The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-17

ing but little delay. In view of this advan-
tage, many stu claim that. all things con-
sidered. the Whites time was the fastest
ever made. She made the run from New
Orleans to st. Louis in 1874 In three days
and twenty-three hours.
HISTORIC LINES AND RECORDS.
Early in the sos there were fine lines Of
steamers running on all the Western and
Southern rivers. besides numerous inde-
pendent boats. Between Pittsburg and Gin
cinnati there was daily line composed of
six gide-wheel boats. all noted for their
speed and excellent accommodations. The
distance between the two cities is 500 miles,
and the best time was made by the Pitts
burg. in one day and fifteen hours.
Between Louisville and Wheeling there
was also daily line Of passage steam
| ers, which connected with the Baltimore
q Ohio Railroad at the latter town. 1t
] the Pittsburg and Cincinnati packets just
mentioned, were later driven out by the
railroads, when, following the inevitable
turned their prows toward the setting sun
and ended their days in the new West.
Between Cincinnati and Louisville there
| was. daily line, and. of course, a record
| Loo miles, and the Telegraph No. covered
| 1T in nine hours and fifty-two minutes.
Between Louisville and st. Louis, a dis
lance of $50 miles. the Southern made the
run In 1855 in forty-three hours. In those
| days the commerce Of the upper tributaries
was enormous. 1t Is matter of public
| the year 1867, left st. Louis in one day for
points on the Missouri.
From st. Louis to st. Joseph the dis
made by the James H. Lucas in 1856, which
was two days. twelve hours and fifteen
In 1856 the Hawkeye made the run from
st. Louis to st. Paul in two days and
| twenty hours.
The race between the Eclipse and A. L.
Shotwell in 1853 from New Orleans to
Louisville attracted widespread attention at
the time. Their respective time was
Eclipse. four days, nine hours and thirty
hours and thirty minutes. The time made
by the Eclipse was the best ever made to
Louisville. averaging thirteen miles an
tbe S.ng fees IN enrb
| She was called after the famous race horse
Of that name, and Kentucky was justly
| proud of her. though for that matter the
Shotwell was also a Kentucky boat. OF
other famous boats that ran in the New
| Orleans and Louisville trade in ante-bellum
| times may be mentioned the Reindeer Bal
| tic and Diana, the latter two engaging in q
contest Of speed.
The Duke of Orleans was very famous
boat. of her day. She made the run in
April. 1S43, from New Orleans to Cincinnati
| in five days and twenty-three hours, which
has never been beaten.
PASSENGER AND ENGINEER.
One day in early times. so the story runs.
a boat was making her way up the Mis-
| sssippi, when she came in sight of an
| other steamer bound in the same direction.
| OF course, the discovery was the signal for
| trial of speed, and soon additional coils
| of smoke began pouring from the chimneys
| Of the two, showing they were both putting
| forth efforts to increase their steam. AS the
| distance between them grew less the in
| terest increased until finally an excited
| passenger rushed below and accosted the
| engineer.
she's pretty hot, amt she?''
$50. so," replied the engineer. as he hung
| an additional wrench on the safety-valve
| cord to prevent the steam from escaping
II reckon we'll overtake that craft soon,''
| pursued the passenger.
That's about 1t" returned the engineer
| giving the cords another twitch and hal
looing through the trumpet to the fremen
| to shove her up
lone hundred and ninety-f1ve," hummed
| the passenger, looking first at the gauge
and then the boilers.
That's about where she's rusticating,"
said the engineer.
through lis hair nervousiy, and walked
about the decks for few minutes, when
be came back to the engineer and said -,
Cant do it. must pass her."
But s,posin' we should blow up?'
over the guard to see how. fast he was
| gaining. 'if it's the will of Providence for
| this boat to blow up, we'll have to stand
It" Then he hallooed to the fireman to
of rosin with the coal. and give her a little
more turpentine and oil.
Cant you stop and let me OFF, said the
Couldn't think of it, was the reply.
| mot for money!" asked the passenger
| NC; not for all your worth; wouldn It
stop for the President of the United States
till after We've passed that boat"
Then the danser'll be all over, won't 1t 20
Yes, 1 guess so-for a while at least"
And you think we can pass her without
0's Mops e so.'.
Well" said the passenger, who by this
time had begun to take an interest in the
A few moments later he was enthusiasts
| tcally assisting the firemen to pass up the
pine knots, and after the race had been
engineer IL he didn't think they'd soon
overtake another craft, as he rather liked
| the excitement.
THE LEE AND NATCHEz RACE.
The greatest steamboat race ever run &C.
Cured in June. $780, between the Robert E.
Lee. Capt. John w. Cannon, and the
Natchez, Capt. Thomas F. Leathers With
her usual spirit Of banter, the Lee took the
lead and kept 1t to the end. increasing the
distance between herself and competitor
from start to finish. More than million
dollars changed hands on the result of the
race, though the knowing ones were aware
that, barring accident, the Natchez had no
show to win. She was a beautiful steamer
and very swift. but in this contest she was
overmatched 1t was like pitting middle
| weight against a heavyweight, for. while
| the water displacement of the two boats
/ was about the same, the Lee possessed Is
| FER cent. more power than her rival. Her
| cylinders were forty inches in diameter,
| with ten feet length Of stroke, while those
| of the Natchez were thirty-Tour inches in
| diameter with ten feet stroke.
| The Lees cylinders were the largest ever