Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-08
OLD lime sTEAMsoAIINc.
How Captain Tom Wright Earned $4,000
In Less Than Two Days.

Yes, they do lots OF running, anu 'ues
have fast boats and fine boats" said
grizzied old ex-captain. as be stood on
dock at Seattle and watched the airline
wake which Captain John Jordison was
laying out behind the Flyer. as she few
toward Tacoma. but Notwithstanding
ali this racing and chasing and carrying
crowds. there Is an old fellow up town
who made more money In forty-eight
hours on an eighty-mile round-trip with
an old stern-wheel box than all OF these
fast boats can make In six months" con-
tinued the ex-captain. talking TO the rep
resentative OF the Oregon Railway ana
Marine Gazette The packet ! am allud-
ing to was the old steamer Enterprise.
built on the Columbia In the early mites
and brought around here by Captain Tom
Wright, who owned and commanded her
on the famous trip OF which / speak. Old
Tom as you all call him now. was run
ming the Enterprise on the fraser river
N 1855, at the time OF that incipient re-
bellion sometimes known as Ned. Nc
Gowan's war MCGOWAN and lot or
other Americans who were prospecting
up around Hills Bar, on the Fraser, had
been arrested and brought before Brit
lsh Justice OF the peace for some alleged
been worked up over the matter, 20 much.
In fact, that wild rumors OF war and
bloohshed had reached the outer world,
and the British troops were called on.
A detachment Of 100 men with artillery
and other equipments were sent out from
Victoria, and were nearing Langley, Il.
c., when Captain Wright and his steamer
arrived at that port. The skipper was
prompt to see that his boat afforded the
I'LL. 4. 10
troops up the river. He Immediately told
his purser TO write out a schedule Of rates:
Passage. 800 per man: freight. 800 per
ton; and hang II IN his office. This done
he walked ashore and met Lieutenant
Gussette. who was in command OF the
men. The lieutenant Immediately asked
him n he could take the troops up the
river. The captain rehectively scratched
his head for a moment. and half doubt
InFly said he supposed he could.
What are your ratesT asked Gus
settle. Well. really ! don't know said
Tom. that's little out Of my depart
ment, and / don't always remember; l
will call the purser and find out.
BAD MEMORY.
TThe purser was summoned but like
his superior officer. his memory was reck-
lessly bad regarding rates between Lang
ley and Hills Bar.
Get your rate schedule said Tom,
apparently vexed that the purser should
know so little about his business.
The purser did 50. and unconcernedly
read the rate OF 800 per man and 500 per
ton. Gussette objected, argued, and swore.
but the immovable skipper exclaimed that
IL was schedule rates, and that he couldn',
think of charging the government less
than was charged private individuals
The lieutenant's efforts 10 secure re-
duction were fusle. and at last the
troops, l07 in number. with fifty tons OF
equipments, were taken aboard. Fortune
favored the Enterprise on that trip, and
eighteen hours after leaving Langley she
reached her destination, Fort Hope, with
her $4,000 cargo At this point word was
received that the trouble was all over
MCGOWAN ana his friends had talked
themselves out OF bondage. and white
winged peace was hanging over the en-
tire country. This condition of affairs
rendered the presence of the troops I'M
necessary, and without removing tins
equipments from the boat, tho lieutenant
again approached Captain Tom, and asked
him what he would charge to take the
outfit back to Langley. The captains
failing memory again compelled him tC
refer Gussette 20 the purser, and aftel
considerable search that wei-trained ait
of the captains discovered that the rate
down stream was the same as up stream
The Englishman sought the captain. ny
God, captain said he. you have already
charged me 1900 for less than days
work with your boat. and now you wan
to repeat the performance. It's an out
rage
"'Tls a middling high rate said Tom
but wood is scarce up here, and ] don
| ike TO be cutting rates, still "a yol
| haven't taken your freight ashore, and arr
ready 10 go down with us, / will make Z
reduction. I'll make IL an even $2j,OD To-
| the round trip, which IL a big cut In rates.
There was no other way for the troops
20 reach home. 80 the lieutenant surren
dered. and less than forty-eight hours afte
ne had left Langley with the troops, Cap
tain Wright was back again richer by
| 5000 voucher. which was paid without
murmur when presented at Victoria
Captain Tom Wright is still conspicu
Gus figure on the streets of Seattle an'
other sound cities, and while he ha
lived to see the marine traffic OF Puge
| Sound grow from its infancy into pro
portions greater than he had ever dreame'
| Of. yet it is doubtful II lie will ever SCI
| his record for money-making with
4 -. VsnN1 s.Nf