The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-06

! After discharging at Cairo, and beinl
Joined by Captains Bill Hamilton, o
Mound City. a man of renowned
ways" and Cutting, the noted boat
builder, of Metropolis; John Mckee
ESQ, the well known correspondent
of the Cincinnati Commercial and St
Louis Democrat, with numerous 9TH
ers, the Idlewild ran down to the
head of Island No. 1, where she
tied up to await the appearance Of
the mighty contestants. The Grand
Armada was lying in the bend above,
crowded with people from Paducah,
Mound City and Cairo, and close by
the Odd Fellow, also crowded. We
should have mentioned that the Col
conda Baud accompanied the Idlewild
as far as Metropolis, discoursing ex-
cellent music by the way, the burden
of their song being "Shoo Fly" in
allusion to the motto carried on the
bowsprit of the r. E. Lee. From the
head of No. a splendid view of the
majestic river is had from the point at
Cairo to the point some five or six
miles below. where the Idlewild lay.
Eager eyes were strained to catch
sight of the coming of the Lee.
A faint smoke was discovered across
the right hand point below, bat it
grew fainter, and presently appeared
to be going down the river, and the
crowd began TO grow very impa-
tient. and one individual whose
confidence in the Lee had in
duced him to bet on her coming to
Cairo inside of three days, became
particularly impatient, as he was ban
tered from time to time by the party
of the second part. A little before
o'clock black smoke was discovered
across the foot of Island No. L. It
was boat rounding the third point be-
low and many miles down the river,
but the speed with which it came up
left no doubt on the minds of any as
to whence the smoke emanated. At
twenty minutes after five o'clock the
great champion rounded the point be-
low, and then the excitement grew in
tense. About two thirds of the
people on the Idlewild had gone
ashore to have a good view and to
avoid any danger that might occur.
The Idlewild steamed out into the
stream and started up the river at full
speed. On and on came the Lee, like
the beast in Daniels vision, appar-
emily moving up on the whole face
of the water" if not of the earth,
Captain Yves. Conner, her veteran
pilot, holding her wheel with
steady hand, and Capt. Cannon.
her distinguished commander, stand
ing on the roof watching every move.
ment with breathless interest and at
tention. The two boats came togeth-
er without jar. the wheels of the
mighty steamer were stopped for a
moment. a second or two only, while
the two were dashed together. Then
40 or 80 men with each trunk,
valise, box, bird cage or other ar
ticle, and some 20 passengers stepped
from the Lee to the Idlewild, the
great iron tongue of the Lee said "let
go, = the lines were cast off, loiterers
leaped quickly to their respective
boats, and the Lee shot forward with
the speed of a frightened deer and in
six minutes disappeared around the
point and entered the Upper Missis-
sippi. The whole transaction of
transfer did not occupy over two min
utes. and the whole scene was one of
the most stupendous grandeur-one
which no tongue or pencil can des.
eribe-such an one as those witness
ing twill never behold again. As
The two boats neared each other, the
widest cheers rent the air, and we're
continued until the boats had parted
company. The people on shore and
on the Armada aud Odd Fellow, join
ed In the shout. No commands we're
given; on either boat none could
have been heard. The single stroke
of the massive bell, signaling ''let 60"
was all. Upon parting with the Lee,
the Idlewild returned to the bank,
and taking on board her people.
steamed up near the mouth of the
Ohio, and again laid up to await the
arrival Of the Natchez. After near
an hours delay, she came up stand
ing out in the middle of the
river. and gliding along at great
speed, though not exhibiting such
manifestations of power and speed as
her proud competitor. The Natchez
c!eaves the water, scarcely starting a
ripple at her bow. The Lee
literally splits the river wide
open. turning the water over
on either side in great curved
sheets like pillow turns the sward
when the fallow ground is broken up.
As the Natchez passed the null
titude generously attempted to give
her a cheer, but it was not hearty or
con amore, like those for the r. e.
Lee. The exact time by the clock
of the Lee, by which they started
from New Orleans, when she let go
of the Idlewild, was o'clock and
twenty-five minutes. Both boats had |
barges of coal awaiting them in the
Mississippi. just above the mouth of |
the Ohio. The Idlewild returned |
to Cairo, where she remained for |