
another of those Fourth of July trips &C
popular with New Haven people.