Show SPEEDBOATS OATS OATS' Then and Now r rA A ti tir r S' S t A ifa r S a rAF t yr Xa 4 E 4 1 4 Jt s i. i t k t's r A s tJ t T 4 i J ii f Coy CoyL i y I Ic L r. r M i J c 1 7 ii Y 1 r w r F cY v. v wN- wN Aw Mark Twains Twain's delightful tales of the Mississippi were founded on his personal personal per per- experience as a 3 steamboat pilot at a timo time when young oung Nellie G. G Dukes was a 3 clerk on the famous City of Alton By Henry G. G Rhodes C CAPTAIN NE NEFFIE TIE G G. G DUKES 88 o of ot v-f v Memphis Temi Tenn Is known as th tho Grand Old Man of from Pittsburgh burgh to Now Orleans He is today the nestor of all aU the oldest o of that thinning fast band of timers timer who knew every snag bend and sandbar In tho the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers Tho The captain knew Mar Marl Mark Twain in the tit late tate sixties when hep Twain was as a pilot and he himself was as a clerk lerk on another steamboat steamboat steam steam- steamboat boat the City of Alton Born Born in n St. St Louis Captain Dukes too took k to the river ricer as naturally as w a duck takes take to water The Ohio River held no o moro mor e mystery for him so 50 far as knowing snags b bends and sandbars was concerned than the Mississippi although he spent pent the greater portion of his river life lUe on on the latter He married at tho the age of 21 and settled In Memphis that Is the tho city was homo for lor him when hen he lie W was not on the river Some Borne men make money their masters others fall for sports and still sun others follow follow fol fol- ollow ol- ol low the line of ot least resistance But for Captain Dukes wiry mry little dynamo of energy there has been but one great love save lave for his family one irresistible lure and nd that was steamboats and the river Today he Is considered the great greatest st living authority on old and new river con con- When an argument arises a as to the palatial fittings or speed of a certain time old-time river steamboat the disputants Invariably have the question settled by this spry gentleman typical of ot tho the best traditions of at the Mississippi In the days when there was real romance on that stream Captain Dukes Duke is the tho only living e eyewitness eyewitness eye eye- c witness of a portion of ot the most famous river rifer race in the worlds world's history the history the race between tho the steamboats RobertE Robert E E. Lee and the Natchez from rom New Orleans Or- Or Orleans Orleans Or Or- leans to St. St Louis in 1870 The Lee won by several hours her time for the mile 1250 upstream run being 90 hours 11 D minutes When the Lee pulled Into St. St Louis Lows at noon on July 4 t bedlam broke loose Joose Every be bell and s steamboat whistle and whistle and there were many steamboat whistles at that time time opened opened up In tn turbulent turL tur tur- L bulent greeting Th The record of the Robert E E. Lee stood for tor nine fifty rears fears until the summer of ot 1929 when D Df Dr Leroy Memphis sportsman and surgeon after three attempts ran over o the same me course In hi hla speedboat Bogle completing the run In 88 hours or Just two hours tast faster r than the made It nine fifty years cars previously CAPTAIN DUKES says his steamboat t the City of ot Alton was tied up at the Memphis wharf on the day of ot July 4 4 1870 Telegraphic reports from down the river concerning the racing steamboats were vague and uncertain Thousands ol of persons waited all aU that afternoon expecting expecting expect expect- ing any moment to hear the bellowing roar of he be whistle of ot the leading boat Daylight passed and darkness came but the thrill of at the race wa was wa too great tor for the watchers to leave the levee and the bluffs behind It Each watcher feared the boats might pass ate l he was absent With darkness came came bonfires lighted d on en the cobblestone levee and along the bluffs where the postoffice now stands Negroes Were ere present by the thousands also They were the life We of the occasion says I I Grand ran Old Man an o of f earn oa in inon 1 on the e M Mississippi i Still i Active a at 88 R Recalls calls Mark rain Twain Days and the Famous Famois S Race From New Orleans to o St. St Louis N 44 B r y Between the Steamboats r I Robert E E. Lee an ane and w the e N Natchez a c ez 1 d fi IJ I J I. I f A AXi Xi SE SEY Y T W T- T 1 y N r 1 1 ti t f N. N I- I r. r y V lr i Y L br A 1 f N rf v r N A modern packet race on the Ohio between J. J the Chris Greene and the Betsy Ann which aroused almost as much public interest as the classic between p the Lee and the J Natchez k Dr Louis Leroy Mem Memphis his s sportsman in iu his boat Bogie Dogie which last summer beat heat the tho fifty N old car record of the thc 4 Robert E. E L Lee fruit from New Orleans tc St. St Louis by two hours Captain Dukes improvising son songs s and executing ex executing ex- ex Impromptu wing buck-and-wing dancing dancing ing In the fantastic shadows cast by the pinewood bonfires De DC Natchez t be a ct good boat But ef el eslit slit she wins yo ye kin cut nick malt thoat Paddle wheels churning an smoke rollin las las' DC De Lee happy cause de dc Natchez pass Captain Duk Dukes says tas It was worth going miles Just to hear the various groups of patiently waiting Negroes cut loose and sing songs of at tribute cither either to the Robert RobertE E E. Lee or the thc Natchez depending upon which they favored In that singing crowd also aiso were the sons wives and sweethearts of at roustabouts employed on one or the other of the racing steamboats In the circle of at light cast by some atthe of at the bonfires along alonS the tho levee leree groups of at Negroes crooned love lo songs to the gallopIng galloping galloping gal loping dominos and rolled them out with reckless abandon No officers to worry them No grabbing fee deputies from rom some justice of the peace to shake them down or arrest them as an alter alter- native Just good times In the time good era with good pay good grub and plenty of ot work on the numerous steamboats It was exactly five minutes of 9 o'clock on July 4 J when hen a watcher suddenly cried Venders a big boat all aU lighted up up upA A few tew moments of at hushed silence while OOOO persons stared at the faraway araway boat Yes Yes It was one of the racers but which one Another tense watt walt Then when the Ule brilliantly lighted d steamboat was y f f I j c a Y Yr i r a y Y r not more than a mile downstream she opened her whistle and held It open That was the signal for bedlam to tel break brcak loose nc according to Captain Dukes Whistles yells cowbells poured out a volume volume vol vol- 0 ume lIme of 01 sound sufficient to scare every owl out of ot the Arkansas swamps across the thc wide mile-wide river Over In Court Square were several old cannon One h had d been wheeled to the bluffs and when the Lee for it was she In the lead ead opened her whistle several old Confederate soldiers who had served cd In the war as rs started firing salutes Tho singing picking banjo Negro bo boys s 's sand and girls sirls stopped crooning to utter more explicit advice Come on bosh heah ole Robert E. E L Lee e win dat race FOR T OR OR some weeks prior to the great race raceL L Captain Thomas P P. Leathers owner owner- pilot of at the Natchez and Captain John JohnW W W. Cannon pilot owner of at the Ro Robert rt E. E Lee had engaged one another In friendly banter concerning the speed of at their boa boats ts One night at a table In the old tit St t Charles Hotel In New Orleans Captain Cannon offered to wager that pis boat could beat the Natchez to S Si St Louis Louts There were several se friends ol ot each boat owner present at the table And Captain Leathers offered finally to cover cr the bet betat betat betat at even en money a memorable occasion oc oc- occasion casion in the old St St. Charles dining room Diners at nearby tables recognizing the two veteran overheard the talk about the race and the amount of ot the h. h i f t Jo dA r 4 y t t 2 vi viv vik v k t The Grand Old Man of oC the River Captain Nellic G G. Dukes still takes lakes lakeson an on active interest in wa wager cr No wonder excitement ran nigh ruSh when on the Ule aft afternoon of June 30 30 both boats and their masters were given civen a D. riotous sendoff sendo from the Crescent City According to some authorities more than a million dollars changed hands on that race for or each cach boat and master had bad Its stanch partisans The Natchez Natches loser was regarded Dy by many as the faster boat Others averred a that what the Robert E. E Lee r c s r 6 rr a. a r r yr y ti y ST r r ri ir i rt r v IA 4 Z 0 tI t. I o y jo N- N lac lacked cd In en engine stroke was amply made mad 3 e up for by the skill of Captain Cannon Cannot i i. i What happened to the Natchez between between be tween Helena Ark and Memphis l his 3 was unexpected confusing contusIng and probably y r cost her the ra race C. C For It happened that tha t t soon after passing passing- at full tilt the small smalltown seta ll 1 town to of or Helena the engineer of th the e Natchez told Captain Leathers the sac sad d ed I news that tho the coal and wood both ha had d I been exha exhausted In the excitement ment th the e 5 firemen and engineer had overlooked the th c fast dwindling fuel supply WHEN HEN HEN the fuel shortage short was first discovered discovered dis V covered tho Natchez was as running not s more than a n hundred yards ards behind d 1 the Lee It looked for a while as If It sh she sho o would come into Memphis ahead of or her he r rival Then came announcement of th tho o i fuel shortage Captain Leathers doggedly dogged Y refused to give up however Ho He ordered d the mates and the roustabouts to ge get t busy and break brcak up doors furniture chairs chair s 1 an that would burn burn and and to throw w them Into the firebox The captain kne knew w that the next point at which he could coul d refuel would be Memphis ninety mil miles es 1 a away wa So the roustabouts worked like black shiny demons under tho the urging of ot th the tho o mates Doors were ruthlessly Jerked oil oft R their hinges and chopped up Fine chairs chair s from the cabins went too Captain yelled sonic some someone one at tin tho o height of the steam raising proceedings there Is a lot of side meat in the hole Why not burn it meat burns fiercely and hotly The captain welcomed the suggestion n and md ordered all aU available a hands to to toto taU tall 11 to and carry the tho meat to the engine engine- room Probably for tor the first time In th the e history of ot the persons aboard the Natchez and those who lined the boat landings up the tho river beheld behel d the spectacle of a steamboat belching a n peculiar bluish smoke that smelled d strongly of at a combination of ot varnish resin wood and an added odor reminIscent reminiscent reminiscent cent of ot a But the Natchez went along Just th the e same ame on her unfamiliar diet diett Just before leaving New Orleans Captain Cap Cap- tain tali Cannon of at the Robert E E. Lee telegraphed tele tee telegraphed graphed ahead to Memphis and aDd two barges ol of coal to be ready for him hi hito m to take on the fly Captain Leathers did not riot know It Is said that his rival al had put one over on Win him this way Hours before the Lee hove ho In sight around the bend the two loaded barges rt f r r r r r i M t y fiN i f i Y il r d yr yr 3 W TT y l r r 1 l 1 kA YEA In mark marked d contrast to tho the old- old time racing rating packets are arc the r modern outboard speed craft which are so small email that they can race in swimming pools were awaiting her arrival When her lights shone around the bend the barges barge were VItre towed out to midriver The Lq LS fastened the barges to her side and took coal on the run losing little time tune or speed She was averaging about fourteen miles an hour on the upstream grind But Captain Leathers of the Na Natchez Natches h pulled Into Memphis fifteen minutes minutes- behind behind be behind be- be hind his rival where to make matters worse he was S forced to pull up to the tho wharf and wait ait thirty minutes s while coal was wu brought and put aboard He pulled out of Memphis about forty five minute minutes behind th the Lee A he struggled on gamely the tho ALTHOUGH Leo Lee beat Captain Leathers' Leathers craft to St St. StLouis Louis Lows by two h hours urs When the Natch Natches finally reached St. St Louis she he was ac accorded accorded accorded ac- ac corded a a. welcome almost as noisy holsy as that which had greeted the victor for or those theM were ere the going easy-going days of ot good sportsmanship sportsmanship sports sports- manship along the length of tho the mighty might Mississippi an era wh when time tune meant nothing In the lives of most Southerners an epoch long gon gone In which h romans romance played an Important part At the time timo of tho the great race there were hundreds oi ot plantations along the Mississippi and Ar Arkansas Ar- Ar kansas shores between Memphis and New Orleans On each plantation there lived in princely style tho the planters with sometimes sometimes some some- times as many as Negro famines families It Its was a a. sort of lord feudal-lord regime the tho families of ot Negroes playing the role o of serfs to the number of about a thousand souls each Negro family averaging at least fi five ve Down In tho the office of tho the Delta Line Lino Steamers hang pictures of the Robert I E. E Leo and tho rho Natchez together with pictures of ot other r famous old oId floating palaces palaces palaces pal- pal aces such as the tho Grind Grand Republic the tho J. J P. P White the original Kate Adams and aDd others equally well known These boats long lont since have gone to that Valhalla where all aU good steamboats go and only their likenesses and the memory of their respective merits remain to remind the tho present generation of the time when was The Tho son of Captain Nelle Neffie G. G Dukes Dukel Captain William Dukes Is office superintendent superintendent of ot the Delta Line But the elder Duk Dukes serves as his sons son's very active as- as these days and may be he found somewhere around the office on the biZ big any day The Grand Old Man looks oo to be not moro more than 65 and gets about amazingly well elJ Day In fn and day out Captain Dukes appears ap ap- pears at the office Immaculately attired with Ith a flower In n his coat lapel When a man has spent 68 years ears j Just two years ears short of tho the biblical allotment of mans man's span life on the river he may be said to speak with authority on questions questions ques ques- Involving river traffic claim dalm that what Captain Dukes does not know about it Is not worth orth knowing Captain Dukes Is one on-a of or the few survivors sur sur- Ivors of at a picturesque era of ot American empire He knows the tho intimate details of ot many of ot the tragedies and comedies com corn crises edies which were enacted on the Father of Waters at a 3 time when tho the veneer of ot civilization had not yet been carried that far West when West when gamblers plied their trade In to the cabins of ot river packets and desperate river pirates did not hesitate to t-o waylay travelers and freight and exact their toll tolLIt It rather surprised and surprised and saddened saddened- this veteran when hen Dr croy broke the tho lon standing long record of ot the Lee For nine tIny years it had stood as a 0 chal lenge but no one accept accepted d ItEen It t. t Even en when he read a dispatch that the Lees Lee's record had been lowered two hours boura by the Captain Dukes shook his head sadly and remarked Well 1 guess It had bad to come some day out Dut It took a darn long tong time for tor them with nil nU their modern boat improvements to beat b a the old record And you ou must remember that tho the Leo Lee and the Nat Natchez bez were moro than feet teet long and carried p passengers n- n gers crew and |