Page:Maud Howe - Atlanta in the South.djvu/218

 I heard Captain Martin questioned about the speed of the 'Crescent Queen' the consequences were rather serious. There was a new boat on the river. The Captain was afraid of her, I think; but when she blew the signal for a race, he ordered our speed increased. All the passengers begged Martin not to accept the challenge, but he answered them pretty roughly. The new boat pressed us hard, and I saw our furnace crammed with barrels of oil, with crates of fruit, with cotton and freight. No matter what, anything that would burn was tossed into the roaring fire; but the new boat gained on us. I had bet all the money in my pockets on the 'Crescent Queen.' There was not a man on board, down to the nigger firemen, who had not put up something on the race. I remember I asked the Captain if he thought we should beat her. He was at the speaking-tube, and roared out, 'Send up my whiskey—straight;' then turning to me he said, 'Beat her, sir, or bust!' It did not quite come to that, for by the time we had reached a narrow turn in the river the rival boat had almost caught up with us; there was not room for both steamers abreast, and in a flash Martin turned the 'Queen's' head and drove her bow straight into the side of the other boat. She never raced again, I believe, and the 'Crescent Queen' has not been challenged since.