The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1888-09-08
THE GREATEST STEAMBOAT RACE.
More Than Million Dollars Said to Have
Been Staked Upon the Result.

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 E. Lee and the Ndtchez.
The latter was built at Cincinnati.
was commanded by Captain L. 2.
Leathers, and in June of the above
wear made the fastest time on record
from New Orleans to st. Louis, l,27S
miles in three days, twenty-one hours
and fifty-eight minutes. The R06eTt
4. Lee was built at New Albany dur
ing 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 Captain John W..
Cannon, who died at Frankfort, ny,
in 1882.
There was great rivalry between
the boats, and when the Ndtche2
| 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 we're
calculated to catch the wind; re-
moved all rigging and outfit that
could be dispensed with to tighten
her: engaged the steamer FrdnG Par
qoatd to precede her hundred miles
up the river to supply::coal; arranged
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 nc
passengers. The Ndtchez returned
to New Orleans and received q few
hundred tons of freight and few
passengers, and was advertised tt
leave for st. Louis June 30th.
In the afternoon the Robert Il
Lee backed out from the levee, an(
five minutes later the Ndtchez fol
lowed her. The whole countr,
watched the race with breathless in
terest, as it had been extensively ad
vertised by the press, and the tele
graph attended its progress along tn
river at every point. At all the prin
cipal cities-Natchez, Vicksbure
/ Helena and Memphis people from
3 many miles were present to see tn
racers pass, and the time of passing
was cabIed to Europe. When Cair
was reached the race was virtual.
ended, but the Lee proceeded to 81
=; Louis, arriving there in three day
\ eighteen hours and fourteen minute
\ from the time she left New Orleans
i beating by thirty three minutes til
D previous record of the Natchez. Tn
0 latter steamer had run into fog ant
D grounded between Memphis an,
' Cairo, which delayed her more tha
y y six hours. 1t is said that 10000 pee
n pie crowded the wharf, the window
D and the housetops to welcome til
= Lee on her arrival at st. Ions. Car
tain Cannon was rendered banque
by the business men OF the city, an
0 was generally lionized while he re
0 mained here.
0 1t is estimated that more tina
Q $1,000,000 changed hands on the re
suit of the great race. Many OF tn
n bets were Withdrawn, however, on th
ground that the Lee had been ar
sisted the first hundred miles of tn
. trip by the power of the Frank Pa
dgOuTd added to her own, and man
a steamboat men have ever since rt
garded the NGtchez as the faster boa
q of the two, but think she was out
generated in the race by the Lee
, There was so much adverse commen
! afterward by the press that there ha
\ been no attempt since to repeat suc
performance.-St. Louis Gtobt
t Democrat.