The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-05-02
STEAMBOAT RIVALRY ON THE
YUKON

!
YUKON.
During September traffic up and down
the Yukon river and other rivers from
White Horse to Dawson 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
continuation of it close in October, the
ice rendering it impossible to naviga-
ton after the 18th of that month; con-
sequently as many trips as possible are
made and the distance of nearly five
hundred miles against swiftly running
water is made in about four days and
nights. Boats leave Dawson for up
river within a few hours of each 9TH
err, and the fastest and best equipped
boats get most of the business.
On September 16, at ten a. M, the
stern-wheel steamer S. S. Bailey pulled
out from Dawson for White Horse. At
ten p. m. Of the same day the Canadian
started for the same destination. The
two boats have about the same speed,
the Canadian, however, being much the
larger of the two and more powerful,
with over two hundred and twenty-five
pounds pressure of steam. The Bailey,
a smaller boat, uses only one hundred
and seventy-five 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 ne
cessary to keep the boats plentifully
supplied they wood up two or three
times a day.
Got 1o1 NJ ~, +,i,,
with about fifty passengers. After
steaming the current for about a day
and a half a heavy smoke was seen
coming in the rear The river being
very crooked, the approaching steamer
did not appear in sight for a few hours
after the smoke was seen, and then
proved to be the Canadian. The two
boats carry the mail, and are both no.
ted for their speed, their records for the
trip being about equal.
The Rink rapids were safely passed
by the Bailey. and few miles farther
up the Five Fingers rapids had to be
stemmed, which necessitated the use of
a wire cable attached to the boat The |
upper end of this cable is fastened to a
dead man far above the rapids, the low
GI ellQ DtlIiS dLldCDGu W lAe tdpSldl Oli
the steamer. This arrangement, COM |
bined 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 which, after getting /
through. steamed off and put on
good supply of dry good. and was soon 7
q considerable distance ahead. 1t was
towards evening when, at long stretch
If the Lewis river, the Canadian was
again sighted The river WAS narrow
ng, and closer and closer came the
boats together. With perfect bedlam
IN her decks, the sparks flying by the
and the engine snorting and
blowing, the Bailey was being slowly
pushed on to the shore by her big an
agonist.
1t was a supreme moment requiring a
desperate move. The Bailey made it,
She turned her bow ahead to starboard
There was a second of suspense and
hen a crash and hoarse grinding and
he Bailey's guards jumped square on .
op of the guards of her opponent and ;
here she stuck, her nose piercing the c
ide and rubbing up the planking. {
here the Bailey hung and was fairly {
ragged along by the Canadian. Both I
5ere still churning ahead, the Bailey 1
ushing to keep from striking the left f
ank. $
The Canadian tried to rid herself Of d
er bulldog antagonist, but without h
uccess. Clinched in this death grip a
icy pounded along, until a widening of II
1e river permitted the Canadian to n
lake sharp turn and throw off her v
ntagonist from the guards As the C
alley dropped off she ripped off great f
abs of the planking and came near to
rocking her antagonist. a
The Bailey fell back, but did not for n
\ instant stop her engines. She held d
ar nose within ten feet of the churn- W
g wheel of the Canadian. BY this n
me the wood on both was running I
W. The Canadian stopped at the first O.
lie. The Bailey passed her and ran to ir
e next choppers, regainings her lost =
,sltion in the lead. Crew and passen-
RS of both boats rushed on the wood,
1t the Bailey took so much that she
as slightly aground and in showing
r off ten valuable minutes were lost,
e ten minutes that were fatal to her
ccess.
The Canadian came ploughing up the
yer, but the Bailey managed to push :.
about three lengths ahead of her and :.
e old battle for place was renewed. =
lie Canadian again slowly gained, and
len she got alongside, the Bailey "
leeled to starboard and was again
idly hooked upon the guards of the
madam, getting her grip little as q
n of her first position. =
The drift soon made it obvious that
: Bailey was being slowly pushed into
a left hank and the Canadians stern -