The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1893-10-05
A RIVER RACE.


came a veritable inland sea every
spring. In 1914 chutes were aban-
doned and boats ran over farm and
garden, through towns and across
wooded patches, regardless of chan
mel or landmark. It was this condi.
ton for one season that for 10 years
afterward crowded the river with
strange boats.
Early in the spring of one year the
Henry K. Johnston and the Martha
Aull came from southern waters to
try their fortunes in the muddy
stream of the Dakotahs. Both reached
St. Louis at the same time. At the
busy levee of the growing metropo-
lis each vessel took on freight for the
northwest. Owing to the large num-
Der OF vessels out that spring. car
goes were in demand, but despite the
brisk rivalry rates were maintained
in accordance with the ethics of early
steamboating.
It happened that the two boats
dropped away from the wharf about
the same time. The Aull, Henry
Sorgenson master, was probably half
an hour ahead of the tombstone, Bris-
tow master. It was late in the after
noon. Each boat was loaded with
merchandise, and both cabins were
filled, most Of the passengers being
men who were headed for the bound
less west in search of fortune. There
We're, however, women on both boats.
The Aull steamed away briskly,
and by midnight had turned from
the broad Mississippi into the dark
turbulent waters of the Big Mud
dy." It was only few moments
later that the tombstone passed into
her wake.
4 When daylight broke, the boats
were IN sight Of each other, both
steaming ahead steadily, with no ap
parent effort to show high speed. It
appeared, however, that. the John
stone was the faster boat. By noon
the vessels passed St. Charles, within
hailing distance of each other.
The passengers of each vessel sa
on deck and watched the other boat
pushing through the water but a few
rods away. The crews. too, eyed the
boats from their respective forecas-
ties. commenting on the rival steam
er. 1t was this talk from the idlers
on the main decks that set the pas
sengers to thinking that something
should be done to enliven the day. A
young fellow on the Aull called to
passenger on the Johnstone:
Tell your captain that we can
leave him SO far behind before sun
set that he can't see our smoke"
This taunt was at once conveyed
to Bristow, who appeared at the rail
and shouted response.
And you can tell your man, )" said
he, that he can burn every side of
bacon in his hold and not get bend
between u.s."
Then Captain Sorgenson came to
the front for q word.
The Aull did not come into these
waters to race any," said he, "but if
you want to see what sort of a boat
she is-why, guess we'll have to
accommodate you"
= A shout went up from the Aull's
passengers, drowning the reply that
Captain Bristow made. As he con-
cluded, however, he waved his hand
to the mate below, who sang out,
AYE, aye, sir" with the air of an
old salt and ran back toward the
boilers. In three minutes the light
smoke that came from the Aull's
stack had changed to rushing vol
ume of coal black, streaming a quar-
ter Of a mile astern, seemingly dip
ping into the dark brown water of
the river Five minutes from the
closing of the little speechmaking
the Aull's engines began to move
more rapidly. Then the blunt nose
Of the vessel crawled through the
water faster and faster, until the
of the boat was abreast
the jackstaff on the tombstone. A
on the Aull shouted:
Better poke your fires up, or
they'll go plumb out"
Bristow was not at the rail to re-
spond. He was in the cabin in con-
sultation with number of the pas
sengers.
"Well, what do you say, men9" he
was asking.
Il. DO it!'' shouted a stout youth of
%. would you let that stumpy
scow beat us to st. Joe2"
It's a matter of business. said the
captain. IF she gets there first, my
passengers will not have the pick Of
lodgings and outfits"
That's the thing" observed the
young man. 80. ...
Isl reckon you're right, " said an
other Of the party. Then another
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