Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-10-10
WESTERN srGAMsoArlNo.
oaArH,o prsc.Irrlos or An OLD TINE
RACE or THE missouri.

GRAPHIC pxscRrrrloN OF An OLD THE
RACE on TIE Missouri.
One Of the greatest racss ever seen on
the Missouri was that between the Mar.
tia Auil and the Henry X. yohnstone,
which took place In the early hfties. IL
was In the spring time and both boats
left the wharf at Sc. Louis within half
an hour Of each other, the Aull being 10
the lead. Each MAS fsirly loaded with
merchandise, most Of tho passenger BE-
Ing men IN search OF fortune 10 the
boundless west. By midnight both had
turned from the broad Mississippi Into
the dark waters Of the s'big muddy"
and when daylight broke the boats were
In sight Of each other. BY and by they
Tot 40 close that young fellow on the
Aull shouted haunting remark back 70
the tombstone. A like reply was return.
ed, and then Capt. Sorgenson OF tho Auii
said:
al didn't come Into these waters to
race, but II Capt. Bristow wants to see
what kind Of boat this 10 ] guess will
have 10 accommodate him." In Ave
minutes from the time the lazy dow OF
smoke from the stacks was changed 70
two rushing volumes, the boats began to
tear through the water and the race was
All day long the boats sped along and
each hour the Aull gained tribe. An
other evening found the sky again clear
IA perfect night for racing on the river.
Not q breath OF air stirred. The stiffness
was only broken by the regular deep
toned ttrob of the engines as the boats
cut through the water. Washington,
Portland, Jefferson City-the little state
capital high on the bluffs-all had been
passed In the afternoon with q whistle
that brought the Inhabitants out to see
the speeding boats.
Soon after passing Jefferson, Capt.
Brlstow called the passengers on deck.
"what i want to say, friends,' he be-
gan, ais this: Well be 10 good water
before very loug-a narrow river with q
deep channel and rock bottom. It's
the best water In the river. Now we can
beat that boat ahead US Of easy enough
with one thing. It will take some
grease. II I can buy few sides OF meat
from the cargo we can 20 ahead"
A st. Louis trader was on board with
several hundred sides. He stepped for
ward IN an instant. "You shall have
'em, Cap" he sail, ''and for nothin".
1t was right jolly cheer that went up.
Brlstow hardly bowed his thanks, 80
hurriedly did he leave the cabin and 20
below.
"Turn the boys loose, Jlm," he yelled
to the engineer, and before his words
had died away across the water the
choicest Of inhammable materials was
being rammed into the yawning FUR
naces. The hand on the steam gauge
crawled up slowly, and as 1t advanced
the engineer opened the valve wider.
The increased speed WAS noted at once.
SO close together did the throbs OF the
engine come that they appeared like. Q
steady vibration, In twenty minutes the
Aull was 90 close that her very outline
was clearly visible In the moonlight.
Her captain saw that the tombstone was
gaining rapidly, and the volume OF
sparks that poured from her stacks In u
roll Of inky smoke told that Sorgenson
meant to keep ahead II the expenditure
OF fuel would do 1t.
The tombstone gained steadily. In
two hours the boats were abreast, ten
yards apart.
"Pile on the bacon, boys!" Bristow
now shouted, and with yell the grease
was hurried into the furnaces. The
AuIl's captain felt that he was beaten.
lie had used the best OF his fuel early
In the race.
Pile her on, boys" shouted Bristow,
"Keep her hot"
Inch by inch the tombstone moved
ahead.
where's butter on board!" cried Miss
Bernard, one Of the Aull's passengers.
"Burn It and I'll pay. The Aull must
win"
SO butter In cakes and baskets. was
smeared over sticks of wood and fed to
the greedy flames In the boats furnaces.
Her engines responded, too, for the
slight gain that the tombstone had ac-
complained was soon overcome and the
Aull passed the other boat. Bristow
shouted orders, and the measured "choo,
choO," Of the exhaust pipes became
hOarser than ever. Ii was neck and
neck. Then the tombstone began to gain
again. There was bend ahead where
the bluff broke for . few feet to rise
higher than ever dozen yards beyond.
For this end the boats worked. The
thing was to reach 1t first. Bristow
with his own hands piled the meat Into
his furnaces until the tombstone again
passed the Aull. IL was something
akin to a curse that S0rgensen uttered
when he found the last OF his choice fuel
spent. On, on, sped the tombstone. IL
" as ten yards ahead and gaining! More
food for the flames! Twenty yards ut
the bend first! A mighty shout went
up from the Johnstone's deck when the
boat rounded 30 that the Aull could not
be seen. Il was soon visible again, how
ever, but the tombstone was gaining
each minute of the time. In half an hour
It WAS fifty yards ahead. In another
other hour 1t had rounded the bend and
the race was won.-Memphls CONNER
clsl.