The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-08-25
THE GREATEST STEAMBOAT RACE.
Moro Than a Million Dollars Said to
Have Been Staked Upon the Result.
Ist. Louis Globe-Democrat.]

| [St. Louis Globe-Democrat.]
| The greatest steamboat race that was
ever run in the world was that which
occurred in June, 1870, from New Or
leans to ST. Louis, between the Robert
| E. Lee and Natchez. The latter was
! built in Cincinnati, was commanded
by Capt. T. p. Leathers, and in June
of the above year made the fastest time
on record from New Orleans to st.
Louis, 1878 miles in three days. twen-
ty-one hours and fftyoeight minutes.
The Robert E. Lee was built at New
Albany during the war aud was towed
across the river to the kentucky side to
have her name painted on her wheel
house, matter that was deemed pru-
dent in those exciting times. She was
commanded by Capt. Johu w. Cannon,
who died at Frankfort, KY, in 1882.
There was great rivalry between the
boats, and when the Natchez made her
great run Capt. Cannon determined to
beat it. He stripped the Lee for the race
removed all parts other upper works
which were calculated to catch the
wind removed all rigging and outfit
that could be dispensed with to light
en- Der, engaged the steamer Frank Par
goud to precede her hundred miles up
the river TO supply coal; arranged with
coal yards 10 have fuel flats awaiting
her In the middle of the river st given
points, to be taken in tow under way
until the coal could be transferred 10
the deck of the Lee, and then 10 be cut
loose and float back. He refused all
business of every kind, and would re.
ceive no passengers. The Natchez re-
turned to New Orleans and received
few hundred tons of freight aud few
passengers, and was advertised to leave
for St. Louis on June 80.
In the afternoon the Robert E. Lee
backed out from the levec, and five
minutes later the Natchez followed her.
The whole country watcheGl The rs;:e
with breathless interest, as it had been
extensively advertised ~ the press, and
the telegraph attended, its progress along
the river at every 9ooint. At all the
principal c!'lesS10iMSsa tchez, Vicksburg
THeIena and Memphis-people from
many miles were present to see the ra.
lcers pass, and the time Of passing was
cabled to Europe. When Cairo was
reached the race was virtually ended
but the Lee proceeded TO st. Louis, ar.
irving there three days, eighteen hours
and fourteen minutes from the Tins
she left New Orleans, beating by three
minutes the previous record of the
Natchez. The latter steamer had run
into fog and grounded between Mem
phis and Cairo, which delayed her more
than six hours. 1t is said that 10000
people crowded the wharf, the windows
and the housetops to welcome the Lee
on her arrival in S.. Louis. Capt. Can
} non was rendered banquet by the
business men of the city, and was gen.
orally lionized while he remained here
1t was estimated that more than 81, >.
DOC, 900 changed hands on the result OIL
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 10 her own,
and many steamboat men have ever
since regarded the Natchez as the
faster boat CT the two, but think she
was outgeneraled in the race by the
Lee. There was SO much adverse COM
ment afterward by the press that there
has been no attempt since TO repeat
such a performance.