Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-05-08
A FAMOUS STEAMBOAT.
The Story of the Old Mississippi
Racer, the j. M. White.

Racer, the j. NJ. Whlte'
"Steamboat DAYS" on the Ohio and
Mississippi have given rise to mythol-
ogy entirely American, in which GER
tain famous names are repeated end
lesslv. One hears old river men re-
counting tales that seem to have to do
always with the Eclipse and the Shot
we'll the Lee and the Natchez or some
other pair of famous racers whlcn
were the fastest in their day. But
. there is one name which always stands
alone. that of the steam packet j. NJ.
White for many years the unrivaied
holder of records of river speed.
/ There was but one j. NJ. White, and
no other could be built The story IS
related by Archer b. Hubert in his
book on the Ohio river.
The ]. NJ. White was built at Eliza
beth, Pa, in 1874. Billy King, boat
man famous for many years, drew the
plans. He figured TO nicely the con-
four of the hull so that there should be
but two waves dragged by it when
under way. Then he so located the
side wheels that they should strike the
second wave at it's crest and so con-
vert this obstacle to speed into a ben
eft
Mr.. ]. NJ. Converse, who was to bulld
the boat, objected strenuously to this
plan for putting the wheels twenty
Aa1 r,ln
81 will make her this way or not at
ALL" said King. Converse appealed to
Mr.. Chouteau of st. Louis, who was
furnishing the money.
LET King do what he thinks best
was the owners answer SO the White
was built as planned, although river
men scOffed.
On It's first run it placed the designer
at the head of his profession. 1t ran
from New Orleans to ST. Louis against
the full current Of the Mississippi In
three days. twenty-three hours and
nine minutes, fully a day under the
best previous time.
River men in st. Louis fairly be-
sieged Billy King to design them
boat to beat the White. They offered
him unheard of sums To all his re
fusal was the same.
"When any man designs a boat tC
beat the time of the White, then VII
draft one to beat his"
The builders draft of the White was
lost. and until the boat was worn GU
and cast away no one thought to take
another from the hull. So after few
short years-for the life Of a river boa
Is brief-the only draft of 1t was tina
which the designer had kept and TIL
he refused to let any man see. He ha'
gone to st. Louis, and from there h
wrote home TO friend:
Bring my wife to st. Louis as sooi
as she can get ready. Go into tn
attic Of my house, and under the COM
Of the roof you will find model In
box. Bring that box with you. Do no
open it or allow any one to see II
Lock It in stateroom on the boat ant
leave 1t there till you reach st. Louis
will pay all expenses"
When they reached st. Louis his mrs
|, inquiry was for the model, and upo
securing it he took 1t at once to hl
house. He opened it In the presence G
J his wife and his friend and shove
them a beautiful model Of the Whit
in walnut and pine several feet loni
With a saw he cut it to pieces an
with a Ratchet reduced 1t to kindlln
. wood.
81 could have done that at home Jul
as well. Billy" said his friend, IAN
saved the expense"
Eyes, but should never have bee
satisfied" replied Kiug.
His fame rests secure on the achIey
e ment Of the ]. VI. White whose recoT
n was never equaled until the r. r. Ia
Il cut it to three days, eighteen hours an
q fourteen minutes twenty-six yea
J. later. He was wise enough not to II
G another and by destroying the Ia
g draft kept the actual plan of the boz
forever secret-Youth's COMPANION.