Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-09-04
Man Rugged Up Boat With Small
Engine That Could Go.
Won First Place In Race-EVerything
Lovely Till InquIsItiVe Swimmer
Owed Beneath Graft and
Made Discovery.

Newbern, N. George Arthur,
fisherman, in the neighborhood of
Adams creek, near Neuse river, 35
miles from this city, caught in one Of
his nets a large shark. He penned
1t in a pool which he made for the
purpose, and after exhibiting it there
for month or more it suddenly van
ished. Arthur told the inquirers that
he had taken pity on the "varmint"
and returned 1t to its native waters.
About this time Arthur purchased
long, low, rakish" skiff, explaining to
his friends that he intended placing
an engine in it and making a racing
boat out of it. For several weeks
he devoted many hours a day to re-
modelling it and placing a two-horse
power engine in it. At last he an
nounced that the boat was in readi-
ness for any and all corners, and Of
fered to bet that he would win. Sew
eral men who thought they had fast
boats inspected Arthur's boat and
laughed at his diminutive motor. But
he said it was of new and powerful
to win. So they arranged a race.
There were six contestants, and
among the number were some ex-
ceedingly fast boats. Arthur was ask
ed to give trial exhibition of his
engines ability but he refused. He
said they could see it work the day of
the race. On the appointed day sew
eral hundred people lined the river
bank. The course was about five
miles. The boats were lined UP for
the start and at the crack of a pistol
off they went. So faint was the eX-
haust of Arthur's new engine that it
could scarcely be heard, and within
the first 100 yards he was left far be-
hind the. other racers. However,
things bad only begun to happen.
Arthur was seen to settle back in
the steerman's seat and push a small
lever. Immediately the little boat
sprang forward Faster and faster it
cut through the water. Passing the
other boats and their startled crews,
it sped on toward the goal and arrived
several minutes ahead of its nearest
competitor.
That the little engine was the real
thing was no longer doubted, and the
owner received many offers to pur-
chase but declined them all.
After that Arthur was frequently
seen on the river with his craft cut
ting through the water at a terrific
rate.
Recently a party of picnickers Wis
tied the place, and during the day
hired Arthur to take them for a trip
on the river. They, too, were amazed
at the boats speed. One of the more
inquisitive decided that there was
something not entirely on the level
about the engine. Arriving at a de-
sirabIe point, suggestion that the
party go in swimming was made, and
soon several of the young men were
In the water Suddenly one of them
dived beneath the boat and when he
arose to the surface lost no time in
scrambling back into the craft. He
said he had seen a shark just beneath
the boat
Arthur became greatly agitated at
this point and suggested that they
leave at once, but the other members
of the party resolved to see whether
their companion was fooling them.
Selling an oar, one of the young men
jabbed 1t into the water beneath the
craft. and, sure enough, found the
shark. They were going to kill or
catch It. when Arthur told them that
the fish was in wire cage beneath
the vessel and that he used it for
motor power. Further investigation
1roved 1t to be true.
After catching the big fish Arthur