The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-12

1 crowded. or damned with people would not
express it's real condition. It was literally
piled with the multitudes. The whole river
front, miles in extent. became alive with 4
gathering mass of humanity hours before
any one expected the arrival of the steamer.
All sought the best places until the ele-
waited positions were every one taken, and
then they strove in the boiling. bubbling
current merely to get sight OF a clear patch
OF river, well satisfied II they 50 far sue
ceeded. The landing. steamboats,. wharf
boats, ferryboatS, housetops. balconies and
windows were all thrOnged TO their utmost
capacity. and many wee seen across the
river taking their chances of a better sight
on the other shore.
Private carriages, hacks. furniture cars
and baggage wagons full Of passengers min
gled with those on foot, and the general
direction Of these floating sight-seers was
toward the lower end OF the Levee. where
it was likely the first view could be obtained
of the approaching racer.
1t was q steamboat fair, and the entrance
being free, the day a holiday, and the peO-
pie Of st. Louis connoisseurs of river craft,
the occasion and the attendance can be
better imagined than described.
The spirit of the scent was hearty, en-
thusiastic and intensely human IN Ill its
aspects. Our citizens had no interest of
ownership in either boat. and they simply
turned out to give the winner Of the race
an ovation under that impulse which great
excellence, or ENnlDlIlOn OF skill, LON eT CT
pluck always implies.
The first shout. announcing the near
approach of the Lee. comes from the
housetops. 1t is Justify echoed by the large
audience in the pit OF the street, and SO
passed along from block to block TIL the
exciting intelligence was communicated TO
all. There is restlessness and anxiety Tn
the front seats. and a general movement
OF expectancy down the levee is instantan-
eous and irresistible.
All eyes are strained to pierce the smoky
haze which dreamily girds the furthest
the Southern waters will socn burst IN all
her glory.
CANNON BOOMS
A NOISY WELCOME.
The suspense is not OF long duration.
Great volumes OF black smoke which roll
away to the east assure tie gazers that
she is there. rapidly breasting the opposing
current. Now come the chimneys. which,
with the expanding smoke above them.
look like the funnel Of a whirlwind, and
now dashes out from the lessening bscurIty
into full view Of the steamboat Robert E,
Lee.
The cannon stationed at the foot OF Wal
nut street booms her noisy welcome. As
she passes up the landing the shouts roll
like pillows before her. and the gun con-
tinues to greet her with its splendor. She
herself responds to the latter with a re-
POit as SAe ISdCHts walnut street, at u.ZO.
and passes on III as far as there are any
people to cheer her with their voices.
As she goes she draws the multitudes
after her. The vehicles and pedestrians.
swayed by the magnetism of victory. dash
along the Levee with the vigor of a trI-
umphant charge and battle. and the driving
dust they raise and the quantity of fire.
works and small arms they discharge COM
plete the picture.
II had been arranged that the Lee should
land at the New Orleans wharfboat. and
the space in front of It was kept clear, but
as the Lee shot past its assembled thou
sands became perplexed with doubt and
dashed up the Levee in a vain effort to
keep pace with the champion boat.
There was. in fact, a repetition of that
wild scamper seen so often on this memo
raole morning. All along from the Ar
senal, when the mass OF spectators on foot
and in all kinds of vehicles rushed madlv
after the Lee, as If pursued by demons.
The clouds Of dust in which thew vera
almost hidden and the clatter of the horses.
hoofs. together with the confused noise OF
thousands of voices, foretold their approscb
and the excitement spread at every block
when II was found that the Lee. after
steaming near to Cherry street, was swing |
ing round instream; a movement
was made. and the throng headed for the !
wharfboat-
The Lee touched at last, but before she
did so scores leaped oEto her decks. and
by the time the staging had been pushed
from the boat. egress was made !
practically impossible. The crowd board
- her. ard sonn c0Eered every part of the
deck. The police made an ineffectual at
tempt 10 prevent the people from going up