The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-07-11
From the 81. Louis Tribune. /
CAPT. THos. T.. LEATuERs,

CAPT rios. H. LEATHERs,
Commander Of the Natchez. has for over
n quarter of century ranked us one Of
the most prominent steamboatmcn of the
South, and has been particularly noted as
always having n fast boat. He was born
We believe, IN Covington, Ky, but went
South when quite young, and has lived
there ever since. n very romantic story
iand true ono withal) l. told of the Cap
tan's carly love and marriage IL seems
that he began his career vi boatmnn as
deck hand, and finally rose while yet quite
young 20 be mate on one of the Southern
packets, and being Of a large and COM
manding figure, as well as quite handsome,
was calculated to make very favorable
impression upon the ladies; it so happened
came his wife, was travelling on boat upon
which he was mate, and in the absence of
other parties he took the liberty 10 hclp
her ashore. They met again under sihli-
lar circumstance. \ friendship sprang up
which finally ripened into love, and they
were mnrried-thc young lady being tho
daughter of one of the wealthicst Louisiana
planters. Our knowledge of Captain I.oath.
crs dates back to ls47, twcnty-thrcc years
ago. lilo was at that time commander of
the two-boiler Natchcz, a very comely boat
for her day. She was particularly famous
us being the fastest two-boiler boat of her
time, She ran between New Orleans and
Natchcy, and il was not long after this
time that Captain feathers conceived the
idea II extending his trips 10 Vicksburg.
his present terminus. This, We believe,
wnf tho Rrst boat ~ any importance he
had commanded. She was followed in due
course Of time by q more prcteniious craft
Of the same name, which eventually prov
cd one Of the tastes; boats OF her day' She
was known ~ the NatcheZ No. , Til,
boat ran for several year, and wa. uftor-
ward known a. toWboat at Mobile
The third Naichcz Wa. very swift boat
but her history was brief one,
a She was burned at the lovce along with
several other boat. in 1854 or 1855. On
this boat Captain Leathers lost brother,
who persisted in the flames. This boat
was followed by The famous Nalhoz, that
SO successfully contested the cham pion.hip
with the famous Eclipse, and, although a
smaller boat, Mas always Ii match for her
In speed. The fifth Nutchez, IA steamer Of
great speed aud beauty, was built at Gin
cinnati, and completed just before the be-
Ching Of The late unhappy struggle. She
proved ono ofthe fastest boats in the West.
She, with a lot Of other fine steamers, wa,
taken up the la2oo river for safe keeping.
and was finally burned during the war 10
keep her from falling into the hand, of tho
Fcderals. Thus the present Natchcz is. if
We are not mistaken, the sixth steamer Of
,hat name, In personal appearance Capt.
feathers Is large aud commanding with
dIgnlhed demeanor that commands tho
Iospec' Oh MI He Is of rctcent and
I,pf,hs ha'pFt' the direct opposite OF all
non'oast ana SHOW but Is one OF those who
oeieVe thai deeds speak louderthan words,
anu a''' accordingly. He is about ffty-
ivy so"rs oil age. yet l. strong and vigor-
on', ana Is seemingly in the prime of his
CAPT. joins ". CANNON,
MS contemporary We speak of from per-
son"i esperienee, having steamboated With
him on all the boats he Has ever run since
the explosion Of tho Louisiana, oyertwentv
years ago. Capt. Cannon is a self mad,
man IN every sense ofthe word, and gained
his knowledge of the steamboating in the
school Of experience, having served in
every capacity from the lowest to the most
Important, and even his bitterest enemies
viii say that his success has been the re.
ward of genuine merit The first boat. We
believe, that he built was the Louisiana
which exploded while lying at the wharf
at New Orleans, in lsi7 or 1913, killing a
large number of people and creating a
great deal OF excitement AT the time. Some
time after this, Cannon built the S. w.
Downs, II small Ouachita river packet,
which, although a small sidc-wheci boat
proved quite success, and made consider
iple money, The Downs, in time was fol-
io"ed by the Belle Dome
famous boat Of her day. After her, the
captain built the w. w Far
mer and the X. w. McRca, both Ouaebjta
PACKETS But the NcRea hsyinc rnn