The Red Cloud chief., 1888-09-14
GREAT RAcs.
Moro Than q Million said to Have lees
Seaked Upon the Result.

moro In1n q N11iiiOn said to Have UH9O
Staked Upon the Result.
The greatest steamboat raee that was
yer run in the world was that which
occurred in June. 1870. from New Or
leans to 81. Louis, between the Robert
E. Lee and the Natchez. The latter was
built at Cincinnati. was commanded by
Captain I. p. feathers. and in June Ut
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 ffty-eight minutes. The
Robert Z. Lee was built at New Albany
during the war and was towed across
the river to the Kentucky side Il 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 at Frankfort. Ky. in 1889.
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 precede her a hundred
miles up the river 10 supply coal: ar
ranged with coal yards to have fuel
fats awaiting her in the middle of the
river at given points, to be taken in
tow under way until the coal could De
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 a few hundred IONS of freight
and a few Passengers. and was adver-
ti>ed TO leave for St. Louis on June 80.
In the afternoon the Robert E. 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 ever point.
At all the principal cities-Natchez,
Eicksburg. Helena. and Memphis
people for many miles were present to
see the racers pass. and the tine OF
passing vas cabled 20 Europe. When
was reached the race was viz
ended. but the Lee proceeded to
s.. Louis. arriving there in three days.
eighteen hours and fourteen minutes
from the time she left New Orleans.
beating by thirty-three minutes the
previous record of the Natchez. The
steamer had run into Il fog and
grounded between Memphis and Cairo,
delayed her more than six
hours. 1t is said that $1,000 people
crowded the wharf. the windows and
the housetOps to welcome the Lee on
her arrival at 81. Louis. Captain Cam
was rendered a banquet by the
business men OF the city. and was .en-
lionized while he remained here.
II was estimated that more than
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 ou;-eneraled in the race by
the Lea. There was so much adverse
afterward by the press that
there has been no attempt since to re-
peat such a performance. st. Louis
Globe Democrat.