Omaha daily bee., 1893-07-09

for money in those days was as glittoring
as IL is today.
The morning found the Aull 100 yards
ahead of the Johnstone.
Were beat, CAP, said rough trader,
addressing Bristow.
mo, we're not" returned the captain.
"I'm running this end of the race, and
depend on me to run it right"
All day the boats sped along, and each
hour the Aull gained trihe. Another
evening found the sky again clear-a
perfect night for racing on the river.
Not a breath of air stirred. The still
ness was only broken by the regular
deep-toned throb of the engines, as the
boats cut through the water Washing
ton, Portland, Jefferson City-the little
state capital high on the bluffs-all had
been passed in the afternoon with
whistle that brought the inhabitants out
to see the speeding boats.
Soon after passing Jefferson Captain
Bristow called the passengers on deck.
What | want to say. friends" he
began, lis this: Wen be in good water
before very long-a narrow river with u
deep channel and u rock bottom. It's
the best water in the river. Now, we
can beat that boat ahead of us easy
enough with one thing. 1t will take
some grease If | can buy few sides
of meat from the cargo we can go
ahead.'
A st. Louis trader was on hand with
several hundred "sides." He stepped
forward in an instant. "You shall have
'em, cap" he said. "and for nothin'."
1t was right jolly cheer that went up.
Bristow hardly Dowed his thanks. so hur-
riedly did he get away from the cabin
and go below.
Turn the boys loose, jim" he yelled
to the engineer, and before his words
had died away across the water the
choicest OF inflammabe materials was
being rammed into the yawning fur
naces. The hand ON the steam gauge
crawled up slowly, and as it advanced
the engineer opened the valves 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 so close that her every
outline was clearly visible in the bril-
liant moonlight. Her captain saw that
| the Johnstone was gaining rapidly, and
the volume of sparks that poured from
| her stacks in roll of inky smoke told
! that Sorgenson meant to keep ahead if
the expenditure of fuel would do it.
Inc tombstone gained steadily. In
| two hours the boats were abreast, ten
| yards apart. The Swedish captain of
| the Aull could be heard shouting his
orders to the men. He was everywhere
One moment he would be telling the
engineer what to do, the next would
| find him directing the placing of fuel,
at another he would have his hand on
| the wheel in the pilot house in an en-
| deavor to make short cut in the river.
| The lights from the furnaces of both
boats cleaned on the surface of the
water, rivaling the moons brilliant
rays. The passengers on each of the
boats could hear the others, as they
talked eXcitedly of the race. The noses
| OF the boats were exactly together as
they entered the long and beautiful
stretch of river just below Rocheport
On the right, a rocky wall, covered
with clinging ivy, rose to height of
100 feet. Over it the full moon peamcd,
but the shadow of the great bluff ex-
tended across to the other side of the
stream. Into this narrow, deep, black
river the boats plunged like things of
life. The Johnstone had a little ad-
| vantage, and not. a side of meat had
been used
"Pile on the bacon boys!" Bristow
| shouted, and with veil the grease was
/ h"i iCu liioo Vlo luflaCcS. L ne Aull 5
captain felt that he was beaten. He
had used the best Of his fuel early in
the race.
pile her on, boys." shouted Bristow.
"Keep her hot"
Inch by inch the Johnstone moved
! ahead.
There's butter on boardm cried Miss
Bernard. 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 Johnstone had ac-
complished was soon overcome and the
| Aull passed the other boat. Bristow