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Capt Thomas Paul Leathers Sr.

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Capt Thomas Paul Leathers Sr.

Birth
Covington, Kenton County, Kentucky, USA
Death
13 Jun 1896 (aged 80)
New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA
Burial
Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi, USA Add to Map
Plot
On Steamboat Road
Memorial ID
View Source
Owned and captained 8 different steamboats by the name of Natchez. Leathers was the captain of the famous steamboat Natchez which raced the steamboat Robert E. Lee in a race from New Orleans to St. Louis. Leathers and the Natchez lost the race by a little over 3 hours. Late in the morning of July 4, 1870, the Robert E. Lee landed in St. Louis. In only 3 days, 18 hours and 14 minutes, Captain John W. Cannon had powered his steamboat from New Orleans in a race against Captain Thomas Leathers' Natchez. Cannon's success can be partially attributed to his pre-race planning. Knowing that a lighter boat could travel faster, he ordered any unnecessary items for the trip to be removed. Even windows -- including those of the pilothouse -- doors and shutters were dismantled and left in New Orleans. These modifications made the Robert E. Lee a strange-looking steamboat when, carrying few passengers and very little cargo, it was cut loose from the shore at exactly 5:00 P.M. on June 30th, 1870. Instead of losing time docking for fuel, Cannon had another steamboat, the Frank Pargoud, waiting to meet the Robert E. Lee upriver. The two boats were tied together and continued to travel slowly against the current while fuel was loaded onto the Robert E. Lee. Although the Natchez had to stop for refueling, it was still very much in the race. When a dense fog settled on the river, Leathers stopped and waited for it to lift, assuming that Cannon would do the same. But, with the help of four pilots, Cannon continued progressing slowly, barely avoiding disaster several times. Fortunately for Cannon, the fog broke over the Robert E. Lee and he gained a considerable lead over Leathers, beating him to St. Louis by six and a half hours. (Bio by B. Plocharski)
Owned and captained 8 different steamboats by the name of Natchez. Leathers was the captain of the famous steamboat Natchez which raced the steamboat Robert E. Lee in a race from New Orleans to St. Louis. Leathers and the Natchez lost the race by a little over 3 hours. Late in the morning of July 4, 1870, the Robert E. Lee landed in St. Louis. In only 3 days, 18 hours and 14 minutes, Captain John W. Cannon had powered his steamboat from New Orleans in a race against Captain Thomas Leathers' Natchez. Cannon's success can be partially attributed to his pre-race planning. Knowing that a lighter boat could travel faster, he ordered any unnecessary items for the trip to be removed. Even windows -- including those of the pilothouse -- doors and shutters were dismantled and left in New Orleans. These modifications made the Robert E. Lee a strange-looking steamboat when, carrying few passengers and very little cargo, it was cut loose from the shore at exactly 5:00 P.M. on June 30th, 1870. Instead of losing time docking for fuel, Cannon had another steamboat, the Frank Pargoud, waiting to meet the Robert E. Lee upriver. The two boats were tied together and continued to travel slowly against the current while fuel was loaded onto the Robert E. Lee. Although the Natchez had to stop for refueling, it was still very much in the race. When a dense fog settled on the river, Leathers stopped and waited for it to lift, assuming that Cannon would do the same. But, with the help of four pilots, Cannon continued progressing slowly, barely avoiding disaster several times. Fortunately for Cannon, the fog broke over the Robert E. Lee and he gained a considerable lead over Leathers, beating him to St. Louis by six and a half hours. (Bio by B. Plocharski)


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  • Maintained by: AJ
  • Added: Aug 5, 2000
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11420/thomas_paul-leathers: accessed ), memorial page for Capt Thomas Paul Leathers Sr. (14 May 1816–13 Jun 1896), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11420, citing Natchez City Cemetery, Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi, USA; Maintained by AJ (contributor 1003).