The San Francisco call., 1906-11-11

Navada left Sacramento ahead OF the
New World. which did not overtaks the
opposftion until Steamboat Slough was
reached In rounding a bend the Ne
vada struck q snag and was In stnk
Ing condition when she reacned Cache
Creek She was beached In mire o.
uuicksands and never was foated-
When the Washoe Was Rammed
Captain Fouratt's story OF how he
ramred and sank the Washoe and OF
how later he was indicted FOR as
sault with a deadly weapon, TO wit:
steamboat" and OF his acqutttal and
the succeeding celebration at Suisun. Is
the one he most delights to tell.
The opposition put on new boat,
the Washoe. She was regular MiSsis-
sippi style and fast My people gave
me the Yosemite. hxed her up for
speed and told me TO run the Washoe
OF the river. The old line for which
I was working was very unpopular at
that time. and the people along the
river were only too pleased to be
able to show their dislike for the old
line by patronizing the opposition
steamer.
They sent me up to Sacramento with
orders to leave there at a certain hour
and to come down at full speed They
wanted TO know just exactly what the
Yosemite would do before we tackled
the Washoe In earnest
Il followed orders and was making
great time when / got mixed up with
lot OF schooners IN Steamboat Slough
and lost about an hour lodging them.
When 1 reached Benicia I met tho
WashCe coming up The feeling
against the company was 40 strong
that they would not take ny lines on
the wharf. I beaded the YOSEMITE for
rrrfa4 4a-f T-r@
own men to handle the lines.
Just then, though. the WashOe.
which had been backing and filing
tried to get between me and the wharf
The tide carried her across the Yo-
semite's bow, which went nearly
through her. The passengers on the
Washoe began to shoot the windows
out of the Yosemite's pilot house. They
spoke OF hanging me. But their boat
was filing and they soon had some
thing else to think about The Wa
shoes pilot was badly ratified and ia
the end went aboard and ran her on
the beach Just as she was about TO
sink.
When reached San Francisco the
president and a crowd OF stockholders
was on the wharf They gave me tho
laugh and asked me when I would have
arrived II I had not been trying -
break a record.
I've been busy 7 answered 7 wss
lodging schooners for an hour IN
Steamboat Slough and at Benicia had
what steamer asked the presi-
dent
The washoe.' answered.
They had been at heavy expense
putting the Yosemite IN condition to
run and had been looking forward 10
having no end Of fun with the Washoo-
When told them the Washoe was ou1
OF business they looked positively
gloomy and all the president said was:
"Hellr
at was indicted by the Grand Jury
for assault with deadly weapon. to
wit. a steamboat was tried and
acquitted. After the acquittal I in
vited all hands, Judge, jury, prosecut-
ing attorney and all. down TO Suisun,
where a new hotel had just opened
Got any champagneT asks the
bartender. They had Just received a
big basket of IL. so I orders the whole
business on the bar. Them fellows
was used to whisky. but that cham
pagne kinder knocked en-
When we'd got away with IT all
says: Boys. there's hotel across the
street Let's gve the other place
chance Some was able to walk there.
but had to hire men with wheelbar-
rows to get the others across"
, In the days of the Senator. the first
of the big boats, the fare to Sacra-
L meQCO was toU, Win 8CdleTOOn ana
. meals extra The river boats IN those
days were famous for the quality OF
, the meals served.
They can't build steamboats, no
more and there's cooks now like we
= had In them days." Is Captain Fouratts
! verdict.
/, The old days are gone and today only
: two steamers. the Modoc and Apache.
. both owned by the Southern Pacific.
: run between here ana Sacramento An
opposition line goes only as far up as
Freeport. There is a line OF steamers
running to Stockton. There are few
! other river steamers, but taken alto
gether the river traffic OF today Is a
matter OF no great magnitude. The
I farmers and others on these natural
waterways, whether or not their river
: service Is supplemented by rail. are at
; the mercy OF the railroad for the
d transportation OF their products 20
. market
J, With what has been done on the Mis-
q souri, and Mississippi rivers as an OBJ
!: feet lesson Il Is not unlikely that at
! no distant day the residents OF the Sac
ramento and San joaquin valleys may
: follow suit. and perhaps before Enos
n Fouratt goes to his long rest ha may
see the river restored to its former
. greatness as q factor In the commerre
e OF California