Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-08-24
THE GREATEST STEAMBOAT
RACE.
MORE THAN A MILLION DoLLARs
SAID TO HAVE BEEN sTAKED UP
ON THE RESULT.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The greatest steamboat race that
was ever run in the world was that
which occurred in June, 1870, from
New Orleans to st. Louis, between
the Robert Il. Lee and the Natchez.
The latter was built at Cincinnati,
was commanded by Capt. T. p.
Leathers, and in June of the above
year made the fastest time on rec
ord from New Orleans TO st. Louis,
1878 miles in 3 days 81 hours and
50 minutes. The Robert Il. Lee
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 matter that was deemed
prudent IN those exciting times.
She was commanded by Capt. John
o. 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-rem0ved all
parts of her upper works which
we're calculated to catch the wind
removed all rigging and outfit that
could be dispensed with to tighten
her; engaged the steamer Frank
Pargoud to procede her a hundred
miles up the river to supply coal
arranged with coal yards to have
fuel fats awaiting her in the mid
die of the river given points, to be
town 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 re-
turned to New Orleans and received
a few hundred tons of freight and
a few passengers, and was adver
tised to leave for st. Louis on June
30th.
In the afternoon the Robert Il
Lee backed out from the levee, and
five minutes later the Natchez fol
lowed her. The whole country
watched the race with breathlesl
interest, as 1t had been extensivel.
advertised by the press, and th'
telegraph attended its progress
along the river at every point. A
all the principal citles-Natchez
Vicksburg, Helena, and Memphis
people from many miles were pres
ent to see the racers pass, and the
time of passing was cabled {
Europe. When Cairo was reached
the race was virtually ended, bu
the Lee proceeded TO st. Louis, ar
irving there In three days elghteoT
hours and fourteen minutes from
the time she left New Orleans, beat
ing by thirty-three minutes the
previous record of the Matches
The latter steamer had run into
fog and grounded between Mem
phls and Cairo, which delayed he
more than six hours. 1t is sal
that 10000 people crowded the
wharf, the windows, and the house
tops to welcome the Lee on her al
rival at st. Louis. Capt. Canno
was rendered a banquet by th'
business men of the city, and wa
generally lionlzed while he remain
cd here.
1t was estimated that more thai
81, 1,OOO,OOO changed hands on tn
result OF the great race. Many
the bets we're withdrawn, howeve
| on the ground that the Lee ha
been assisted the first hundre
miles of the trip by the power {
the Frank Pargoud added to he
, own, and many steamboat m o
haye ever since regarded the Ma
4 chez as the fastest boat OF the two
bat think she was outgeneraled |
the race by the Lee. There was 8
much adverse comment afterwar
/ by the press that there has bee
/ no attempt since to repeat such
performance.