The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-14
Rem BOLT GOES Accusing.
D,KISH, ONE HORSEPOWER
CRAFT RACES WITH TUG.

r,ne propellers, IL hands draught and
, 400 hounds displacement, took his trial
trin in the East River yesterday morning.
After an hours run on the Seventh street
docks on the Long Island City side, the
trim craft returned TO his moorings. having
demonstrated his ability 70 make Ia knots
under favorable conditions and having
satisfied every Requirements Of his owner,
s. Sanford Of Sheepshead Bay. In fact,
saws Mr.. Sanford, his new model OF q river
and harbor defence horse, unArmored
and with high speed potential, proved
itself to be worthy beyond bis widest ex-
pectations.
The Ben Bolt had been loaded on a bag
gage car at Jersey City for transportation
10 Sheepshead Bay and was towed on q
New York Central float around to the foot
of the Seventh street pier In Long Island
CITY by the tug &C. Clark. While the car
bearing the new model river craft was
waiting at the pier END for the switch engine
70 nut it on the main tracks q workman
opened the door. The Ben Bolt, whose
moorings were accidentally cast loose,
gracefully took the water OF the side of
the float.
A cry vent up from the deck Of the stone
SC1DW ANGlllc NA6tlHf lOOAo 1hOhk1Ak6s 1AEus
Captain Hans Hummslbeinz, who had not
been delegated to break a bottle Of cham
naVne over the bows OF the new harbor
defence cruiser, was fiustered by the sudden
liking TO the water OF the Ben Bolt, and not
having any champagne handy threw an
empty milk bottle at his bows.
At the pier end there was some excite
ment. Mr.. Chris johnson, the more or less
able seaman who had been delegated to
Illot the Ben Bolt to Sheepshead Bay,
waved his hat in enthusiasm and called to
the nearby bargees to witness the gallant
way that the Ben Bolt was breasting the
waves out toward midstream. The cap
tain Of the tug c. c. Clark, mistaking Mr..
Johnson's gestures and believing that the
Ben Bolt had possibly started on his trial
trip without his pilot, cast OF from the
float and put out in pursuit.
Full speed ahead" whistled the tug
captain down the tube TO the engine room,
and all hands stand by to take the Ben
Bolt in tow"
The Ben Bolt, which by this time was
going under easy steam, signalled his hind
legs for increased draught and before many
minutes be wac carrying as big a bone in
his teeth as h battleship Missouri on
rush orders. The tug G. G. Clark broke
out the signal, Stand by for sealed ORDERS
from its halliards, and even fred a signal
g~un-charged with two pieces Of coal and
an empty cracker box-in the direction OF
the Ben Bolt; but no notice was taken Of
the tugs signals.
The new river and harbor defence craft
set his course nor nor'east by east, with
his vows pointing toward Blackwell's
Island. By this time he had run up his
or.rinaa 70 about q OOO Hoxoltnkf0na 81 Az.
water was boiling in his wake. He set
low in the water, with no more than q foot
OF freeboard showing at the bows, which
gave him a low, rakish appearance like q
submarine about to dive.
By this time the crowd o. the Long
Island shore had assumed great proportions.
Remarkable enthusiasm was how by the
laymen who had never seen a boat along
the Ben Bolts lines take it's trial trip. Capt
Hummelshine, Of the Nellie Custis made
a funnel out OF his hands and beloved
out words Of encouragement to the captain
AYE tank you put some salts BY his tail
on cried the gallant captain. 'und maybe
Hey, Bin cried one of the unrashed
Il al him. Maybe ss viii fall for il and
come on board"
William Waters, the Long Island City
coal HEAVIER poet, whose songs Of labor
have made him famous in the camps OF the
union cohorts, ~improvised a little copy OF
verses and sang them out over the tide to
the distressed tug captain.
Say DO. dis shows too good to smash.
It's me vot bets-an' here's de cash
De plug en- give youse cards an spades
An half de deck tween here an Coney;
An win. hands down-itls easy money.
Mr., William Waters's lyrical inspiration
was wildly applauded.
D.. IL. - n n NIL
In getting on the weather side Of the Ben
Bolt and gradually began TO luff of, pressing
che Ben Bolts nose in toward the Long
Island shore. First Mate Johansen stood
at the bow with a coil of rope, ready TO
throw the Ben Bolt a line But the new
clipper built harbor defence boat veered
a sharply to the right, passed under the
{. c. Clark's stern and beaded down
river. The Ben Bolts exhaust drauRht
was working badly about this time, and the
noise Of its irregular putting came over the
water.
The C. c. Clark went about and started
In pursuit on the starboard tack. The
crowd on shore cheered.
The wise ones on the docks believed that
a hurry call should be sent TO the Brooklyn
navy ward for a torpedo boat TO capture the
Ben Bolt, which was now manifestly running
a pirate course. Others counselled turning
IN a general alarm to all the police boats
In the harbor. But the incubus OF near
disaster held the populace in its grip and
wlthered the springs OF action.
On the c. c. Clark tense excitement
ssttled upon captain and crew. Chasing
a runaway craft on its maiden voyage had
broken into the dull hound of towing Goa
harges 40 sharply that all were at first
stupefed with the magnitude OF the task
they had undertaken.
After the Ben Bolt had twice lodged the
PROV Of the c. c, Clark and had set upon
It's third circling toward IN Manhattan
shore, the captain OF the tug realized that
something deperate must be done. He
stationed First Mate Johansen at the bow
with a ten pound pipe wrench; then stealthily
he crept up On the retreating Ben Bolt.
Nearer and nearer drew the tug. The
Ben Bolt seemed TO DO in some distress and
changed his oourse a bit to the eastw ard.
The c. c. Clark's rudder was shifted a
point, then the captain leaned from the
pilothouse and spoke to the first mate In a
clear, cold voice.
You may fire when ready, Johansen,"
said the captain OF the c. G. Clark.
Johansen stood with every muscle tense
and nerves steeled. Carefully be gteadied
himself and took deliberate aim; then he
fired. The shot sped within an inch OF the
Ben Bolts foretop peak and fell harmlessly
In he water beyond.
Rotten shot, JohAnsen,- said the cap
tam IN that clear, cold voice OF his. Go
below, sir"
Then it fell upon the captain Of the &C.
GInwIa - 49,