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


IAN right" said he. We'll and
out who's got the best bottom on this
part Of the river, and it won't take
Us long either!"
Captain Bristow went below. His
passengers gathered at the rail and
watched the Aull as she steamed
evenly and rapidly ahead. The cook.
house of the speedy boat, well astern,
was now opposite the Johnstone's
jackstaff, and each second put the
prows of the vessels father apart.
It was a good piece of river in which
the boats were running. The bends
were few and not severe. The water
was deep and straight in the chan
mel. The Aull's passengers crowded
to the hurricane deck and stood far
astern, shouting taunts at the sleepy
looking tombstone.
That was the state of affairs. Then
the Johnstone's pilot pressed his
foot on the whistle valve. A great
white cloud of steam enveloped the
top of the pilothouse, and then
shrill whistle sounded. the first of
chime. The others broke in with it
lOseconds later, until all of the bunch
of whistles on the Johnstone's pilot
house were shouting musical defiance
to the Aull. Music, indeed, came
from the Threats of those steamboat
whistles. Whether from near or far,
the whistles chime always seemed to
tell of calm, clear evenings, moonlit
waters, soft music, the singing of
plantation melody and the whisper of
love.
With the Johnstone's whistle there
came a stronger throb of the boats
heavy engines. With each vibration
the hearts of the passengers and crew
beat faster. There was hurrying
Of feet-a silence of voices. The race
was on.
Throughout the afternoon both
boats fairly flew along. It was plain
to be seen that the Aull was work
ing all of the steam that her boilers
could raise. She had "a bone in her
teeth" so sharply did her nose cut
the water. A great line of yellow
foam stretched away from either
side of her prov. The tombstone
was cutting the water almost as
fercely, but her hull was shaped diff
ferently from that of her rival, and
for that reason her effective work
was not SO apparent.
The Aull maintained the slight
lead that she had gained at the out
set, but Captain Bristow did not ap-
pear alarmed over it. He coolly Or
dered his men about and had the fuel
sorted SO as to have the best material
ready for an emergency. Through
the narrow chute by Catfish island,
around Bonhommie. by Cottlevllle
without stopping, and through
Wards Hollow the boats raced, some
times being forced almost to the
grazing point by the narrowness of
the channel:
Twilight found but little change in
the relative positions Of the boats. If
there was any difference. the Aull
had gained few feet.
The river was badly divided below
Augusta, and as a measure OF safety
the engineers lessened the speed of
their boats until the dangerous point
was passed. When it was deemed
advisable to again push forward, the
night was well on. The moon was
full, giving the pilots splendid op-
portunity for good work. Its yellow
radiance made river of gold of the
turbid torrent. No one slept until
midnight. when few of the passen-
gers slipped off to take nap.
On the Aull there was among the
lady passengers Miss Letitia Bernard,
a handsome young woman from St.
Louis. She announced that she would
remain awake until the Aull won the
race or had hopelessly lost. Half
dozen men gallantly agreed to sit it
out with her, and together the party
roamed the moonit decks or visited
tho engine room and tiremen's quar-
tiers to encourage the grimy workers
to harder endeavor.
Il will give you 800 to win this
race" Miss Bernard said to the engi-
neer.
And The same to you," she cried,
addressing the sooty faced head
stoker.
"We'l try, ma'am," the men an,
swered, for money in those days was
as glittering as it is today.
The morning found the Aull 100
yards ahead of the tombstone.
We're beat, cap" said a rough
trader. addressing Bristow.
mo. we're not, returned the cap
tain. I'm running this end of the
race, and depend on me to run it
right" .~~-,s. T., ~~
All day the boats sped along, and
each hour the Aull gained trifle.
Another evening found the sky again