, 1870-07-07
THE GREAT STEAMBOAT RACE.

Ihc Arrival of the Lee Mt Mt. LOUIS
Frem the 81. Louis Republican, June 6.
The particular Significance Of tho
Fourth OF July was lost. The close Of the
contest between tho Robert E. Lee and the
Natcllcz was the all-absorbing topir and the
srceial business Of the tlay. ~ S
About 8 o'clock tho excitement all over
town rose 10 fever heat, and as it rose the
streams Of people in all the avenues leading
to the river became wider and deeper Men.
women and children poured nlong in dashine
currents, NJ, having rcachcd the river front,
had gene oil on short excursions By river and
rail TO welcome tho coming steamer, but
these we're not missed, and il they had stayed
it eeemed that there would not have been
room for them at any eligible point whora q
view Of tho boat might be obtained.
The Bismarck, I. l.. McGill, Glasgow, and
Hurry johnson, which were to mako e1cur-
Eions to meet tho racing steamers, received
huge loads of passengers.
To say that the 1eyco WAS lined, or crowded,
or jam1ned with people, would not express its
real condition. twas literally piled with the
muItitudes. The whole river front, miles in
extent, became aiso with gathering ma4s Of
arrival ii tie steomer. All sought the best
places until the elevated positions were
every one taken, and then they etrove in
the boiling, bubbllng current merely to get
sight Of clear patch OF river, welt satisfied
il they so far succeeded. The landing,
tops, balconies and windows wero all thronged
to their utmost capacity. aud many we're seen
ac1oss tho river taking their chances Of bet
ter sight on the other shore. Private car
riages, hicks, furniture cara, and baggage
wagons full OF passengers, mingled with those
on foot, and the general direction of these
GoatinE aight-seers Was towards the lower END
OF the loyee where it was likely the first view
could bo obtained Of the approaching racer.
The fret shout which announced tho near
approach Of the Lea came from tho louae-
tops. It is Justify echoed BY the larger audi.
ence in the pit Of the street nnd 10 passed
along from block to block till the exciting in.
eksnesH and anxiety on the front seats, and 4
general movement Of expectancy down the
leyce is instantaneous and Irresistible. ALI eyes
are strained to pierce the smoky haze which
dreamily girda the farthest water line,
through which tho champion Of tho Southern
waters will soon bursf In all hor glory.
| Tic suspense is not OF long duration. Great
volumes Of black smoke, which roll away tc
the east, sesuro tho gazers. that she is there
rapidly breasting the opposing current. Nov
came the chimneys, which, with tho expanding
smoke above them, look like the funnel OF i
whirlwind, and now dashes out from tht
lessening obscu1ity into full view tht
l
at the foot Of Walnut st1eot booms her 1
peaceful welcome. AZ she passes up the land
iug the shouts roll liko pillows before her
and the gun continues to greet her with it
louder thunder. She herself responds to tht
latter with report as she reaches Walnu
street, II o'clock and IS minutes, and paseel
| On up as far as there are any people to chez
her with their voices As she goes she draw
| the mu1titules after her. Tho vehicles Ani
| pedestrians, swayed by the magnetism OF vic
tory, daah along khe leyee with the vigor q
! triumphant charge in battle, and the driving
dust they raise and the quantity Of f3rework
and small arms they discharge completed th,
| picture.
1t had been arranged that the Lee SHOULD
land at the New Orleans wharf-boat and tn
space in front Of it was kept clear, but as tht
| Leo shot past it assembled thousands becam.
| pcrplexcd with doubt and dashed up3the leye'
IN q vain effort to keep pace with the chnmpio,
boat. There was in fact repetition OF tha
| wild ecamper seen 80 often On that merno1s
bio morning. All along from the Arseual
when the Lee had passed any point, tn
| tenso maAs Of spectators on foot and In al
kinds y. Of .a vehisles 4s,s 1nshed n mady A.
The clouds of dust in which they vera a1mos
hidden. and tile clatter Of horsea' hoofs, to
gether with tie confused noise Of Thousand
Of stentorian voices foretold their approach
and the excitement spread at every blocl
When it was found that the Lee, after steam
ing near to Cherry street, was swinging roun,
in the stream, a backward movement III
made, and the tl1rong headed for the wharf
boat The Lee tonched this at last, but be
fore she did 30 scores leaped On to her deckE
and, by the timo the staging Ind been pusha
from tho boat, eg1ess was praeti
cally impossible. The crowd boarde
her from the bow to tho wheelhouse, an
soon covered every part Of the decks. Th
police made an Intellectual attempt to proven
tho people from going up tho stairway to III
cabin, b1t gave it up. The. excitement Wa
tremendous, and it is a wonder that no on
was ttamp1ed upon. The boilers and engine
chiefly attracted attention, and they were neye
before subjected to such an inspection. Ever
part Of tho boat except the staterooms was il
vaded.
Everyone who had been employed on fl
boat, from the roustabouts to tho Captain
felt prona OF the achievement which had bee
attained. .--.-.
Cheers we're given for the boat and the Cal
tain, and all abandoned themselves to GO,
| eral rejoicing.