The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-21
CARGO TOR FUEL.
Description of an 0ld-Time Boat
Race.
Butter and Bacon Donated by Passen-
gers on the Rival Boats in the Days
When Business on the River Was
Good-Fast Time in the Moonlight.

GOod-tast Time In the moonlight.
AS the railroads OF the present day con-
test for supremacy in speed and good
service, so did the steam boats OF twenty
and forty years ago struggle for position
in the public eye. The point in contest
was always that Of speed. In those days
trade on the Missouri was prosperous.
At least 100 boats assembled the stream
every season before July, many of them
going as far as Fort Benton in Montana.
A boat that made this trip and returned
to st. Louis in two months without d
! profit of S75, 900 did poor business. Those
were the days when, as the Detroit Free
Press says, freight was freight. No COM
| petlng vessel cut the rates. The boats ran
Independently, and when one Captain
fixed the tariff there was no other boat to
be found that would offer cheaper trans
portation.
One of the greatest races ever seen on
the Missouri was that between the Martha
Aull and the Henry X. tombstone, which
TOOK place in the early '50S. 1t was IN
the spring time, and both boats left the
/ wharf at St. Louis within half an hour OF
each other, the Aull being in the lead.
disc, most of the passengers being men
in search of fortune in the boundless
West. BY midnight both had turned
from the broad Mississippi into the dark
waters of the big muddy" and when
daylight broke the boats were in sight of
each other. BY and by they got so close
that young fellow on the Aull shouted
haunting remark back to the tombstone.
n reply in kind was returned, and then
Captain Sorgenson of the Aull said:
Il didn't come into these waters to
race, but if Captain BristOw wants to see
what kind of boat this is, | guess | will
have TO accommodate him.
BEGINNING a DESPERATE RACE.
In five minutes from the time the
lazy flow Of smoke from the stacks was
changed to two rushing volumes, the
boats began to tear through the water and
the race was on. Throughout the after
noon both boats fairly flew along. 1t was
plain to be seen that the Aull was work
ing all 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 John
stone was cutting the water almost as
fiercely, but her hull was shaped differ
emily from that of her rival, and for that
reason her effective work was not as APP
parent. The Aull maintained the slight
lead that she had gained at the outset,
but Captain Bristow did not appear to be
alarmed over it. He cooIly ordered his
men about and had the fuel assorted so
as to have the best material ready for an
emergency. Through the narrow chute
by Catfish Island, around Bonhommie
by COttleville without stopping, and
through Wards Hollow the boats raced
sometimes 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 Auil had gained
ew feet.
The river was badly divided below
| Augusta, and as measure of safety the
engineers lessened the speed OF their
boats until the dangerous point was
passed. When it was deemed adyisa BILE
TO again push forward, the night was we'll
on. The moon was full, giving the pilots
a splendid opportunity for good work.
Its yellow radiance made river of gold
OF the turbid torrent No one slept until
midnight, when few of the passengers
slipped off to take a nap.
On the Aull there was among the ladv
passengers Miss Letitia Bernard, hand
some young woman from St. Louis. She
announced that she would remain awake
until the Aull had won the race or had
hOpelessly lost. Half dozen men oal-
lantly agreed to sit it out with her, and TO-
/ lnOOnIlt
decks or visited the engine room and fire.
mems quarters to encourage the grimy
workers to harder endeavor.
Il will give you 500 to win this race
Miss Bernard said to the engineer.
And the same to you" she cried, adj
dressing the sooty faced head stoker
Well try, ma'am," the men answered.
for money IN those days was as gIitterin1
as it is to-day.
The morning found the Aull 100 wards
ahead Of the tombstone.
Were beat, Cap" said a rough trader.
addressing Bristow.
mo, we're not" returned the Captain.
Pm running this end of the race. AMI
depend on me to run it right"
USING BACON SIDES FOR FUEL.
All day the boats sped along and each
hour the Aull gained a tribe. Another
evening found the sky again clear-a per-
feet night for racing on the river. Not a
breath of air stirred. The stiffness was
only broken by the regular deep-toned
throp OF the engines as the boats cut
through the water. Washington Port
land, Jefferson City-the little State Can
llal high on the 5lu1fs-all had been r,assed
IN the afternoon with a whistle that
brought the inhabitants out to see the
speeding boats.
soon after passing jefferson Captain
BrIstow called the passengers on deck.
Nv hat l want to saw. friends ), ba
began, lis this: Well be in GOOD watar
before very long-a narrow river
with a deep channel and a rocky
bottom. 1t IS the very best water
IN the river. Now we can beat that boat
ahead OF us easy enough with one thing.
II VIII take some grease. Ii l can buy a
few sides Of meat from the CARGO We
can go abe I'd"
\ st. Louis trader was on board with
several hundred 'sides" He stepped
forward in an instant. You shall have
'em, Cap" he said. land for notnin'.U
1t was right jolly cheer that went up.
hurriedly did he get away from the eabin
and 60 below.