The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-22
STEAMBOAT RAGE
ON, MISSISSIPPI
Mark Twains Description OF
.Old Time Pleasure.
NATCHZET AND THE LEE
Were Matched One Time and
EVERYBODY Watched Race.
NATCHZET AND THE LEE

The following description of steam
boat racing days is from Mark Twain's
Life on the Mississippi" In the flush
of times of steamboating a race between
two VIGOROUSLY feet steamers was an
event of vast Importance. The date for
it was set several weeks in advance, and
from that time forward the whole AIissis-
sippi Valley was in state of consuming
excitement.
Politics and the weather were dropped,
and people talked only of the coming race.
AS the time approached, the steamers
stripped and got ready. Every incum-
brance that added weight or exposed a re-
sisting Surface to wind or water was re-
moved, If the boat could possibly do with
out it
The spars and sometimes even thir sup
porting derricks were sent ashore, and no
means left to set the boat afioat in case
she got aground.
If the boat was known to make her
best speed when drawing five and half
feet forward and five feet aft. she loaded
to that exact figure-she wouldn't enter
a dose of homeopathic pills on her mani
fest after that.
Hardly any passengers were taken, be-
cause they not only added weight, but
they never will trim" boat. They al
ways run to the side when there is any
thing to see, whereas a conscientious and
experienced steamboat man would stick
to the centre of the boat, and part his
hair in the middle with spirit level
No way freight and no way passengers
were allowed for the racers would only
stop at the largest towns and then it
would be only to touch and 60" Coal
fats and wood flats were contracted for
Beforehand and these were kept ready
TO hitch on to the flying steamers at
moments warning. Double crews were
carried, so that all work could be quickly
done.
The chosen date being come and all
things in readiness, the two great steam
ers back into the stream and lie there,
3ockeying moment, apparently watching
each others slightest movements, like
sentiment creatures; flags dropping the
pent steam shrieking through safety val
yes, the black smoke rolling and tumbling
from the chimneys and darkening all the
air.
People. people everywhere; the shores,
the housetops. the steamboats,, the ships
are packed with them, and you know that
the borders of the broad Mississippi are
going to be fringed with humanity thence
northward twelve hundred miles to well
come these racers.
Presently tall columns of steam burst
from the 'scape-pipes of both steamers.
two guns boom a goodbye, two red-shirt-
ed heroes. mounted on the capstans, fore
castles. two plaintive solos finger on the
air few waiting seconds, two mighty
chorouses burst fcrth-and here they
come.
Brass bands bray Hail Columbia"
huzza after huzza thunders from the
shores, and the stately creatures go
whistling by like the wind.
Two nicely matched steamers will stay
in sight OF each other day after day. They
might even stay side by side but for the
fact that the pilots are not ali alike. and
the smartest pilots viii win the race.
If one Of the boats has a lightning"
pilot whose partner" is a trifle his in
ferior you can tell which one is on watch
by noting whether that boat has gained
ground or lost some during each four
hour stretch.
The most celebrated race between
steamboats, on the Mississippi was that
between the Robert f. Lee and the Nat
chez.
These two boats had long been rivals
Capt. feathers, of the Natchez. thought
that his boat was the fastest and bast
on tbs river, and Capt. Cannon. of the
Lee. was willing to risk mis- life on the
O-i. Of
rumored at New Orleans for several DAYS
prior TO the last OF June, 1870 that the
Lee and the Natchez would race on the
next trip. which was to begin on the last
day of the month.
Capt. feathers had a big passenger list.
but the Lee which was preparing to go
to the marine ways at Jeffersonville Ind.
for an overhauling, was running light"
About June . Capt feathers posted
notice. in which he said that his boat
would not race. as predicted by a rumor,
and that passengers and freight traffic
would receive the best of attention How
ever, another steamboat company. being
satisfied that there would be a contest Of
speed, started excursion parties north
from New Orleans in order that interested
people might be in a good position to see
the boats pass when the race was well
under way.
On the afternoon OF June so the boats
slipped their moorings at the levee Of
the Crescent City. The Lee was slightly
ahead, but both seemed 10 be running
easily and evenly. Before long the word
was passed that Capt. Cannon had on
board several of the most experienced
commanders on the Western rivers and
that be had made every preparation for
the race Capt feathers. on the other
hand. was in sole command of his boat.
and. In accordance with his promise. he
had large list of passengers.
The night was passed without undue
excitement The Nstchez was known TO
have lost several minutes before Ration
Rouge was reached. but the change WIS
% slight that it was not noticed At Ra
you Sara, however. the Natchez. had ha-
gun TO pick up a bit. and it was then
seen that the race was on in earnest.
Neither Capt. Cannon nor Capt. feathers
went 10 bed that night Indeed. II IS
doubtful IL there was a sleeper on either
boat.
People nowadays cannot appreciate the
interest that was felt in the river towns
on such contests Of the speed as this one
and when the interested ones were on
the very boats that were racing II may
be readily imagined that sleep would be
out OF the question as long as human
endurance withstood the strain.
Both boats plunged nadly through the
fair Southern night. leaving great trsils
Of black smoke that settled on the river