Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-01-25

~ YOU hlpp lHtItf
"Of course. All the boats do"
This intelligence made us uneasy,
and we were consulting together about
what we should do TO avoid the dcten-
ton that we had reason to fear had
been prepared by telegraph for MS,
when the most unexpected chance ia
vorcd MS.
! stop at this point, 10 say that the
occurrences narrated In this chapter
came mainly under my own observa-
ton. The minor ones that did not
personally see and hear were after
wards told TO me by those who did see
and hear them.
The day wore on; the boat was with
In mile of Baton Rouge A call
from the pilots speaking tube brought
the captain up into the pilot house.
whats up, Doblin?'
Look up the river" said the pilot,
with both hands on the wheel.
The captain shaded his eyes with his
hand, and looked.
"Seems to be large steamboat put
ting out from Baton Rouge"
Take the glass, sir"
One look through the glass and the
captain threw IL down, fairly jumping
with excitement
"Thc S. s. Prentiss, by - Why,
she left New Orleans twelve hours
ahead Of us.
"She's been waiting for u.s." said
the pilot, quietly
"Shc has not waited for nothing,
then. I've heard of their brags from ST
Louis down about what they'd do with
the Queen when they had chance. by
the Lord Harry, wen show en-!
Here's almost a straight course to Port
Hudson bluffs, and no cAUtes or side
cuts. I'll beat EN- or go to the bot
toni"
lie rang the engineers bell for more
steam. Presently the black smoke be-
gan to pour from the lofty stacks in
clouds. The speaking-tube brought
up the night-pilot, who was sleeping
In his berth. The two men at the
wheel kept their eyes fixed on the
glass front of the pilot-house, ready to
take any advantage offered by the cur
rent or the curves Of the shore.
The speed of the Queen was visibly
increased The vibration of her pow
crful engines could be felt in every
part Of her The pun Of the pipes and
the fierce churning of the paddles min
glcd In steady sound
Baton Rouge was passed, many peo-
pie standing on the shore and waving
their hats and cheering Some Of the
al
that they must get OH here, and that
they had freight aboard that was to be
delivered here.
you and your freight be d-dr'
roared the captain, leaning out OF the
pilot-house, do you think the Queen
is going to stop race that we've tried
for months to get to oblige you?"
Hundreds of other passengers
laughed, cheered and applauded. The
excitement of the contest had by this
time spread all through the boat, The
bows were so crowded that some OF
the boats officers came and ordered
half of the people bacl, that the boat
might not settle too much by the head.
Thousands of dollars were wagcred on
the length of time before the Queen
would pass her rival A few dlsloyal
folks, who were willing to bet that she
would not pass at all, had the chance
promptly offered them to take ten &c
one. Before the contest was deter
mined the Baton Rouge men were as
crazy with excitement as anyone.
We're gaining little,' said the
captain.
"Precious little" said Pilot Dobbin
Again the spealSing-tube.
GLOW much steam Is on?"
Hundred and tifty," came back In Q
sepulchral tone.
pile her onl Stick her up to seven
ty-6ve,"
shell stand that" said Doblin, Soii,
roct, as the four hands made half d
dozen rapid turns Of the wheel, and
the bows took an acute angle for the
farther shore.
"Shell have TO carry more TIN
that before she catches that flyer
ahead" said the other
To the fevcrish passengers who were
watching the leading boat, the inter
val between them seemed the same fuI
hours. 1t was in fact very slowly clos
ing. The half-mile was reduced To q
quarter At speed against the cur
rent that caused the immense boat tc
trcmble In every fiber, foot by foot
yard by yard, She gained ON her rival
The mass of faces at her stern could
be separated and almost counted with
the naked eye, Then the prcnti
took sudden squirt, and II cheer irrm
her crowded decks showed that sh,
was increasing her lead
The captain of the Queen ragged
round the pilot-housc, and shool,
his fist at the other boat
what steam?" he shouted down
through the pipe,
Hundred and eighty-and every.
thing redhot and grooming. Dunno
how much more she'll bear"
We've got TO find out" yelled bacl
the captain. keep the water buckets
ready TO drown the furnace when
we've passed her by a mile or so, and
crack on the steam. Pile II up, tell
your
Under the terrific impulse of head
of steam which no man would have or
dered but lunatic or the captain OF
Mississippi river steamer in a race
the Queen literally dashed at her rival
The loss in distance was made up, wa,
doubled. The captain, leaning far out
In lha AftsauA - ksallae ..haaex.. a.. s..l