both steamers, with fred sherman in command of the "gatzert", and ernest w. spencer on the "spencer", left their docks on portland at 7:00 a.m., passing downriver through the harbor at the double slow bell, with the spencer leading. at 7:06 a.m. they passed through the steel bridge. to comply with a municipal ordinance restricting speed on the river, the boats took 13 minutes to reach the portland flour mills, a distance they could cover in 4 minutes if moving at speed. at the flour mills, the race began in earnest. the "spencer" held a lead of half a boat length down to linnton, oregon, where the "gatzert" increased its speed and whistled a signal to the spencer indicating its intent to pass.