Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-11-09
old River Races More Exciting
That Modern Sped Contests

The international automobile race
which opened the million-dollar speed
way in Kansas City recently, the
speed record established by daring
aeronauts and other feats of speed
which took place back in the seventies.
afe not to be compared to the thrills
which the race from New 0rlans to
ST Louis between the steamboats,,
the Robert E. Lee and the Natchez
which took place back in the snenties.
Elmer Cunningham, who lives North
OF Mexico was the only passenger
on either of the boats and he dscribes
it as 'some race"
The memorable race between these
two boats created probably the most
intense excitement ever known in the
Mississippi Wiley. Bonfires blazed
from the rivers banks at night and
cannon thundered by day all along
the course. These boats were ap-
parently well matched and the riv-
airy had been keeen for a long time.
A short time previous to the race
however the Natchez had made a re-
cord trip and the odds were on her.
At last it happened that boths boats
were scheduled to leave New Orleans
at the same time and their captains
agreed upon a race.
The two boats left New Orleans at
5 o'clock in the afternoon of June
30, 1870. Betting vas high and many
thousands of dollars were staked on
the outcome of the contest. The first
lap was to Natchez where Mr.. Cum
ningham boarded the Lee, which was
in the lead at that point of the race
much to the chargrin of the residents
as they wanted their homes name
sake to win. Mr.. Cunningham was
working for R. W. Sinclair and J..
R. Ringo of Mexico who were con-
Quoting the mule business in Natchez.
When he started to board the boat,
Captain Cannon stopped him and
said that they were taking no pas
sengers. Mr.. Sinclair, who was with
Mr.. Cunningham insisted that Mr..
Cunningham be allowed to go as they
were waiting on a boatload of mules
in st. Louis. Mr.. Cunningham was
allowed to go on board but at his
own risk.
After the boat left Natchez the
Lee began to gain but very slightly.
The next landing was at Vicksurg.
Excursion trains were running from
as far east as Cincinnati to see the
race. Both boats were stripped of
all unnecessary equipment and ar
engagements were made for barges to
meet them with coal at various points
along the river.
At V~icksburg the Lee was eighteen
minahead Of her opponent. On the
second day of the trip when the Lee
reached Memphis, the Natchez was
ten miles behind. The next goal was
Cairo which the Lee passed IN July
3, four minutes after six an hour
and IL minutes ahead of the Natchez.
Here the Lee picked UP another
pilot TO- steer her safely to st. Louis.
The river between Cairo and St.
Louis was about two hundred miles
of about the toughest plotting you
ever saw. There wasn't a lighthouse
from end to end of the run and there
were snags and bars and overhanging
which kept the officers pretty
well occupied.
At Carlo a fog settled wei the
and several of the officers of
the Robert E. Lee didn't get one
minutes rest for over f~orty-eight
hours. They supposed as a matter
of course hat Natchez would tackle
the fog and never thought of doing
anything else.
The uncertainty and anxiety of
this night turned the hair Of one of
the Lees pilots, Jesse . Jamison, abso-
white.
The Natchez instead of running