The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-20

Hew Carx Ten wright Earned e25,-
GOO in Less Than I've Oays-

He. Capt. rs. wrisAs Earned sss.-
GOO in Less rh1a I've Days
Ed Wright, editor Of the Marine His
tory Of the Northwest. and who Is nov
working mp that part Of the history relat-
ing 70 Pagss sound. contributes the fol-
loving story Of Capt Tom Wright. ac-
companied by portrait Of that ancient
mariner. to the October number Of LAWS
Dryden's Railudy Gside asd Marine Go
seste.
.Yes, they do lots Of running and they
have fast boats and fine boats. saic gr11-
xsed old ex-captain. rs he stood on cock
at Seattle and watched the AIR line wake
which Capt John Jordison Was laying cut
behind the Flyer, as she few towards Ia
coma CIaud Troupss Greyhound, with
rapidly growing streak Of foaua-aecked
water behind her. was disappearing in the
direction of Everett, emo the elegant and
pala.ial City Of Kingston. sitter . two
hours, delay, was getting under way
for Victoria. But Notwithstanding ali
this racing and chasing, and carrying
crowds. there IL an old fellow up
town who made more money in forsy-eighs
hours on an eighty mile round trip with
an old stern wheel box than al three OF
these fast boats can make in six months.
The packet I am allrding to was the Old
In the early .hfties,' and brought around
here by Capt Tom Wright who owned
and Commanded her on the famous trip OF
which l speak. Old Tom. az yon all
cali him nov, was running the Enterprise
on the Fraser river IN 1888, at the time oil
that incipient rebellion, sometimes known
as Ned Metiowan's war McGoxan and
lot Of other Americans who were pros
pecting mp around HILLS Bar. on the
Fraser, had been arrested and brought
before a British justice Of the peace for
some alleged indiscretion, and considerable
feeling had been worked up over the
matter. 50 mach, in fact, that wild
ramors Of war and bioodshed had
reached the outer world, and the
British troops were called on. A detach-
ment of 100 men, with artillery and other
equipments, were sent out from Victoria.
aud we're nearing Langley. b, c., when
Capt Wright and his steamer arrived at
that port The skipper Was prompt to see
that his boat afforded the only available
means for moving those troops up the
river. He Immediately told his purser to
write out q schedule Of rates: passage,
500 per man, freight, 800 per ton. and
hang il in his office. This done, he walked
ashore and met Lieut.. Gussette, who was
in command OF the men. The lieutenant
Immediately asked him If he could take
the troops up the river. The captain re-
fectively scratched his head for moment,
and half doubtingly said he supposed he
could.
What are your rates 7 asked Gussette.
Well. really l don't know said Tom,
that's little out of my department. and
/ don't always remember; will call the
purser and find out
THE purser was summoned, but like
his superior officer, his memory was reck-
lessly bad regarding rates between Lang
ley and Hills Bar.
".Get your rate schedule said Tom, ap-
parently vexed that the purser should
know so little about his business.
"The purser did 80, and unconcernediy
read the rate OF $lG0 per man and 500 per
ton. Gussette objected, argued and swore,
but the immovable skipper explained that
it was schedule rates. and that he couldn't
think of charging the government less
than was charged private individuals.
The lieutenant's efforts to secure q reduce
ton were futile, and at last the troops, l07
In number. with fifty tons of equipments.
were taken aboard. Fortune favored the
Enterprise on that trip, and eighteen
hours after leaving Langley she reached
her destination. Fort Hope, with her
SIS. 900 cargo. At this point word was
received shat the trouble was all over, Nc
Gowan and his friends had talked them
selves out or bondage and white winged
peace was hanging over the entire country.
This condition of affairs rendered the
presence of the troops unnecessary. and
without removing the equipments from
the boat the lieutenant again approached
Capt. Tom and asked him what he would
charge TO take the outfit back to Langley.
The captains failing memory again COM
PEELED him to refer CAUSE.-THE to the purser,
and after considerable search that we'll
trained aide of the captains discovered
tina. the rate down stream was the same as
up stream. The Englishman sought the
captain. My God captain, said he, you
have already charged me $1,000 for less
than a days work with your boat and now
you want to repeat the performance. It's
an outrage
"'Tis middlin' high rate said Tom,
but wood is scarce up here, and don't
like 10 be cutting rates. still as you haven't
taken your freight ashore and are ready to
go down with Us, l will make q reduction.
I'll make 1t an even 81, 900 for the round
trip, which is q big Gus in rates. There
was no other way for the troops TO reach
home. so the lieutenant surrendered, and
less than forty EIGHT hours after he had
left Langley with the troops. Capt. Wright
was back there again. richer by a f5 900
voucher. which was paid without q MUIR
muir when presented at Victoria. Capt.
Tom Wright is still q conspicuous figure
on the streets of Seattle and other Sound
cities and while he has lived to see the
marine traffic of Puget sound grow from
its infancy into proportions greater than
he had ever dreamed Of, yet 1t is doubtful
If he will ever see his record for money
making with steamboat equalied."
Cordage Trust Reorganization.