The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-02-15

draw my name from the passenger list.
NV friends TAINTED me until | backed
down and went aboard. Ten minutes
after the boats slipped away at New
Orleans / was shouting directions TO
the captain. In the entire run to st.
Louis | slept but ten hours"
When day broke on the morning OF
July ! the boats were close to the
mouth Of the Red river, the Lee about
ten minutes in the lead and in plain
view of those on board the Natchez. All
night passengers and crews on both yes
sells bad watched in suppressed excite
mcnt the black piles Of smoke and the
flaming masses of sparks that broke out
from time TO time against an inky back
ground. Gratuitous advice was snow
cred upon each of the commanders,
but both captains, feathers and can
non, kept their own counsel in gooc-
uatured way. At the city OF Natchez
the namesake boat put off ten or twelve
passengers, but she accomplished the
task so speedily that it seemed that she
scarcely touched the wharf. Then she
was in the stream again, hard upon the
wake Of the racing Lee. At Nlcksburg
the Natchez was II minutes behind.
The boats dropped about 20 passengers
here, losing no time either in landing or
casting off II was at Nicksburg That
the Lee managed 20 squirt out of the
view of the other boat, and there is a
general contention that she was never
seen again from the Natchez' decks. At
Memphis the entire population, with
heavy additions from the surrounding
country, saw the two boats. Each YES
sci stopped about II minutes, transact
ing a large amount Of business. Capt.
Cannon had secured much good fuel
and was elatcd over the prospect, not
only Of beating the Natchcz, but Of re-
ducing the rival boats time, then the
record between st. Louis and New Or
leans.
Both captains had sent kilograms TO
Cairo, at the mouth Of the Ohio, for
choice coal on barges. Capt. Cannon S
orGer was received first, and in conse-
aucnce he had his choice of lighters.
When Cairo was reached the Lees cap
tain naturally chose the coal vessels
living farther out in the stream. He
made fast at once, and the entire crew,
with song and laughter set to work
transferring the fuel 10 the steamer.
In n short time the task was accom-
plished and the lighters were cut loose.
The Natchcz lost little time coaling,
for she was obliged to go in closer to
shore for her barges. Each vessel
sprang forward like a living thing
when the wcighty coal carriers were cut
away, and with plenty Of excellent fuel
set out on the last end Of the race. All
dCvn-bound vessels stopped their en-
gincs, dipped flags and drifted while
the racers sped north. At every land
ing the entire population was out for
glimpse at them, and there was no point
at which the boats were not salutcd
most generously by cheers and fire
arms. II was stated at the time that
900, 900 persons saw the race at some
part Of it, The number seems low
81 innate, considering the great crowds
nj New Orleans and ST. Louis. Every
authority at the time agreed that no
less than $LOOO,OOO was wagcrcd on the
result.
The Lees first difficulty was encoun-
tered near Cape Girardeau. At that
time the whereabouts Of the Natchc2
was not known. Thc sky was covered
with a furrhoIiu,r haze. Distant OBJ