The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-10-19
GREAT STEAMBOAT RAcE.
More Thnn Milton said to Have Beer
Stakesl Upon the Result

More THAN Milton said to Have Been
Stakedl Upon the Result.
The greatest steamboat race that wag
ever run in the world was that whiea
occurred in June. 1870, from New Or
leans to st. Louis. between the Rohers
+. Lee and the Natchez. The latter was
built at Cincinnati. was commanded by
Captain T. 7. Leathers, and In june Of
the above year made the fastest time on
record from New Orleans to ST. Louis,
l.27s miles in three days, twenty-one
hours and tifty-eight minutes Tho
Robert +. Lee was builtat 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 matter that was deemed prudent In
those exciting times. She was COM
manded by Captain John w Cannon,
who died Mt Frankfort, KY, in 1882.
There was great rivalry between the
boats, and when the Natchez made her
great run Captain Cannon determined
TO beat it. He stripped the lee for the
race-removed all parts of her upper
works which were calculated to catch
the wind; removed all rigging and out
fit that could be dispensed with to
tighten her; engaged the steamer Frank
Pargoud TO preeede her a hundred
miles up the river TO supply coal; ar
ranged with coal yards TO have 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 to the deck Of the Lee, and
then to be cut loose and float back. He
refused all business of every kind, and
would receive no passengers The
Natchez returned to New Orleans and
received few hundred tons of freight
and "A few passengers, and was adver-
tised to leave for st. Louis on June SO
In the afternoon the Robert f. Lee
backed out from the levee, and five
minutes later the Natchez followed
her. The whole country watched the
race with breathless interest, as it had
been extensively advertised by the
press. and the telegraph attended its
progress along the river at every point.
At all the principal cities Natehez,
Nicksburg. Helena, and Memphis
people for many miles were present to
see the racers pass, and the time OF
passing was cabled to Europe. When
Cairo was reached the race was vir-
tually ended. but the Lee proceeded to
St. Louis. arriving thare In three days,
eighteen hours and fourteen minutes
from the time she left n W Orleans.
beating by thirty-three minutes the
previous record OF the Natchez The
latter steamer had run into a for and
grounded between Memphis and Cairo.
which delayed her more than six
hours. II is said that so. 200 people
crowded the wharf. the windows and
the housetops to welcome the Lee on
her arrival ut ST. Louis. Captain Can
non was rendered banquet by the
business men of the city, and was gem
orally ionized while he remained here.
1t was estimated that more than
81 900. 600 changed hands on the result
of the great race. Many OF the bets
were withdrawn, however, on the
ground that the Lee had been assisted
the first hundred miles Of the trip BY
the power of the Frank Pargoud added
to her own, and many steamboat men
have ever since regarded the Natchez
as the fastest boat of the two. but think
she was outgeneraled in the race by
the Lee. There was so much adverse
comment afterward by the press that
there has been no attempt since 70 re-
peat such a performance. st Iostis
Gl5Je- Democrat.