The Washington herald., 1909-06-27
STEAMBOAT RACING
ON THE MISSISSIPPI
An Exciting Contest Which
Ended the Sport, Owing
to Publicity 1t Received.
By J. L. RODIER.

most exciting episode in a somewhat stir.
ring life. viii tell Of trip between New
Orleans, La, and St. Louis, Mo. in tho
good, but not quite good enough, shir
Natchez. in 1870. In the never-to-be-for-
gotten race with the Robert E. Lee" said
the Kentuckian. whose voice was wont "a
stir his adopted State and the halls OF
Congress before he, 20 quote his ovs
quaint saying. Palmer and Bucknered''
himself into private life Not that the
old-tirners were sorry his feet had been
set upon another and broader path. for
OhiO's loss had been Washington's gain
and also the Kentucklan' 's-but the an
mails OF the Cozy Corner were enriched by
his contributions, one OF which he was
prefacing.
Not a great many men OF to-day re-
member the conditions obtaining on the
Mississippi In ante-bellum and post-bel-
lum days. II was a day Of the individual.
Editors were persons known of all men:
steamboats, had an entity OF which great
groups OF peopse were proud. and over
which they cOntended, wagered. and
fought; while steamboat captains within
The immediate sphere Of their influence
were supreme. There might have been
some traces Of this spirit in other sec
lions Of the country, but It was the rule
rather than the exception at the waist OF
the country, as we then fondly termed
the Valley OK the Mississippi
The war had left the people centen-
tious as well as poor Talk about this
latter-day cult of riches being disrepu-
table, Just after we had transferred
matters Of sectional dispute from the
field 70 the forum the possession Of mon
ey in the South was very close to being
an indictable offense, there were so
many illegitimate ways Of acquiring II
and so few legitimate ones.
The rivalry Of the Mississippi az the
period is now a matter OF general IN
formation. but those Of this generation
cannot understand its intensity, particu-
larly in the matter Of river traffic. Old
Capt Graham, OF the steamer J. W
White. in 1874. the year in which I was
born, by the way. set a mark for river
men in the flight up the river from New
Orleans 10 Carlo at days. Q hours.
and 9 minutes. The Robert +. Lee was
built al Louisville. and was regarded as
the exponent Of the Falls CITY She dom
mated the river for several years. and
the company owning her throve on the
reputation she had gained. Cincinnati
parties who had been interested in river
traffic for time out Of mind determined
70 build a new boat that would take al
least part Of the lucrative traffic from
the Robert f Lee, and the Natchez was
the fruit of that determination.
In 1853, just twenty-five years after
Capt. Graham had established the New
Orleans 70 Cairo record. the Natchez was
sent against that record and beat it
nalrfmrr In oofr
hours You would better believe this feat
stirred the river towns and cities. and
the Natchez got into the liIneilght in a
manner that would make a modern press
agent look silly.
You should know that I was slightly
interested in the Natchez through my
fathers estate. but that is not what made
me Natchez partisan-as you are all
aware. my home was then Newport, KY.
Of which place Cincinnati is a thriving
suburb, and Newport helped Cincinnati
throw a series Of fits over the accom- /
plishment Of the local boat And right
here I want 10 correct the impression
thar the Natchez was built for the Ohio
River trade; she was not Her one par
ticular purpose in conception was 20
dominate the Mississippi River, and the
Mississippi River in that sense meant I
from 'Sin-Loo' 20 the old town. as St .
Louis and New Orleans were known.
Nor was JubilatiOn over the new rec
ord set by the Natchez confined to Gin
cinnau and Newport. River men up the I
Ohio and down the Mississippi became d. /
vided into hostile camps over the rela-
tive merits Of the Robert +. Lee and the {
Natchez; newspapers began to take sides, /
and all at once II became apparent that I
II had developed into a quasi-political I
question
"We-the Natchez adherents-Tere I'D 4
against a sentiment; the name OF our /.
rival and whilom mistress OF the Mis- 4
sissippi was the Robert Z. Lee; the river I
men had heretofore been willing enough /
10 quarrel over a sentimental abstrac- /
ton; here was concrete proposition over
which TO contend; the Robert z. Lee /
must maintain supremacy. or
That was the condition when, in jan 1
uary. held up Capt Leathers. Of the |
NatcheZ. and told him that I was about /
TO quit practicing law and endeavor 20 |
live an honest life, wherein cakes and /
ale would occasionally come my way, and 4
as first step IN reformation I wanted 4
10 get a Job on the Natchez. Some time.
when the secretary IS not taking down /.
notes with a view to printing them, 7 /
viii give you a verbatim account OF that
interview, as result OF which my auto
biography in the old Congressional Di-
rectories relates he accepted a position
on line Of steamboats, Why, I never
begged for anything in my life like I I
begged for that jOb-one degree above 4
the stevedores at less pay than the deck (
hands and roustabouts got. But I got
the job, anyway, and held 1t for lust six
vrr II ell
nominated for the legislature, was elect
ed. and entered upon a career upon which
do not care 70 expatiate
I was assistant freight clerk. and my
place was at the gangplank. checking of
the freight way bills as the stuff was
paced aboard In passing 1 might say
that my particular place had advantages
10 one who might desire 20 acquire q
vocabulary sometimes picturesque. often
impressive. and always lurid with strange
oaths and fecked with quaint expressions
tnat would put to blush the weak and
Vapid slang Of this day OF grace-or lack
OF il.
The six months during which I lodged
the laden roustabouts while checking
freight we're expectant ones 20 all on
board the Natchez. We knew Cant Can
non, OF the Lee. was laying for US. and
that when we did leave the old town to-
gether there would be a boat race. while
the Old fellow on the pale horse would be
riding along the bank prepared to garner
q harvest Of death should either partici-
pant break bucket or pick I'D snag.
Everybody interested in the Natchez
was more or less mystified as the weeks
and months passed without Can't. Cannon .
onerins the contest According 10 river !
ffinneffn va lad 70 L. nLnIl.---, |