New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-27
FOR THE SUPREMACY or THE SOUND.
THE PURITAN DEFEATS THE RICHARD PECK IN
FIFTY.MILE RACE-CONDITIONS THAT
FAVORED THE WINNER.

NewIIavcn, Conn, May 26 (SrcciaD.-Wlc'hrr or
not the steamer Richard Peek this afternoon lost her
right 10 the title Of Queen Of the SOund,' acquired
last year In hot with the steamer Puritan OF
the Fail River Line, Is question which Is being
eagerly discussed her, tonight. The two boats left
treir landings in New York ibis afternoon about 80
O'Clock After they had got past Hell tiat and into the
sound the fight Tor The passenger SUPREMACY OF the
began II ABB O'Clock when both craft got I'M
der Roadway ana both sped away under the impulse Of
every pound OF steam that could BE- brought TO bear
them. Ihr Issue not long in doubt.
Slowly the Puritan's Trim figure drew away from
the gaze Of the passengers the New
Haven boat; ard. III spite Of the Iedonblcd
exert; ms Of the Peck the latter b gan 10 fall behind
The courses OF the two boats lay parallel for nearly
fifty miles, from sands Point 10 S,rafori shoals. The
Puritan kept Increasing her until she faded from
view In III" Long Island sound fog, which came up
this afternoon. The Puritan lei by several miles at
the end of the spin II WAS Just 81 O'Clock when
the Richard Peek reached stratiord Point. where She
slow ed down for III" rest Of the trip to Ee4-IIaven.
At O'Clock the loser pulled reluctantly into port
here. 1t not jnbilant party that LETT the
boat. The passengers ana officials alike seemed 10
feel the spirit OF defeat The officials denied that
there had been any race. asserting that the two
steamboats, had simply sailed along for distance
together. and that the luritun I'm the lead when
they parted company; The passenger, reluctantly
II was not a fair tcst Of speed In The fiis place.
they said, the Peek used only buckwhcat coal and
the Puritan washed pea coal. Oaly five Of the >iX
boilers q. the Peck were avaitIblc for use, while
the Puritan had all eight Of her. in full blast. Thc
Peek not In good sailing FORM while the Puritan
had just come from the repair shop, where She had
been thoroughly overhaued one Of the passengers
said that the Peck fifteen miles behind M the
end OF the race. The Peek WIS commanded by
Captain HARDY. and the Puritan by CAPTAIN simmons
The Puritan had no ballast or Passengers.
The Puritan and the Richard Peek began Their race
)n Fort schuyler yesterday. The stakes were the
record between NewYork and New Haven and the
supremacy OF ihc sound. Tie Puritan left her pier
~ the North River at p. passing around the
East River and up through Hell Gate to Fort Schuyler
The Richard Peck left her pier in the East River
3 30 p. m. The Peck not prepared for a long
race she carried heavy cargo. The race was
arranged 10 settle old score. In contest about
year ago between the two vessels the Richard Peck
VA, winter. The owners Of the Puritan have always
asserted that their vessel the faster OF the two
and that the conditions Of the first
favorable 10 the Peek than TO the Puritan.
The also "A contest between the paddle
wheel and the twin screw, Richard Peck being a twin
screw propeller, and the Puritan being sdewhce
steamer. The Puritan built In 1850. She Is
4O3 feet long, 80 feet beam and Is feet deep. She
has registry OF 3O15 tons. The Richard Peck, which
built In 1892, Is 800 feet long, with a beam OF
As feet and depth Of 10 IL feet Her gross tonnage
10 2,006 TONS The owners OF the Richard Peck say
that she has attained speed Of twenty knots an
hour.