The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-30
SAW A YACHT RACE
EXPERIENCE ON THE GULF.
VESSEL TANNED INTO A DOCK
Captains Orders Were Not Heard Be-
cause the Band Was Playing
A Wreck and Panic
Followed.
VESSEL TANNED INTO A DOCK

II have seen a yacht race or two my
SELF" said Albert Joyce Of Minneapolis.
at the Thornton this morning to q party
OF friends when a discussion arose about
the speed tests between the Columbia
and Shamrock. II never witnessed one
of the runs where the contest was for
the cup that is being battled for down in
New York." continued Mr.. Joyce but I
saw one race once where We had a lot
Of fun and wound up with q disaster
that was somewhat serious"
1T was on the Fourth Of July several
years ago that happened to be in Cor
pus Christi, Texas, and what was q great
yacht race for that country was sched-
uled to take place on the gulf. arriv-
ed in the place the evening of the third
of the month and the night preceding the
great national holiday was not lacking In
merriment. There was lumber schoon-
err in the port which expected to sail
away on the morning Of the Fourth and
the captain Of the craft. jovial sort OF a
fellow, who was know as "Chills and
Fever Charlie made the most Of what he
thought was to be his last night on land
for a time. I was with a crowd that fell
in with the skipper early on the morning
Of the Fourth and before daylight he had
about as many sheets to the wind as his
boat would need to give her fairly good
speed. However, the captain was not
worrying as he expected no greater re-
sponsibility that day than taking the
boat out into the gulf in fair weather.
"Along about the time that the lUnber
boat was to get under way the owners
of the vessel concluded that it would be
a good business idea to hold the vessel
at the port another day and use her as q
spectators boat for the yacht race. This
decision meant quite different Fourth
for the skipper from the one he had
counted on, but he pulled himself togeth-
er and at 10 o'clock had his booat up at
the dock taking on passengers who
wanted to get out in the gulf and see the
yacht race. There was nothing very re-
markable lbout the race. The boats were
pretty evenly matched and the contest
between them was interesting and all
that. but there were no incidents that
would be of special interest to recount at
this time. 1t was on the home trip OF
the schooner that We got the experience
that the most of us are probably remem-
berlng pretty we'll to this day.
1.-THE old lumber barge was decorated
al the occasion and the day demanded.
Flags and bunting were flying from her
masts and a band of colred musicians
was giving us melody in the shape OF pa
triotic tunes and popular airs. Wnen we
started in for the shore we were ABOUT
ten miles out and there was good preeze
blowing that carried US right ahead OF
II. The canvas was all spread and Cap
tain Charlie put his head to work to give
us a finish that would show that his BOAT
was something Of a racer. we new Oy
a dozen smaller tubs and waved pan
tering salute to those on board OF aneM
as we rode steadily and rapidly towards
the wharf. Everybody on the lunoer
Yacht was in good spirits ana the capt@"A
was Jolly and happy. He was Leading
the fleet into Port and that was ehous"
to stir his pride as sailor.
"Finallv we got near enough to the
.,ore tn hear the boys shooting their nre-
crackers. There was a big crowd on the
dock tn greet us and handkerchlefs were
antterinr in the hands of those on the
shore al they watched us bear down To-
wards them away in the lead OF the o'n-
ar spectators' beats. The band was pray
inc "FIome Sweet Home" and we were
om o,t on the deck watching the people
~, the short and listening to the music.
,rha cantain wanted to make grano
aour,sh for the close of the days outing
and nrepared to pull in part OF the salls
.ond veer the boat from her course so tnat
sho would make a swing right long slde
Yhe dock. He stalked along the deck ana
yelled to the crew to take IN the san
Int the band was making such noise
mat his orders We're not heard. lie saw
What the effect of the failure to execute
~. command would be and shouted TO
the passengers to look out. ne nao nara
u, GOTTEN the words out OF his mouth
,.,he, there was a crash and the bow OF
.ha hoat cut into the dock like sa" go
;ng through a board. The next moment
saw dark cloud towering over me as
come members of the band were h"rleu
down NV way. l was thrown INTO COZ.
nor and when l came to a'reai'za.Ion -
INV surroundings there was s,ou. w.
man en- either side of me and ABOUT nve
hundred feet of humber on top or 4e'
PEOPLE were screaming and rusn'ns TO-
wards the front part of the vessel as tnes
rexainad their feet. Above the al" eaus
ed by the grinding Of the t1mo ,rs as 80 eae
craft twisted in the opening In the ooeA
ana the yells of the panic stricken 80
senrers could be heard the sten.0,'--
voice of 'Chl,s and Fever Cnar"e
,o,,,;nu ont orders to the crew.