The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-25
A STEAMBOAT RACE.
Interesting Description of n Lively Ep
SOde on the Missouri River.


sOde on tho Missouri River.
One OF the greatest races ever seen on
the Missouri was that between the
Martha Aull and the Henry X, John.
ston, which took place in the early
fifties. 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. Each was fairly
loaded with merchandise, most OF the
passengers being men in search OF for
tune in the boundless west, By mid
night both had turned from the broad
Mississippi into the dark waters OF the
"big muddy" and when daylight broke
] the boats were III sight OF each other
BY and by they got so close that q
young fellow on the Aull shouted q
haunting remark back to the tombstone.
A reply in kind was returned, and then
Capt. Sorgenson, OF the Aull, said:
II didn't come into these waters to
race, but ii Captain BrIstow wants to
SEQ what kind OF boat this is guess l
will have to accommodate him." 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.
All day the boats sped along and each
hour the Aull gained tritle. Another
evening found the sky again clear-a
perfect night for racing on the river.
Not breath OF air stirred. The still
ness was only broken by the regular
deep.toned throb OF the engines us 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 a
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 be-
gan, 'is this: Well be in good water be-
fore very Tonga narrow river with q
deep channel and 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. Ii / can buy few "sides"
OF meat from the cargo, we can go
ahead"
A ST. Louis trader was on on board
with seventeen hundred sides" He
stepped forward in an instant "You
shall have 'em, Cap" he said, land for
nothin'."
1t was right jolly cheer that went
up. Bristow hardly bowed his thanks,
so hurriedly did he get away from the
cabin md m hal0w
Turn the boys loose, JIM" he yelled
to the engineer, and before his words
had died away across" the water the
choicest Of intammable 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 tho throbs OF tho engine
come that they appeared like steady
vibration. In twenty minutes the Aull
was so close that her every outline was
clearly visible in the brilliant moon
light. Her captain saw that the John.
stone was gaining rapidly, and the
volume OF sparks that poured from her
stacks in a roll OF inky smoke told that
Sorgenson meant to keep ahead if the
expenditure OF fuel would do it.
The Johnstone gained steadily. In
two hours the boats were abreast, ten
yards apart.
"Pile on the bacon, boysW Bristow
now shouted, and with a yell the
grease was hurried into the furnaces.
The Aull's captain felt that he was
beaten. He had used the best OF his
fuel early in the race.
"Iile her on, boys. shouted Bristow.
keep her hot"
Inch by inch the Johnstone moved
ahead.
"There's buttor on board!" cried Miss
Bernard, one OF the Aull's passengers.
Burn it and I'll pay. The Aull must
VIM"
So butter in cakes and baskets was
smeared over sticks OF wood and fed to
the greedy flames III the boats fur
naces. Her engines responded, too, for
the slightIgain that the tombstone had
ACCOMPLISHED was soon overcome and
the Anll passed the other boat. Bris-
tow shouted orders, and the measured
'CnOO, CuOO VI thS oAduuSJ plpGd DS-
came hoarser than ever. 1t was neck
and neck. Then the Johnstone began
to gain again. There was bend ahead
where the bluff broke for fow feet,
only to rise higher than ever a dozen
yards beyond. For this ond both bouts
worked. Tho thing was to reach 1t first.
Bristow with his own hands piled tho
meat into his furnaces until tho john
stone again passed tho Aull 1t was
something akin to curse that SorgenS
son uttered when Ito found the last Of
his choice fuel spent. On, on sped tho
tombstone. 1t was ten yards ahead and
gaining! Moro food for tho flames
Twenty yards and at tho bend iirstl A
mighty shout went up from the John.
stones decks when the boat rounded 40
that tho Aull could not DO seen. 1t was
soon visible. however, but tho John.
stone was gaining zach minute OF tho
timo. In haitian hour it was fifty yards
ahoad. In another hour II had rounded
another bend and tho race was won.--