The Cairo bulletin., 1905-05-16


Robert Z. Lee beat all records on me
river ezcent one from Helena 20 Menu /
mis-. This was made by the FIRST KATE !
Adams. and was never contested for
by tbe Robert Z. Lee. Such boats as
the hrst Robert Z. Lee are those hat
coined the phrase. floating palace.
often used IN This day in speaking OF /
elegantly furnished steamers.
After a few years the fame OF the
Robert E. lee waned ana she was
taken from the PASSENGER service and
converted into a ferry boate.
May Build Another.
rsrt. Csanon has n mind thesbuild
Of another Robert E. Lee The sue
cessor of me elegant and speedy craft
was to be greater and swifter. But
after gathering together me best nta-
ter.al and shipbu ldors in the country,
and exercising every care, the second
Robert z. Lee was not better than
tbe irst. In fact her speed was never
tos-e ca. which Is an indication thai her
owner was sure she would fail 10 lower
TIE record Of the first Robert f. Lee.
Taig boat had t9inch cylinder and
la t0foa. stroke Of the piston. bur il
vas net accrecd Tat any boat should
ale The hurus from the first Robert
E. Lee. and ever after that confus on
brought 70 n0ught lie plans OF steam
boar builders. This boat one of the
most gorgeously appointed GRATIS on
the river. was finally burned. Then
Capt. Cannon with CAR Tobin. i'uiit
! the ]. M. White. which was yeritahle
Ilevlathan. having stored on hee In
most powerful aigh pressure engine
ever known to The river n that tine.
/ she had 42inch cylinder and u
/ foot stroke of the p ston SIZE was in
TENDED to have more speed than any
of the former great steamboats, On the
river. hut wth all their experience
some defece so small as 10 be over
Looked. and which could never be rem
eaied, prevented her from Gliag the
dream Of her owners.
Could Not Beat the old Record.
cant. Cannon tried vet again, but
/ his attempts to beat TIC frs Roller
e. Ice were deemed 20 failure he
jncxt built the John 81 Cannon nam.
Ting it for himself She was perhaps
he most magnificent boat ever apon
th1 river. bur she could never even t-z
fer the record of the FIRST Robert e
\ Ice She was q marvel Of speed on
the starr, but by the time she got full
.raar way She began To squat and
Dull the whole rvar after her shs
! ss ID quick 10 Get in mot On ant
l59pped Sd quickly fat She vas nick
nanled The shotguu.7 This boat wa
itho first 10 te equipped with the PM
lrau berth
TEi5 ended tho eTo.t 10 equal th'
speed of the Robert =. Lee, and thu
lied tie interest in that feature o
} river navigation Siaca that time NOR
eaten has seen pa 4 70 ges n
BUSINESS, ana less 10 river caiYalry
The Last of The Lees.
Following ehe popular idea and .
tc same time gratifying persona
fancy, Capt James Lee. VINO aad b.
come one Of the greatest steamb9a
men Of the Mississippi river, built h
hi4d R08ert y Lee. end named la
h8 zan sha was Din Ii IN lcfle aoI
Vile Ind. shipyaras in 1901 She VITA
certainly a majestic craft and worth
H. ave,-.- ,s-aw ~ er4aeaad in rho tfmt
honored name. SIZE was one of th
B Largest among her con cmpora1ia
Il ana was cne Of the most popalsr Ne
X sels On the river she han a tonnls
u of G37. and was 22s feet in lengta /
e- So feet in width Since her sinkir
n The name OF Robert z. Lee has on
TX one representative n he steamho
rt world There IS a 5G-ton Robert
III Ice al tho port Of Norfolk, VA
n Those who love the river Of o
m days, and have q lingering seutimei
ne favored with the los cause, are nc
rg ing that Capt Robert z Lee Will so
tu bring back q vision Of Old times
re building a successor TO the sunk
it craft and by calling il Robert
~ Lee