Democratic messenger., 1888-09-15
THE GREATEST STEAMBOAT
RACE.

HACG.
The greatest steamboat
race that was ever run in the
world was that which occur
red in June 1870. from New
Orleans to St. Louis, between
the Robert E. Lee and the
Nantchez. The latter was
built at Cincinnati, was com
manded by Capt. I. p. Leath-
ers, and in June Of the above
year made the fastest time on
record from New Orleans to
St. Louis. 1878 miles in ;
days 81 hours and 5S minutes.
The Robert Z. Lee was built
at New Albany during the
war and was towcd across the
river to the Kentucky side to
have her name painted on her
wheel houses, a matter that
was deemed prudent in those
exciting times. She was com,
mandcd by Capt. John w.
Cannon, who died at Frank.
fort, KY, in 1882.
There was great rivalry be-
tween the boats, and when
the Natchez made her great
run Capt. Cannon determined
to beat it. He stripped the
Lee for the racc--rcmowed
all parts of her upper works
which were calculated to catch
the wind removed all rigging
and outfit that could be dis
penscd with to tighten her
engaged the steamer Frank
Pargoud to procedc her a hun
drcd miles up the river to sup
ply coal arranged with coal
yards to have fuel fits await
ing her in the middle of the
river at given points, to be
taken in tow under way until
the coal could be transferred
to the deck of the Lee. and
then to be cut loose and float
back. He refused all busi-
ness OF every kind, and would
receive no passengers. The
Natchez returned to New Or
leans and received a few hun
drcd tons of freight and a few
passengers, and was advcrtis.
ed to leave St. Louis on une
so.
In the afternoon the Robcr,
Z. Lee backed out from the
levee, and five minutes later
the Natbhez followed her. The
whole country watched the
race with brcathless interest,
as it had been extensively ad,
vertiscd by the press, and the
telegraph afforded its progress
along the river at every point.
AT all the principal cities
Natchcz, Vicksburg, Helena,
and Memphis-peoplc from
miles were present to see the
racers pass. and the time OF
passing the cables to Europe.
When Cairo MAS reached the
race was virtually ended, but
the Lee proceeded to St. Lou.
is, arriving there in three days
and eighteen hoursand four.
teen minutes from the time
she left New Orleans, beating
by thirty three minutes the
previous record of the Match
ez. The latter steamer had
run into a fog and grounded
between Memphis and Cairo
which delayed her more than
six hours. 1t is said that 3o.,
900 people crowded the wharf
the windows and the house
tops to welcome the Lee or
her arrival at st. Louis. Capt
Cannon was rendered a ban
quet by the business men o.
the city, and was generally
lionized while he remained
here.
1t was estimated that more
than 81 100000 changed hands
on the result of the great race
Many of the bets were with
drawn, however, on the ground
that the Lee had been assist
ed the first hundred miles ot
the trip by the power of the
Frank Pargoud added to hcr
own, and many steamboat men
have ever since regarded the
Natchcz as the fastest boat oi
the two, but think he was out
generated in the race by the
Lee. There was so much adj
verse comment afterward by
the press that there has been
no attempt since to repeat such
a performance.