The race between the famous riverboats Robert E. Lee and Natchez was concluded on this date when the Robert E. Lee pulled into St. Louis about seven hours ahead of the Natchez.
River History
The historic riverboat Far West sank at Mullanphy’s Island near the mouth of the Missouri. It was one of Custer’s boats and after Little Bighorn it steamed back 920 miles in just 54 hours! The Far West is also the subject of a Gary Lucy painting.
The steamboat Chariton—which previously sank at the mouth of the Gasconade and was raised, sank at Independence and was raised, blew her boiler in St. Louis killing twelve and was repaired—sank in Euphrasie Bend near Glasgow on this date.
The second steamboat to ever be in St. Louis arrived on this date. It was the steamboat Constitution.
