The Cairo bulletin., 1905-07-11
CAVE STAG HORNS
W|NN|NGB
Prizes ID Steamboat Races on
the Mississippi
IN GOOD OLD LONG AGO
EARLY DAYS OF RIVER c1lvALRY
RECALLED BY ANTLERS-
WHAT BECOME or THOSE
or THE ROBERT t.
LEE.

What became OF the horns Of the
Ereat record-breaking steamboats, Isl
question often asked by old river
men who still have lingering an oc
casional thrill Of the chivalry nf the
former steamboat days, when the rec
ords never to be broken were made
Nv the floating palaces iii the Missls-
sippi river.
The boats themselves have all gone
and only their memory remains Even
this memory Is fading, and 1t III only
now and then that a river man Is
found who can recollect AL The inn
isnrtant Incidents which followed the
big stream when the steamer was king
~of traffic and transportation, says the
Memphis Commercial Appeal Que Of
the earliest emblems OF speed adopted
by the steamboat was the horns or
aatlrrs nf the stag and II was a fit
ting emblem for ten great steamers
rlying the waters of the Mississippi
for some of them In those days were
almost as swift as the animal from
whose head the trophy was taken.
One Of the most famous yet of ant.
lcrs was first worn by the Princess,
oue of the FIRST great steamers Of the
river. She hadhung up on her pilot
house horns destined TO be famous.
AT that time the Princess had the rec
ord from New Orleans to Natchez, and
wore the horns with great pride. fer
tho was queen of the Mississippi Bn
her reign was not long. The ]. NJ,
White, new and in perfect order
reached up one day and took down
the horns from the proud prov Of the
Princess.
River chivalry.
The White was perhaps the fastest
Steamboat III the world before on
since. Notwithstanding her record
was beaten, it was done by boats burn
ing coal. The j. M. White was one D
the old wood-burners, and had 1.
wood upg from the bank en- route
The White placed the horns on TIL
wharfboat at Natchez and between
the tips of the prongs was hung al
escutcbeon on which was recorded he
fine and the date Of her wonderft
feat. This was in the days before III
war. when river chiya!ry was at il
NJ highest. and men wouli spend fortune
building boats bigger and better tha
those owned BY rival But the Whit
an n ~.
cntcheon bearing record OF her Dc
llng long on the antlers al the wha
III Natchez, But doom awaited ne
After she had grown old, new and q
giant rivals, pampered BY the mo
modern machinery and nursed by Il
most advanced workmanship. began
eye with envious glance the pref
antlcrs which the ]. M. White b.
hung mp at Natchez-I nder-theiI
last the famous Natchez, beginning
feel her great Importance, and pract
ing for the great race OF her life. a
the greatest In the history Of stea
boating, before or since, reached
and took down the horns.
sihk ilti pHhNtu y INV 'HNufNltN
Nm IN the midst of The prickllng anile
bearing the date and history Of
feat of the Natchez, the best sno
steamboat In the country Her TIA
Was synonomous with steamb'
speed But In an evil hour she fell
the waysidc and the horns went to
great Robert L. Lee. her rival on
river.
Then Came the Lee.
John w Cannon was builder /
.stAvwner of lho Robert u, Ice. and
" ilscd TO aaze fondly al the anti
hanging bon the wharfboat at MAJ
rs. Dnt n IT, n. y. I.eathcrs, owner
Il tl3Ee SetJ !ks, smiled and shrugged