The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-12
KEEN RIVALRY OF SEVERAL COM
PANIES ron THAT REsIU-
NERATIyE TRAFFIC
EXCITING RACE UP THE RIvEE
First One Boot and Then the Other
Led the Way-Steamer That
Got inCFiNst Was Bad
lyj nsm"seti.

been very extensive, and several compa-
MES have viedewis each other for the
larger share Of that remunerasiye traffic,
says the Seattle tPost-IntelligeRcc.
The Yukon and rivers that fern con-
tinuation of it close in October. the ice
rendering it impossible to navigation
after the 18th of that month: consequent
ly as many trips possible are made
and the distance of NEARLY 800 miles
against swiftly running alter is made in
about four days and nights. Boats leave
Dawson for up river wi thin few
hours of each other, and the fastest and
best equipped boats get most of the bust
ness. t.E
On September 16 at 10 "a m, the stern
wheel steamer S. S. Bailey pulled out
from Dawson to White Horse. At 10
p m. of the same day taes Canadian
started for the same destination. The
two boats have about the same sped. the
Canadian. however. Being much the
larger of the two and more powerful, with
over 225 pounds pressure Of steam. The
Bailey. smaller boat, uses only 1,5
pounds of steam
The supply of fuel is furnished by wood
cutters at various places along the banks
of the river, and as it is necessary to
keep the boats plentfully supplied they
wood up two or three times a day.
The Bailey pulled out in good trim with
about fifty passengers After steam ng
the current fer about day and a half
heavy smoke was seen coming in the
rear The river being very crooked the
approaching steamer did not appea- in
sight for a few hours after the smoke
was seen, and then rroved to be the
Canadian. The two boats carry the mail,
and are both noted for their speed. their
records for the TIP being about equal
The Rink rapids were safely rass5d by
the Bailey. and a few miles farther up
the Five-Fiugers- rapids had to be Stem
med, which neceSsitated the use CT a wire
cable attached to 1.-THE boat The upper
end of this cable IS fastened to a dead
man far above the rapi3s, the lower end
being attached to the capstan on the
steamer This ARA ngement combine d
with the Steam-power. enables boats to
face the rapids and steer clear Of the
rocks.
This cable delay gave the Canadian the
advantage of running up very close to
the Bailey. whtGh.s after getting through.
steamed off and put on good supply Of
dry wood, and was soon considerable dis
lance ahead 1t was towards evening when
at a long stretch of the Lewis river, the
Canadian was again sighted. The rver
was narrowing and closer and clio ser
came the boats together. With perfect
bedlam on her decks the sparks flying
by the millions. and the engines snoring
and blowing. the Bailey was being slow
ly pushed onto the shore by her big an
tagonist. !%
1t was supreme moment requiring
desperate move. The Bailey made it.
She turned her bow ahead to starboard.
There was a second of suspense and then
a crash and a hoarse grinding and the
Bailey's guards Jumped square en- tip
of the guards of her opponent and there
she stuck, her nose piefeing the side and
rubbing upEthe5p lanBing There the Bal
ley hung and was fairly dragged along
by the Canad1an. Both We're still churn-
ing ahead, the Bailey pushing to keeo
from striking the left bank.
+ The Canadian tried Ito Ed herself, of
her bulldog anita gonist, but without sue
cess. Clirched in this death grip they
pounded along. until widening CT the
river permitted 2the Canadian to make a
sharp turn and throw OFF Ter antagonist
from the guards. As the Bailey drc pped
off she ripped off great slabs Of tie
planking and came near to wrecking her
antagonist.
instant stop her engines She held her
nose within ten feet of the churni &
wheel of the Canadian. BY this time the
wood on both was running low. TIE
Canadian stopped at the first pile. TIE
Bailey passed alfeT aand ran to the next
choppers. regainiags her lost position in
the lead. Crew and passengers Of both
boats rushed on the wood, but the Bal
ley took so much that she was slightly
aground. and IN, showing her off ten val
liable minutes were lost, the ten minutes
that were fatal to her success.
The Canadian came ploughing up the
river but the Bailey managed to push off
about three lengths, ahead of her and the
old battle for4 place was renewed. The
Canadian again slowly gained. and when
she got alongside, the Bailey wheeled ID
starboard and was again soiidly hooked
upon the guards OF the Canadian. get
ting her grip a. little astern of her first
position J,.or
The drift soon made it obvious that the
Bailey was being slowly pushed into tie
left bank and athei Canadians stern was
being swung more and more out into the
stream. The bank came nearer. The Ca
madam was now heading almost direct
toward the bank and was crowding tie
Bailey upon the rocky bar. One SUPP enc
effort on the part of each ana the end
came. The Canadians nose went crash
ing into the rocks and driftwood and the
Bailey was thrown broadsde uron the
bar. 1t was a critical moment. The up
roar was sileneed and every sound could
be heard the engines were stopped and
then both began to slowly back
The Bailey got off first. but drift d
some distance down stream before s. e
could get Roadway against the cure Mt
The Canadian shook her bow loose and
gave a shrill whistle of defiance as she
swung out into the stream and again
took the lead She was soon lost around
bend in the river and was not en-
again until White Horse was reached
where she arrived about three hours
ahead of the Bailey.
The fight was called q draw. A battle
royal had been fought and no great dam
age had been done. The Canadian. al
though having somewhat the best of the
struggle. was SO badly damaged that no
victory was claimed.