The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-18
ADMIRAL C[RYFRA
BEATS THE ROAMfR
IN A NAUTICAL RACE
Visiting CongressmenAre Given
an Exciting Time on River
in Speed Contest Between
Schiffmann Bros Launches.

The members of the congressional
committee on military affairs, after
they had concluded their inspection OF
Fort Smelling yesterday afternoon. We're
given treat in the shape OF a most
exciting boat race, on their trip down
the river on launches owned by MEM
bers of the ST. Paul Yacht club.
Incidentally, the question among the
members of the club as to whether
Fred G. Schiffmann's fiftyfour- foot
steam launch. the Admiral Cervera, or
r. Schiffmann Jr.'s gasoline launch. the
Roamer, was the faster, is finally set
tied
Both these boats. with their shippers,
were among the yachts which the st.
Paul Yacht club had rendered the COM
mittee for the trip down the river.
The occasion was opportune for DEM
onstration on the part of the rival
shippers, for ever since week ago,
when the Roamer and. the Admiral
Cervera had a race on the Minnesota.
the result of which was practically
tie, each of the shippers has maintain
ed the superiority of his craft. Though
the Admiral Cervera is propelled by
steam and the Roamer by gasoline,
their speed is almost the same.
After the members of the commit
tee had been taken aboard the various
yachts. the fleet took spin UP the
and to that point the cruise was I'M
eventful. But as the boats turned
about for the return to st. Paul, the
Roamer and the Cervera came side by
side. The shippers. who were on deck.
eyed each other askance. and a race
was unavoidable.
The Race Begins.
'Dolph Schiffmann gave three blasts
of his whistle, and. as he passed. the
Cervera answered. The race was on.
The Roaner attained a lead of three
lengths, which she maintained for two
miles, then the Cervera began slowly
to close the gap.
George c. Garrow was at the wheel
of the Cervera, while the veteran pilot,
Artie White, was steering the 'Roamer.
Those on the other launches of the
fleet became interested, and kept close
to watch the progress of the rivals.
On board the Roamer and the CerVera.
however. the excitement was intense.
Fred Schiffmann had party of
friends on board his boat. while on the
Roamer were four congressman and
one United States senator Fired
Schiffmann, with the keen eye 4of "a
river navigator. stood beside his heinIs-
man. directing the movements of. the
boat. t@i& aE
At the mouth of the Minnesota river
the boats were neck and neck. AT
this juncture Engineer Fish, who was
running the Cervera robbed the ice
chest of three sides of bacon, which
he crowded into the fire box. The eff
feet was Immediately noticeable, as
the Cervera assumed the lead and pro-
ceeded to widen the gap.
Race Becomes Fierce. A+9' j.
Both boats sped on, the flames fairly
shooting from the smokestack of the
Cervera. The Roamer, however, work
ed herself nearly abreast of the Ger.
vera. For mile after mile the two
boats tore through the water almost
neck and neck.
On board the Roamer were United
States Senator McCumber. of North
Dakota; Congressman Esch, of La
Crosse, Wis; Congressman Davis, Of
st. Peter, Mimi. Congressman Graft,
of Peoria, ILL.,, and Congressman Cap
ron, of Rhode Island. The greatest ex-
element prevailed on board both boats
as we'll as on the other craft of the
fleet.
After running exactly ten miles the
two boats ended the race under the
Chicago Great Western draw bridge.
The Admiral Cervera was the winner
by 200 yards.
The high feeling on board the Ger
'SA" was equal oily W the ueSpOnQ-
ency on board the Roamer. When the
entire party had disembarked on the
levee there were many congratulations
from the congressman, who expressed
themselves as highly delighted with
the sport they had witnessed. Steers
man Garrow was lionized by both the
crew and the spectators, and from the
inner cabin of the Cervera, somewhere
in the neighborhood of the buffet.
Skipper Fred c. Schiffmann was heard
to laugh and laugh again.