The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-28

To read OF prize fighting between men
or dog fighting, or of rooster lighting. Is
nothing uncommon, but to see COMBAT
between two large stern-wheei river
steamboats, Is a rare occurrence ana one
which but few people have ever wit
messed. Such combat is a most thrilling
and exciting experience. and having been
a passenger on a fighting steamboat OF
this character a few days ago, an ac-
count may be interesting.
During September the steamboat traf-
nc up and down the Yukon river and
other rivers from White Horse to Daw-
son, has been very extensive, and several
companies have We'd with each other for
the larger share OF that remunerative
traffic.
The Yukon and rivers that form a con-
tinuation OF II close in October. the ice
rendering II impossible TO navigation after
the 18th Of that month; consequently as
many trips as possible are made and
the distance OF nearly 800 miles against
swiftly running water 10 made IN about
four days and nights. Boats leave Daw-
son for up river within a few hours OF
each other. and the fastest and best
equipped boats get most OF the busi-
nees
On September 1e. NJ n n m, the stern
wheel steamer 3 g pailev pulled out
from Dawson for White Horse At 10
started for the same destination. The
two hoats have about the same speed the
Canadian, however. being much the larger
~ the two and more powerful with over
e2s hounds pressure Of stesm The Bailey.
q smaller boat. uses only 10 pounds OF
staam
The surpiv NJ fuel IL furnished nv wood
cutters ~ various n,aces along the hanks
~ The river. and u is necessary 70
tsen the boats r,arttTuliv suppl,ad thev
v-eea IN two three times sav.
Tho pa0ev rriied ~. IN rood tri-, with
about Nftv raeSen~e-s After rter,r,,ro
the current fnr about n dav and n hnif
heav" s-note wae seen cnr,fng IN ttn
rear Tho river being very cronked. tho
a-rrnach'ng s.earer did not anpear in
s'oht for few hours af'er the smo,,e
was seer. nod the~ u~oves 70 he Tho
Canadian Tho tw, h-nts carry the mall
and r-e hath -osea fe- their sneed their
-crn~de fo- ~ s-'r he,n~ about equal
Tho PINK ~--,ss w~-e eafaIv nasses nv
.se P,''ev ara . fsw miles farther w the
F'va-Ffrr~- r--ise had ~ he stem.nea
which recees,t-ted shs zee ~ /, ~,rn
caN'e attached N The hnnt The rnna-
end 90 this cable 10 fns.n-ef ~ reaa-
man far ahovo ne rsnid. the lower
end heinz attached 70 the capstan nm tho
steamer. This ARRANGEMENT. combined WITH
Sfsar, nower enables boats 70 foee tbe
Starting ~ the Race.
This cable DELAY gave the Canadian the
advantage NJ running I'm very close 10 tho
bailey. which. after getting through.
stesmed OF and nut on good SUNNY
or dry wood and was soon consider.
able distance ahead. It was towards
evening when, at long stretch OF the
Lewis river, the Canadian was again
sighted. The pilots on the boats being
orother., and each eager to get 10 White
Horse first. prepared for n race Orders
were given now to the Batley's crew IN
use their utmost efforts 70 keep ahead Of
their competitor.
" was getting dusk The rain was
falling lightly and the clouds above prom.
Iced . dark night The Canadian mt nm
her lights, two in the bow and two In
the stern. The BOW lights, red and green,
could bc seen Tar down the river Clouds
or sharks pouring out Of her high smoke
stack. assuring the Bailey that they were
out for race. The open furnace doors
sent a bright glare upon the hills nnd
heavy timber on each side OF the river
me searchlight OF the Canadian was
turned on and the effect was grand in
the extreme.
The Bailey rut up her lights and
pioushed ahead against the angry, swift
current The night was now on Tho
searchllsht from our competitor In tho
rear Kept flashing around MS The noun
tnins ahead were black and dark and for
bidding Sand bars and rocks had to be
nverted. but on PLUNGED the Bailey. one
shrill whistle from the boat ia our rear
20 the wood cutters on the bank and the
Canadian pulled In for wood She had
seNenty-nNe passengers and all hands
could he seen rushing the wood onto ,hA