Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-02-18

antagonist far behind. West will not
admit that his trick on the safety valve
caused tie leak, br. attributes it to the
conclusion Of cannon which the clerk
in his glee, was firing. A threat from
the engineer ended the clerks demon
STATIONS of that sort.
Capt. Cannon came into the engine
room and told VILLAIN Perkins the first
engineer, that there was no necessity OF
running the boat 30 tast, as victory al
ready was assured.
Gap, that snail Is not bothering MS,
we're after the horns of the Princess at
Natchez," answered the engineer.
"And we'll get 'em boys" smiled the
officer.
The Princess had made the fastest time
on the river. At Natchex the owner dis
played pair of deer horns with the
challenge, BEAT the time and take the
horns" When Vicksburg was reached
the Lee had fulfilled the condition and
the agent Of the line there jumped aboard
from another boat and handed Cannon
the trophy. A year later the Natchez ex.
ceeded the time of the Lee and Cannon,
true sport that he was, delivered them to
Capt. feathers. But not without adding,
"Take good care of these for am COM
ing after them again." And he kept his
promise. Shortly afterward the Lee ex.
ceeded this record of the Natchez and
Cannon waited for the defeated captain
to bring him the horns. Finally they
came, but brought by gang of negroes,
deputized for the ceremony by the less
gallant feathers. And no boat has since
laid claim TO the prize. They are now in the
possession of the old "river dogs" son,
William Cannon, who lives near Midway,
Ky.
On all that trip the Lee never stopped,
even for fuel, she would run between coal
fleets, lash the barges to her and take on
coal while steaming just as fast as was
safe. Steamers also came alongside and
delivered new supplies of pine knots,
Which burned with heat that his satanic
majesty must have envied. The firemen
worked only three hours to shift and
then rested six hours. They received
plenty of liquor, however, and the more
they drank the harder they shoveled.
The members of tie crew never removed
their clothing or ate, except what they
could carry with them in the performance
of their various duties. West brands the
stories about using bacon for fuel as
tommy rot"
At VicksDurg the Lee left the Natchez
out OF sight, although frequently her
smoke was seen IN the distance Mem
phis had planned to give the Lee a re-
ception in the form of fireworks display,
hut when the Thompson Dean, which
left New Orleans Ihree days before the
race began. passed ne city, and the cele.
orators mistook her for the champion
and started the fun. The Lee was only
four miles behind aud her crew saw the
heavens lighted with the pyrotechnics in
tended for them. On July 4th, at 1875
O. clock in the morning, the victor passed
the barracks at St Louis and her tired
but happy crew heard the gun roar with
the salute which meant that their darling
had won. The Oh warrior was unwilling
t. quit. She shot by the city amid the
cheers of the thousands who lined the
banks.
River Banks Lined.
All along the route the crowds came, in
bets, on horseback and on foot, to wit
ress the battle OF the strong aud feet.
The Mississippi bank from New Orleans
tn st. Lonis was peopled with campers
out to see the boats go by. Years later
a man told West of humorous incident
in this connection. He was one of party
of twenty who csmped seventy miles
above New Orleans to witness the race.
Some had come as far az fifty miles from
the interior, but they did not come with
out their jugs. During the night they
lett sentinels to awakend the others when
The racers hove in sight. Yet the hair OF
the dog is good for the bite. The pickets,
also, took q wag too much and slept like
guards Of the old king in Macbeth. I,
was daylight before the campers recovered
and the boats then were steaming near
Red River.
Millions of dollars were lost and won
On that race. The newspaper Offices in
every city of the country, as those mar
vels of power and speed were skimming
the waters over which the frail barks of
Marquette and LaSalle had toiled, pre-
sented q scene such az is seen to-day
when elections, or struggles on the dia-
mond and gridiron hold the bulletin
boards. Even the eyes of Europe were
turned upon the Mississippi. The Robert
E. Lee had made run from New Orleans
10 st. Louis in three days eighteen hours
and fourteen minutes, three hours and
thirty-four minutes ahead OF the boastful
Natchez. But like all things below, the
victor OF time was conquered by the van
quished. In IA she was diemantIed and
rebuilt at.Howard's shipyard, jefferson.
vile. Known a. the new Robert e.
Lee" she entered the cotton trade beloxz