Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-08-30

linen capt. SorRenSOn came To the
front for 4 word. 1.-THE Aull did not
come into these waters 10 race any"
said he, but IL you want to see what
sort of n boat she is&why, 1 guess wen
have To accommodate YOU"
shout went up from the Aull's pas
sengers, drowning the reply that Capt
Bristow made. AS he concluded. how
ever, he waved his hand TO the mate be-
low, who sang out: AYE, aye, sir, "
with the air of an old salt, and ran
back toward the boilers. In three
minutes the lazy smoke that came from
the Aulrs stacks had changed 20 n
rushing volume of coal black, stream
| ing quarter of n mile astern, seeming
ly dipping into the dark brown water
of the river. Five minutes from the
| closing of the little spcechmalIing the
Aulls engines began TO move more
/ rapidly. Then the blunt nose OF the
vessel crawled through the water faster
and faster. until the wheelhouse of the
boat was abreast the jaclS-staff on the
Johnstone. A passenger on the Aull
shouted:
Better poke your fires up, or they'll
go plumb out"
Bristow was not at the rail 20 re-
| spond He was in the cabin in consul
tation with n number of the passengers.
well, what do you say, menP" ne
was asking
do III" shouted stout youth OF
twenty-five. Would you let that
/ stumpy scow beat us 10 st. Joc?"
Its n matter of business" said the
captain. If she gets there first, my
passengers will not have the pick OF
/ lodgings and outfits"
That's the thing, observed the stout
young man.
II reckon you're right" said another
Of the party. Then another agreed,
until finally the captain was satisfied
/ that his most prominent passengers
/ favored a test OF speed.
"All right said he; wen find out
who's got the best bottom on this part
/ OF the river, and IL won't take us long.
eithcr!"
Capt Bristow went below. His pas
Scngcrs gathered at the rail and
watched the Aull as she steamed evenly
and rapidly ahead. The cook-housc OF
the speedy boat, well astern. was now
I opposite the Johnstonos jaclI-stafr and
each second put the prows of the YES
sells further apart IL was a good piece
OF river in which the boats were run
ming The bends were few and not Sc
we're; the water was deep and straight
/ in the channel. The Aulrs passengers
crowded 10 the hurricane deck and
| stood far astcrn, shouting taunts at the
slecpy-loolSing 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
| pilot house and then shrill whistle
sounded, the first OF chime The
others broke IN with il ten seconds
later, until all OF the bunch OF whistles
ON the IohnstoUe's pilot house were
shouting musical defiance To the Aull.
| Music, indeed, came from the throats
OF those steamboat whistles Whether
from near or far, the whistles chime
always seemed 70 tell OF calm, clear
evenings moonlit waters, soft music,
I 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
thc hearts OF passengers and crew beat
faster. There was hurrying OF feet
IA silence Of voice, The race was ON
Throughout the afternoon both boats
fairly dew along. IL was plain 10 be
seen that the Nul was working all OF
the steam that her boilers could raise
She had "a bone in her teeth, " So sharp
ly did her nose cut the water. 4 great
I line 81 yellow foam stretched nyyny.
/ from either side OF her prov. The
/ johu~tone was cutting the water al
mos, as hcrccly, but her hull was
shaped differently from that OF her
rival and for that reason her effective
work was not 50 apparent The AuU
maintained thc slight lead that She had
/ gained 40 the outset, hut Capt EriStow
did not appear alarmed over it, lie
+ copIly ordered his men about and had
the fuel sorted SO as o. have the best
material ready for an emergency.
/ Through the narrow chute 10y Catfish
/ ISLAND around Bonhommic. by Cottc-
/ vile without stopping. and through
I Wards hollow the boat, raced. some
tWc being forced almostto the graz
/ ing point hv the uarrowucss OF the
/ ch.u.
Twilight found hut little change in
I thr r,'at,ve positions OF the boats II
'hcr' was any difference the Anil had
yuIaHi few feet
Ias river was nldly divided below
Augusta and as measure uf safety the
engineers Ies~cucd the speed Of their
BOATS antl the dangerous point was