The record-union., 1894-01-08
BIG PAY FOR THE TRIP.
How a Steamboat Captain Mad

Eyes, they do lots of running, and they
have fast boats and fine boats," said a
grizZled old ex-Captain as he stood on a
dock at Sc attic and watched the air line
wake which Captain John Jordison was
laying out behind the Flyer as she flew
toward Tacoma. "BuJ there IS an old
fellow uptown who made more money
in forty-eight hours on an eighty mile
round trip with an old stern wheel box
than all of these fast boats can make in
six MONTHS" continued the ex-Captain.
talking to the representative of the Ore
g0nidn RditlCdy and Marine Gazette.
1.-The packet l am alluding to was the old
steamer Enterprise, built on the Column
bia in the early '5Vs and brought around
and commanded her on the famous trip
of which | speak. old Tom as you all
CO him now, was running the Enter
pr.se of the Fraser River in 1865, at the
tire of that incipient rebellion some
times known as Ned McGowan's war;
McGowan and a lot of other Americans
who were prospecting up around HIP s
Bar, on the Fraser had been arrested and
brought before British Justice of the
Peace for some alleged indiscretion, and
considerable feeling had been worked up
over the matter, so much, in fact, that
wild rumors Of war and bloodshed had
reached the outer world, and the British
| troops were called on.
"a detachment of 100 men, with aYtil-
lery and other equipments, were sent out
from Victoria, and were nearing Langley
3. c., when Captain 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 imme-
diately told his purser to write out q
schedule OF rates: Passage, 500 per man;
freight, 500 per ton, and hang it in his
Office. This done he walked ashore and
met Lieutenant 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-
hectively scratched his head for a mo-
ment, and half dou btingiy said he sup
posed he could.
"'WEat are your rates?' asked Gus
sette. Well, really L don't know said
Tom. that's a little out of my depart
ment, and l don't always remember; L
will call the purser and find OUT
The purser was summoned, but like
his superior officer his memory was
recklessly bad regarding rates between
Langley and HIPS Bar.
"'Get your rate schedule said Tom,
apparently vexed that the purser should
know SO little about his business.
1.-The purser did so. and unconcernedly
ton. Gussette objected, argued and
swore. but the immoVable skipper eX-
planned that it was schedule rates, and
that he couldn't think of charging the
Government less than was charged pri-
vate individuals. The Lieutenants
efforts to secure a reduction 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 destIna-
tion, Fort Hope, with her $4,000 cargo.
At this point word was received that the
trouble was all over. McGowan and his
frie.-ls had talked themselves out of
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 Captain
Tom and asked him what he would
charge to take the outfit back to Lang
ley. The Captains falling memory again
compelled him to refer Gussette to the
purser, and after considerable search that
well-trained aide of the Captains discov
cred that 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
43, 900 for less than a days work with
your boat, and now you want to repeat
the performance. It's an outrage
"'Tis a middling high rate,' said Tom,
'but wood is scarce up here and don't
like to be cutting rates, still as you
haven't taken your freight ashore and are
ready to go down with US, | will make
reduction. I'll make it an even $25, 900
for the round trip, which is big cut 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, Captain Wright was back again,
richer by a $4,000 voucher, which was
paid without murmur when presented
at Victoria. Captain Tom Wright is still
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 it's infancy into
proportions greater than he had ever
dreamed OF, yet it is doubtful ii he will
ever see his record for money-making
with a steamboat equaled."