Evening journal., 1901-06-25
Old CONTESTS
ON THE RIVER
Races That Took Place Many
Years Ago
SOME or THEM WERE EXCITING
The MOuniaineer and The Robert
MOrriS Wed With Each Other for
Supremacy in Speed

Now that there is SO much interest
displayed in the friendly contests for
supremacy in speed between the boats
OF the Wilmington Steamboat C3m-
/ pany's line and chose of its rival com
pany, the Upper Delaware River Navi-
gatiOn Company. il viii not be amiss
10 publish short histery OF me races
(which took PLACE on the Delaware river
some fifty odd years ago.
The following description appeared
in the PHILADELPHIA Record. in October
! 1895, and was written by D.. John j.
/ Black of New Castle:
| Of an tho steamboat races ON the Dola-
ware the great race between the Robert
Morris and the Mountancer stands out
refulgent Somewhere ia the latter part
OF the fortes old Major Philip Rcyboid.
OF Delaware city. then the owner of the
steamboat cxprcns running between Phil
adelphia and salem-a man of great enc
erry of character and who has left an Inc
dcibie impress Ca his community-ma
up his mind 10 own a fast steamboat lie
/ accordingly went round to New York ANA
purchased the Mountainecr then one OF
the fastest Il not the very fastest boat dn
the Hudson watcrs-the only boai 10 dis
pute this title with her being the Thomas
! Powell. Bennett her engineer was noted
Tor carrying steam until the vapor escaped
between the rlvcts. The Mountaineer had
a beam eng.ne-crank aft-0ne smoke
stack and one boiler in her hold. She was
2i0 feet long end "a feet beam-one 20 ten
"a racer, Indeed, of the White Star order
she was "a beauty and her bell had tho
sweetest tone ever rung out on the waters
/ Of the Delaware. The old major knew
what Doe had bought and determined soon
after bee had gotten his treasure home 10
CLIP he wings OF the Bobby. Up to this
time Zen Barron talked a great deal and
BALDWIN TALKED great deal, but old Tom
/ Ford, who had always been second encl-
neer OF the Morris, and who for years
after leaving her was chief engineer OF
ihe steamer Whildin, had not 80 much
10 says for Tom, without prejudice, was
tho only ono 90 properly size up the speed
or TIE Mountaineor. ben Barron and
Baldwin ridlouled the idea of the Noun
laineer showing the Bobby"
But old Major Roybold pot his boat
rondy' and one lovely, balmy morning in
May The race occurred.
Tho Morris was TO start FROM Doel,
passengers. by the Union Line 40 Ralu-
more via New Castle and Frcnchtown.
Her starting hour had nearly arrived
"hen gayly-dressed In flags. ia the old.
MAJOR ANA his boys and invted friends on
no'rd' the Mountaineer steamed rayly brI
lA" Bobby az her dock, and, going ahou,
To t"e old Navy Yard, hauled up and
quietly waited There Is mo- doubt that
tho Norris people fully expected To- wall,
away easily with the Mountaineer. but
sill she was worthy of their best efforts
Gayiy shc left her wharf-of course. with
% run head OF steam; for I'm those DAVIS
there We're no restrictions. Down She
sailed toward The old Navy Yard
AS size approached the wheels OF The
Mountaincer commenced 10 revolvo bpi
before she got headway the Bobby passe0
her. wi.h everyone ON her cheering n
was indeed, and exc ting scene But how
is this2 Is there anything wrong with
The sobby2 Mo- but see: the Mountain
eer Is rushing past her. and she did rush
past fer quietly and quickly. and BALD
win Ncech piled on the steain. ana tho
i'ohb1 responded nobly. But stnl the
Mounieiaeer rushed on. Now She slows
up Tho Bobby comes up again. with
cheers Asain the Mountaineor opens ont
Ec.s by tho Bobby, rounds across her
Dow and. with cheers and gOod-bve
returns TO her wharf IN PhHadelphin.
ihere was a subdued set OF officers ana
men On the Bobby; probably mad would
au' ire occasion better; but their silence
was made rr for by as jolly q set OF souls
as ever hrcathcd from New Castle and
other places. / remember being on the
wharf at New Castle when she landed her
passengers there. one enthusiastic
passenger brought his fist down ana told
how I'aidy put ON steam above. ana
bow hc ana his friends put on steam at
I'm Miners bar below But it was OF
no usci No use! No use, Tho Bobby
was beaten, and The Mountaineer carried
Tho penant She was beaten. hut Captain
Barr never admitted It. Ben Barron never
admitted IL. ana Baldwin Eeoch never adj
miuicd IT, The old captain told me once
had he allowed Baldwin to have dli4on
her for all She was worth. the Mountain
Ger would never have passed him. but
among other distinguished people he had
The delegates t. the American Medical
Association ON board, ana his refusal 70
risk such valuable Ives lost the race 10
he Bobby
The Aountainccr continued 20 run 10
Cape May now and then TO Salon. being
In the intervals chartered IN New York. |
and IN returning 90 the Delaware from |
one o' her charter trips was run upon |
Brandywino shoals in the Delaware bay
and totally lost. Major Reybold recovered
about half her value from the charter !
party. Perhaps somewhat chagr'ned at /
the defeat Of the Morris by the Mountain /
eer end in order 70 maintain their SUI
premacy In the profitable Cope May
rous the directors OF the Union Line /
sent the late Andrew C. Gray. OF New
Castle, 70 New York 10 get a fast steam