Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-08
ALONG THE RIVER.
The Manchester and the Randall Have o
Brush-Other Notes of Interest.

The Manchester and the Randall Have q
Brush-Other Notes of Interest.
The principal topic along the river front to-
day is the brush which took place last night be-
tween the steamers Harry Randall and Charles
Manchester. 1t exciting contest for
speed supremacy and the excitement is the
more Intense because the result was not de-
cisive. The Randall people are growing with
both lungs, but the Manchester folks are shout
Ing "He who laugh last laughs best" There
has been high pressure of politeness, courtesy
and bad blood between the boats in question.
Each has been aching to get at the
other. Last night they got The
furnaces were crowded with resin and
pine and the safety valves were almost
squat upon The stokers were inspired with
deep down dra1ghss of liquid enthusiasm and
the fire rooms sizzled- The Randall left River
View at 1880 and the search light of the
Manchester was throwing streaks of day from
around the bend Capt Ross of the Mac
yelled, "She's ours" whispered something to
the engineer aud the Marshall Hall river ripper
began to eat coal by the ton. Capt NOVEL; of
the Randall exclaimed, .'She's after US, /" said
some river front idioms in undertone and
terked the Jingle bell almost out Of joint Chief
Engineer Tom Tennyson took off his coat and
shirt and unbuckled his suspenders- COmmo-
dore Randall watched the lights OF the Mac. re-
qnested the engineer to ''let her 60 and
placidly put the wrong end of the cigar in his
mouth Drinks were sent down to the firemen
and rash extravaganza in coal was practlced.
Both steamers were crowded with excursionists,
and their prayers for victory mingled with the
commands OF the officers. the cries of the
crews and the quake Of the engines. People
aboard the Manchester said, ''We're gaining
on her," and people on the Randall cried.
"She's fading in the distance" The launch
LOWE was passed and she saluted with three
blasts. but the racers would not use steIm to
reply. The Randall had about 300 passengers
for Alexandria and the Mac had clear run
Landing and cast of were effected in short
order, but the Manchester was directly astern
and coming with both feet. Thence on the
race one Of the hottest in the history of
the river. Ladies and land lubbers clustered
around the engine rooms and advised the Off
GERS in charge. with sundry suggestions. But
the Randall had the lead and kept it to the
finish. She rushed up the Washington chan
mel under a full head OF steam and the engine
was not given its one bell till abreast OF
Sheriff dock, No. 2. So close was the Mac
nlester astern that she had to lay to
while the Randall hauled for her dock.
All-around congratulations were INDUCED in.
Miss Randall took the roses from her corsage
bouquet and presented them to Capt. NOVEL;
and Engineer Tennyson. The reporter for
The STAR interviewed the commanders. Capt.
NOVEL; stated that the Randall simply pursued
the even tenor of her way. She was running
0nder only thirty-five pounds while usually she
Carried sixty; that the coal would no; burn. and
that the water froZe in the boilers.
Capt Ross declared that 1t was not one Of the
fast nights of the Manchester; that her wheels
persisted in turning tie wrong way, and that
he did not care about passing the Randall
through fear of running down some Of the
small fisher craft that show no lights. In fact.
he had pulled q showdown bell when he saw
the Randall.
When these boats come together again watch
the swells.
DECK HAND DROWNED.
Thomas Brown, deck hand, was drowned yes
terday from the River Queen The body has
not been recovered Landing was made at
Fort Washington, and the steamer had come to
. full stop. Brown WAS engaged in some usual
work when he reeled and fell from tue gang
way. Efforts were at once put forth to rescue
the man. but without avail. He sank immedi-
ately. 1t Is supposed that he suffered an at
tack OF vertigo Brown had been in the en-
ploy of the Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall
Steamboat Company only about one week. 1t
Is not known whether he was u man Of family.
BIG DROP.
Pretty Leona O'Dell made the dizziest balloon
ascent and parachute drop yesterday at River
View which has been made at that resort. Il was
Leona's fifty-fourth rise and fall. and she told
the reporter that yesterdays work was the
proudest of them all Estimates differ as to the
altitude to which the nervy little Indy attained.
II was a clear day and only the balloon and
parachute could be seen when she dropped. She
fell in the river close to the Virginia shore and
was lifted from the water and landed BY Mate
John W. Dyer.
This Is the same Indy who fell from q
balloon last summer at River View and wrecked
several OF her bones. She pulled through all
right and soon after. while skating in the rink
at Atlanta, Ga, fell and broke her left arm.
She claims to have a patent attachment for
her parachute which renders it impossible for
il to fail TO open
JUST FOUND OUT.
Capt. Jas. Mckenny Of Washington has gone
and done it Miss Margaret E. st. Clair of
maryland is the lady. The ceremony was per-
formed ut Baltimore on January Is, but was
only announced along the front today. Capt
ichenny was shy and did not take his river
front brethren into his confidence The cap
Tain has not been considered a very romantic
man and his emotional move IL evoking numer-
Gus congratulations. His friends will give him
a complimentary entertainment at the harbor
Office.
SUBSTITUTE FOB A STEAMER.
The Motley Hall management are tho ener-