The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-11-17
A FAMOUS RACE.
The Contest Between the Matches
and Robert E. Lee
A Steamboat Race whIch Excited
Interest Throughout the Civil
lied WorId---The Time
CabIed to Europe


Cincinnati Enquirer
No steamboat race even excited so much
interest throughout the civilized world as
that which took place between tho Robert Z.
Lee and Natchez in June, 1870, from New
Orleans to st. Louis. On tho 9th Of that
month Capt. T. T. feathers telegraphed Capt.
Perry Tharp, Of this city, that tho Natchez
had arrived at st. Louis, having overcome
tho distance from New Orleans, I,27s miles in
three days, twenty-one hours and ffty-eight
minutes. From the time that she was built
at Cincinnati much rivalry in regard to speed
had boen exhibited between her and the Rob
ert f. Lee, which was built at New Albany
during the war and was towed across the
river TO the Kentucky side to have her name
painted on her wheel-houses, a measure of
safety that was deemed prudent at that eK-
citing time. Both boats had their friends and
admirers, as did the captains of both. Capt.
John W. Cannon, who died at Frank
fort, KY, about a year ago, commanded the
Lee, and Capt. Thomas r.. feathers, owner
of the present Nntchez and her half-dozen or
more predecessors OF tho same name, com
manded the Nntchez of that time. Both
were experienced steamboatmen, but, rs the
sequel proved, Capt Cannon was the better
strategist. While both boats had their
friends, the name OF the Robert L. Lee was
most honored and most popular along the
Mississippi river.
Before tho return OF the Natchez 10 New
Orleans Capt. Cannon had determined that
the Loe should beat the record OF her rival,
the fnstest that had ever been made over the
course. He stripped tho Lee for the race; re-
moved all parts of her upper works that were
calculated 70 catch the wind, removed all rig
Ring and outfit that could be dispensed with,
to tighten her, a. the river was low In some
places; engaged the steamer Frank Pargoud
TO precede her a hundred miles up the river
TO supply coal; arranged with coal yards to
nave fuel flats awaiting her In the middle Of
the river at given points, to be taken In tow
under way until the coal could be transferred
10 the deck of the Lee, and then to he cut
loose and float back. He refused all business
of every kind, and would receive no passen-
gers.
The Natchez returned to New Orleans and
received n few hundred tons Of freight and
also n few passengers, and was advertised to
leave again for st. Louis June 30th. At
o'clock in tho afternoon the Robert f. Lee
backed out from the levee, and five minutes
later the Natchez followed her, but without
such elaborate preparation for a race AS had
boon made on the Lee, Capt. feathers feeling
confident that he could pass the latter within
the first ono huudned miles.
A steamer had preceded the racing boats
up the river many miles to witness all hat
could be seen of the great race that WAS to
be. The telegraph informed the people along
both banks of the river and the world at
large of the coming great struggle for SUI
premacy in point of speed, and the
world looked or with as much interest
as it would had it been an event
local to every part Of 1t. Wherever
there was a human habitation the people col
lected on the banks of the mighty river to OBJ
serve tho passage of the two steamers. The
Lee gained slightly every hundred miles as
the race progressed, which gain at Natchez,
500 miles from the starting point, amounted
to ten minutes, attributable more to landings
that had been made By the Natchez for fuel
than anything else. The people of the whole
city of Natchez viewed the race. At the
bend at Vicksburg, although the two steam
eIs were ten miles apart by the course of the
river, the smoke of each was plainly discern
iblc from the other. Thousands of people
were congregated on the bluffs. AT Helena and
other points it seemed hat tho population for
miles back from the river had turned out to
witness the greatest race Of this or any other
age.
At Memphis 10000 people looked at tho
passing steamers, neither of which landed,
the Natchez by this time having adopted the
Lees method OF receiving fuel. At every
point where there was n telegraph Instru-
ment the hour and the minute OF the passing
steamers were licked TO all points of America
that could be reached, and newspapers
throughout the country displayed bulletins
d~enoting the progress of the boats.
The time of passing Memphis, V~icksburg,
and Cairo was CALLED TO Europe. When
Cairo was reached the race was virtually
ended. but the Lee proceeded u st. Louis, ar
irving there In three days, eighteen hours and
fourteen minutes from the time she left New
Orleans, beating by thirty-three minutes the
previous time of the Natchcz. The latter
steamer had grounded and run into u fog be-
tween Memphis and Cairo, which delayed her
mory than six hours.
When the Lee arrived at st. Louis sc, 900
people cTuwicd the wharf, the windows and
the hortsetops to receive her. No similar
event had ever created 80 much excitement
Capt. Cannon was rendered n banquet by the
business mon OF the city, and was generally
lionized while he remained there. II was
estimated that more than 81 600, 900 had been
wagered on the race by the friends of the two
steamers. Many of the bets were drawn on
the ground that the Lee had been assisted the
first 100 miles by the power of the Frank
Pargoud added 20 her own; and men OF the
coolest Judgment have ever since regarded
the Natchez as the faster boat, but outgen-
Grated by the commander of the other.
Neither the present r. E. Lee nor the pres
emit Natchez is the same Lee and Natchez as
engaged in the race, and neither is as rapid a
traveller as her predecessor, although both are
fast steamboats,.
Newspapers throughout the civilized world
condemned the Lee-Natchez race. One east
ern paper, noting the arrival OF the Lee at
Cairo, said that she had accomplished the dis
lance without an explosion, and presumed
she would be able to reach St Louis in safety.