Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1894 — BIG PAY FOR THE TRIP. [ARTICLE]

BIG PAY FOR THE TRIP.

How a Stermboat Captain Made $25,000 in Two Days. “Yes, they do lots of running, and they have fast boats and fine boats,” said a grizzled old ex-Captain, as he stood on a dock at Seattle and watched the air-line wake which Captain John Jordison was laying out behind the Flyer as she flew toward Tacoma. “But there is an old fellow up town who made more money in forty-eight hours on an eight-mile round trip with an old stem-wheel box than all of these fast boats can make in six months/’ continued the ex-Captan. “The packet lam alluding to was the old steanvr Enterprise, built on the Columbia in the early fifties and brought around here by Capt. Tom Wright, who owned and commanded her on the famous trip of which I speak. ‘Old Tom,’ as you all call him now, was running the Enterprise on the Fraser River in 1858, at the time of that incipient rebellion sometimes known as ‘Ned McGowan’s War.’ McGowan and a lot of other Americans who were prospecting up around Hill’s Bar, on the Fraser, had been arrested and brought before a British Justice of the Peace for some alleged indiscretion, and considerable feeling had been worked up over the matter, so much, in fact, that wild rumors of war and bloodshed had reached the outer world, and the British troops were called on. A detachment of 100 men, with artillery and other equipments, was sent out from Victoria and was nearing Langley, B. C., when Capt. Wright and his steamer arrived at that port. The skipper was prompt to see that, his boat afforded the only available means for moving those troops up the river. He immediately told his purser to write out a schedule of rates passage, SIOO per man; freight, SIOO per ton —and hang it in his office. This done, he walked ashore and met Lieut. Gussette, who was in command of the men. The Lieutenant immediately asked him if he could take the troops up the river. The Captain reflectively scratched his head for a moment, and, half doubtingly, said he supposed he could.

“ ‘What aro your rates?' asked Gussette. “ ‘I don’t know,’ said Tom, ‘that’s a little out of my department, and I don’t remember. I will call the purser and find out.’ “The purser was summoned, but, like his superior officer, his memory was bad regarding rates between Langley and Hill’s Bar. “ ‘Get your rate schedule,’ said Tom, apparently vexed that the purser should know so lit tle about his business. “The purser did so, and unconcernedly read the rate of SIOO per man and SIOO per ton. Gussette objected, argued, and swore, but the immovable skipper explained that it was schedule rates, and that ho couldn’t think of charging the Government less than was charged private individuals. The Lieutenant’s efforts to secure a reduction were futile, and at last the troops, 107 in number, with fifty tons of equipments, were taken aboard. Fortune favored the Enterprise on that trip, and eighteen hours after leaving Langley she reached heffdestlnation, Fort Hope, with her $15,000 cargo. At this point word was received that the/trouble was all over. McGowan and his friends had talked themselves out of bondage, and white-winged peace was hanging over the entite country. This condition of affairs rendered the presence of the troops unnecessary, and without removing the equipments from the boat the Lieutenant again approached Captain Tom and asked him what he would charge to take the outfit back to Langley. The Captain’s failing memory again compelled him to refer Gussette to the purser, and after considerable search that well-trained aid of the Captain’s discovered that the rate down stream was the same as up stream. The Englishman sought the Captain. ‘My God, Captain,’ he Bald, ‘you have charged me £B,OOO for less than a day’s work with your boat, and now you want to repeat the performance. It’s an outrage.’ “ l ’Tis a middling high rate,’ said Tom, ‘but wood is scarce up here, and I don’t like to be cutting rates. Still, as you haven’t taken your freight ashore, and are ready to go down with us, I will make a reduction. I'll make it an even $25,000 for the round trip which is a big cut in rates.’ There was no other way for the troops to reach home, so the Lieutenant surrendered, and less than forty-eight hours after we had left Langley with the troops Capt. Wright was back again, richer by a £5,000 voucher, which was paid without a murmur when presented at Victoria. Capt. Tom Wright is still a conspicuous figure on the streets of Seattle and other sound cities, and while he has lived to see the marine traffic of Puget Sound grow from its infancy into proportions greater than he had ever dreamed of, yet it is doubtful if he will ever see his record for money making with A steamboat equalled.—[Oregon Gazette.