pg. 18

Chasing the Robert E. Lee:

The Robert E. Lee, built in 1866, outpaced the Natchez in a famous and fabled race from to St. Louis in 1870. It was named for Confederate general Robert E. Lee the year after the Confederate defeat in the Civil War and could carry more than 5,000 bales of cotton. (Image: Missouri Historical Society) spring/summer ’20

pg. 19

Chasing the Robert E. Lee:

by dean klinkenberg

In 1870, the Robert E. Lee beat the Natchez in a race on the from New Orleans to St. Louis, the most famous contest of the steamboat era. The race captured the imaginations of millions of people around the world at a time when and the Mississippi River were losing economic relevance in the United States. While the race didn’t reverse the economic fortunes of the river economy, it set a standard for speed and tenacity that proved to be a remarkably enduring inspiration for enthusiasts of subsequent eras. pg. 20

Speed records set during the steamboat era had economic consequences; faster got more business.

Speed records set during the The dramatic story of more than but Cannon refused the bait, at steamboat era had economic a century’s worth of races on the least for a while. Proponents of consequences; faster boats got Mighty Mississippi offers insight river transportation hoped that more business. The races also into changing ideas about a high-profile contest between celebrated technological progress the river’s role and technology’s two grand steamboats would help and the wit and creativity of limits when put to the test stem the loss of business to the steamboat captains and crews. against Mother Nature. railroads. (It didn’t.) The race Formal and informal records did, however, draw millions of were kept of the fastest times to dollars in wagers. common destinations. A Race for the Ages The captains prepared mostly For the 300 mile run from No steamboat race is more by taking care of logistics, like New Orleans to Natchez, for celebrated than the 1870 match stashing fuel at pre-arranged example, the Comet completed between John Cannon’s Robert locations along the river. As the the trip in five days and ten hours E. Lee and Thomas Leathers’ Lee’s normal end port was in 1814. By 1828, the Tecumseh had Natchez. Both boats were well- Louisville, Cannon arranged to made the run in three days and known at the time, as were their transfer passengers to another an hour, but just six years later captains. The Lee, built in 1866 boat at Cairo, Illinois, so the Lee the Tuscarora trimmed it down to by Cannon, was the king of the could continue to St. Louis. one day and twenty-one hours. In inland waters, fast and luxurious, Stories of elaborate pre-race twenty years, the travel time had the most impressive steamboat preparations are largely false. been reduced by eighty percent. in the country. Leathers built the Noted steamboat historian When the Robert E. Lee cut the Natchez (his sixth boat with Frederick Way related the time down even more in 1870— that name) specifically to knock account of Johnny Farrell, the to sixteen hours and change— the Lee off its river pedestal. Natchez’s second engineer, contemporary steamboats were who visited the Lee a few hours traveling the route nearly five The captains weren’t exactly before the boats left New days faster than the Comet had. the best of friends. They had Orleans: “This old idea about the opposing sympathies during the two boats preparing for days for In the twentieth century, more Civil War, in spite of their the race, tearing down bulkheads, powerful pushed sleeker common Kentucky roots. While putting up wind sheaves, and a lot boats faster and faster, delighting much of the animosity between of other stuff, is not true. When technology enthusiasts and the them played out between their I went aboard the Lee, all they general public. Still, the challenges associates, Cannon and Leathers had done was to move the coal of covering a thousand miles on once got into a fist fight in a bunkers a little forward. . . . On the Mississippi River as quickly New Orleans bar. our boat there was absolutely no as possible hadn’t changed too preparation whatever. There was From the moment the dramatically since the Lee Natchez no such thing as colors flying, hit the water, newspapers, beat the Natchez. Since 1870, bands playing, and the decks of passengers, and the general public hundreds of attempts were made both boats crowded with ladies wanted to see the two boats race. to best the Lee’s record, but most and gentlemen.” 1 failed to reach the finish line. Leathers encouraged the talk, spring/summer ’20

pg. 21

At 5 p.m. on June 30, the boats The Lee pulled into Memphis pilots, who were positioned at the left New Orleans in front of ten at 11:04 p.m., greeted by huge bow of the texas deck. Through it thousand spectators crammed crowds, fireworks, and music. It all, Cannon stood on the hurricane onto the levee. The Lee jumped barely slowed down, tying up to deck to monitor the operation out to a four-minute head-start coal barges again and getting back and quickly relay instructions to that it gradually built into a on its way six minutes later. The the pilothouse. Even with all these comfortable lead. Telegraph Natchez arrived over an hour measures in place, Cannon nearly operators transmitted the later to pick up and discharge pulled ashore to wait out the progress of the boats to people passengers, which cost it another fog. But he didn’t, and the Lee around the world. Cannon carried seventeen minutes, then it got crept slowly forward. By 2 a.m., only seventy-five passengers stuck on a shoal around Island 41 the fog had thinned out and the (among them the governor of and lost more time. Lee had a wide open river for Louisiana) and no freight, but the homestretch. Leathers took on a regular load When the Lee reached Cairo, of cargo and a full complement of Illinois—in record time—the The Natchez, in contrast, passengers. As they raced, the boats were still just an hour and waited for five-and-a-half hours Lee slowed down just enough to ten minutes apart. The Lee slowed until the fog cleared. When they refuel, while the Natchez stopped to get alongside the steamer reached Grand Tower, the crew at its regular ports to unload Idlewild and transferred its learned that the Lee had passed passengers and refuel. passengers bound for Louisville. by the town six hours earlier. The Lee also took on two new Leathers almost certainly knew Both boats experienced passengers, Enoch King and Jesse at that moment that he had setbacks. The Lee’s engineering Jameson, pilots who knew the been beaten. crew had to improvise a fix to a Mississippi well from Cairo to leaky boiler. At Vicksburg, the St. Louis. Cannon wanted the At 11:33 a.m. on July 4, the Natchez had to pull over for extra help to guide them through Lee steamed into St. Louis in a thirty-four minutes to fix a valve the difficult Thebes Gap and record time of 90 hours and on the pump that sucked river other tricky sections. 13 minutes, more than six hours water into the boiler. Around ahead of the Natchez, and three Island 93, the Natchez ran into Leathers had trouble hours faster than the record that a sandbar but managed to navigating the river north of the Natchez had set just a month shake itself free. Cairo, in spite of his experience. before. The record set by the J.M. After hitting bottom a few times, White in 1844 had stood for over The race’s biggest controversy he was forced to slow down. twenty-five years, but in 1870, took place around Greenville. In As the two boats neared Cape two boats beat it within a month the middle of the night, the Lee Girardeau, fog thickened in the of each other. pulled aside the Frank Pargoud river valley. Leathers pulled over and the two boats lashed together at Devil’s Island around midnight, St. Louis turned out two while a hundred cords of pine then learned that the Lee had hundred thousand spectators knots were transferred to the Lee. passed by just 25 minutes earlier. for the finish. Excursion boats Cannon’s move, while planned The Natchez had closed the and a train blew their whistles well in advance, incensed many gap by more than half. in celebration, and the Lee fans (and bettors) who felt the answered back. Among those who Lee had benefited unfairly from The Lee, meanwhile, slowed welcomed the Lee at the St. Louis the combined power of the two down when it ran into the fog but levee were Mary Lee, Robert E. steamboats. While it’s not clear didn’t stop. Cannon executed an Lee’s daughter, and James B. that the Lee actually gained any elaborate system for plodding Eads, whose revolutionary bridge time from tethering to the Frank ahead. He sent a few men ahead was under construction just Pargoud, it certainly benefited of the boat in a yawl to measure upriver from the landing where from having the added fuel. the river’s depth; they relayed the the race ended. information to the Lee’s regular pg. 22 Koenig took the competition seriously—he personally paid for the silver trophy—and defined a set of rules for the competition.

The Koenig Cup It didn’t take long to certify Mississippi River above the Chain the first winner. In July 1929, a of Rocks, and pilots Dale Jackson In the wake of the Lee’s record, three-man crew of Memphians and Forest O’Brine were in the St. Louisan Edwin Koenig became led by Dr. Louis Leroy piloted a middle of setting a record for passionate about shattering it and twenty-six-foot runabout called endurance flying (420 hours) with set the stage for races to come. the Bogie in a race against a the St. Louis Robin. Commodore Koenig was enthusiastic about fifty-five-foot , theMartha Koenig took Dr. Leroy and his the Mississippi and boating from Jane, captained by George M. wife to Lambert-St. Louis Flying a young age, perhaps because Cox. It was Dr. Leroy’s fourth Field, where they boarded a plane the family home at 3836 attempt to beat the Lee’s time. A to get a close look at the Robin. Kosciusko Street in South St. previous attempt had been lauded Louis overlooked the Mississippi for offering “an opportunity for The Bogie’s record didn’t have River, or maybe because his father accomplishment and observation the staying power of the Lee’s. was an avid river man himself. in marine engineering.” 3 The following summer, five boats Koenig joined the St. Louis Yacht left New Orleans on August 8 in a Club when he was just fifteen The boats left from Canal race to St. Louis, but only Claude years old and would later serve as Street in New Orleans on July 21, Mickler made it to St. Louis. He its leader—or “commodore”— but trouble forced Cox beat Dr. Leroy’s time by nearly for forty years. to put the Martha Jane aport at nine hours, racing solo in a boat Natchez—and therefore forfeit he called And How III, a twelve- One way Koenig indulged his the nickel wager to enter. Leroy foot vessel that one paper wrote interests was by sponsoring an and crew (Harvey Brown “might have been the captain’s event that became known as the and Bob Hunter) forged ahead, dinghy,” running with just one Koenig Cup, a competition to forgoing sleep for four days instrument, a tachometer, which recognize the first boat to break while subsisting on a diet of he kept sandwiched between his the Lee’s record and subsequent buttermilk and orange juice. legs. 5 He used it to make sure his record breakers. Koenig took motor was running between 3,500 the competition seriously—he En route, the Bogie’s crew and 3,800 revolutions per minute. personally paid for the silver changed three times trophy—and defined a set of and had to stop for twelve hours Mickler ran during the heat of rules for the competition: at Greenville, Mississippi, to the summer but found a creative replace the shaft. way to find relief. “Sunday, when RULES FOR COMPETITION After a frantic push in the last 50 the sun was hottest, I was passing

• Competitors had to start in New miles, the crew completed the a Government boat of some kind Orleans and finish in St. Louis run in 87 hours and 31 minutes, and saw a fellow inside taking a and give advance notice of their nearly three hours faster than shower. I pulled alongside, jumped intent to challenge the record. the Robert E. Lee. Even though aboard and told him to hurry • The clock started when racers their 150-horsepower Scripps up. I needed that one, too. That left New Orleans and didn’t stop 6 until they reached St. Louis; the motor was capable of pushing the refreshed me a lot.” Coast Guard in each city had to boat along at 30 miles an hour, record starting and ending times. they averaged just 12 miles Mickler, though, was not • Racers had to run continuously; an hour for the entire trip. awarded the Koenig Cup, because the only permissible stops his motor had been replaced at were for fuel or repairs. After pulling into St. Louis Memphis, which violated the • Boats could carry spare parts early in the morning on July 25, rules. While Mickler denied the but not spare engines. the three men—“lean-faced and motor change, he didn’t seem too • Engines and boats could be sunburned”—went straight to a disappointed. “The trip was repaired but not replaced. hotel to clean up and sleep.4 The more to show an outboard boat • Crew members could leave the 2 Bogie’s team finished at St. Louis could make the grade than to boat but couldn’t be replaced. at an exciting time. A new toll win a trophy,” he said. 7 bridge had just opened over the spring/summer ’20

pg. 23

In 1931, St. Louisans C.F. Schokmiller and George Blaich, Jr. piloted a boat from New Orleans to St. Louis in 78 hours, 46 minutes, breaking the old record by almost nine hours. Along the way, their broke twice, the second time just an hour from the finish line. Two other boats started at New Orleans on the same day, but neither finished. Schokmiller and Blaich were the second team to win the Koenig Cup. (Image: St. Louis Globe-Democrat Collection, St. Louis Mercantile Library Association) pg. 24

Edwin Koenig (center) congratulates Frank G. Burkarth (right) onboard the Cifisco III, a 37-foot cabin cruiser, after Burkarth won the Koenig Cup in October 1953. Burkarth, John Ritchie, and Herman Blattel completed the run in 61 hours, 22 minutes, 18 hours faster than the record set by Roy Smith and James Mawhee just three months earlier. (Image: Missouri Historical Society)

In 1931, St. Louisans G.F. Orleans, he had trouble finding a them on, as boats followed them Schokmiller and George Blaich, place to put his boat in the water. to the finish line around Cliff Jr., won the Koenig Cup when Officials wouldn’t let him use Cave County Park: “Seen from they crossed the finish line in the Canal Street ramp, because midstream, the convoy was a the Miss Evinrude II eight hours they were apparently unnerved glowing circle of bobbing boats, faster than the Bogie had; they by the amount of gasoline he was laden with boat lovers bearing were the only boat of three that carrying. Just three hours into his red flares. TheCifisco bore down finished a race from New Orleans attempt, he ran onto a sandbar. through their midst, and the to St. Louis. It was the fifth try For the next four days, he fought welcoming din began.” 10 for Schokmiller, but he still didn’t recurring motor troubles, fatigue, have an easy time of it. Somewhere and a mild case of food poisoning. The persistent Lee Sawyer around Natchez, Mississippi, they He lost the main channel a few came back with another solo run ran over a six-foot-long alligator times and missed a refueling stop in 1954; he not only reached the gar. “When we hit him we thought before throwing in the towel after finish line (“Sunburned, exhausted it was all finished,” Schokmiller four days with little sleep and and happy”) but also set a new told a reporter. “It spun us around food. He beached his boat record with his boat, the and almost sent us over. And it on a sandbar and collapsed, just Huckleberry Finn, that shaved didn’t do him any real good thirty miles from St. Louis. another four and a half hours off 11 either. He came to the top and the record. Still, his run didn’t floated belly up. Our propeller The following year, Roy F. exactly go smoothly. Below broke his back.” 8 Smith and his navigator, James Vicksburg, he ran into a E. Mawhee, set a new standard, logjam and found himself quickly Their carburetor broke twice, finishing thirty-four minutes surrounded by trees, twigs, and the second time just an hour from faster than Schokmiller and grapevines. When his engines the finish line, and they nearly Blaich in a fourteen-foot boat died, he jumped into the river ran out of gas as they approached called the Mark Twain. They had and used pliers to cut away a vine St. Louis, but Blaich “sat up on only slightly better luck than that had wound itself around his one side and tipped her [the boat] Sawyer. One of their motors propellers. He was also slowed— over a little bit and she started broke down north of Memphis, so twice—when he got entangled again and the last few drops of gas they sent it by truck to Cairo, in commercial fishing lines. brought us in.” By the time they Illinois, for repair. They lost finished, Blaich said their gas eleven hours at New Madrid, Creativity was a hallmark tank was “as dry right now as Missouri, to another engine repair of many of the record setters. a Kansas Congressman’s vote.” 9 and limped into St. Louis with In 1955, brothers Raymond and just one working motor. Charles Loetscher and navigator The Great Depression Max Zeiner completed and World War II limited the Smith and Mawhee kept a record-setting run in a number of serious challenges until possession of the Cup for only homemade 26-foot boat called the early 1950s, so their record three months. Frank G. Burkarth, Loetschers’ Little Rock. It was stood for twenty-two years. In John Ritchie, and Herman Blattel powered by three V-8 engines 1952, Lee Sawyer, after two years blew away the old record by that the river men configured of planning, tried to break the nearly eighteen hours, pulling to run together. They also built record with a solo run, but he the Cifisco III into St. Louis on a guard around the propellers had about as much bad luck October 8; 150 boaters at the to protect them from debris. as one person could. At New St. Louis Yacht Club cheered spring/summer ’20

pg. 25

They lost a few minutes at not with one.” 14 Tedford won and boat was running. “Eating makes Arkansas City when the harbor set a new record in the process, you sleepy and we couldn’t afford police pulled them over for although it only held up for to sleep,” Dr. Leroy said.18 Apart exceeding the twenty-miles- one month. from the need to pay attention per-hour limit, but they when flying over water at high convinced the officer that they By the 1950s, racers chasing speeds, many of the boats vibrated were supposed to be going that the Koenig Cup were getting too violently to make eating fast because they were racing. better at managing river hazards, practical. Dr. Leroy’s team had Their effort almost failed near although they still occasionally gotten by on buttermilk and Sainte Genevieve when they hit a ran into driftwood and sandbars. orange juice. The Tedfords sandbar, but four hours of furious Roy Cullum and Richard Arant sometimes got a burger from their digging set them free. When a “struck so many logs in the last ground crew at a refueling stop reporter asked Zeiner—who had few miles that they thought they but otherwise relied on beverages 15 never been on the Mississippi would sink before the finish.” from their cooler. Roy Cullum prior to that trip—where they William Tedford’s successful and Richard Arant just drank a were when they hit the sandbar, run in July 1956 included ninety lot of water and milk. he replied, “we were right where minutes lost when they ran over we were supposed to be. It was an obstruction and damaged all Many racing teams included the sand bar that was lost. three propellers. Dangers were a navigator in the crew, often an Somebody must have put it there especially acute after dark, which experienced Mississippi River to sabotage our efforts.” 12 In spite is why many racers chose to run pilot, to keep the boat in deep of the delays, they broke the when the moon was full. water. “We’d never have made it old record by nearly four hours. without his [Nick Cioll’s] ability Fatigue was always problematic to smell out the sandbars and all The pace of change picked up for racers, however. “We went that floating real estate that keeps in the mid-1950s. Three records through something of an you from sleeping as it comes at were set in 1956 alone, then broken endurance test ourselves,” Dr. you at 40 miles an hour,” William again in 1957 and 1958, the last Louis Leroy had said after finishing Tedford, Sr., said.19 one cutting the record time from his run in 1929. When his crew fifty-three hours to twenty-nine- arrived, “Their eyes were red slits, Even with the help of the and-a-half hours, nearly a full day their cheeks sunken, their clothing navigator, though, flying up a big quicker. Racers approached the greasy and wrinkled. They river at high speeds was difficult challenge with different strategies estimated they had lost from 15 work. “It’s not any fun,” Bill (and budgets). In 1956, for to 20 pounds each. Dr. Leroy’s Tedford, Jr., recalled. Commercial example, the Loetscher brothers Van Dyke beard was ragged and barge traffic stirred up large were back for another attempt, all were unshaven. Their skin wakes, or what Tedford called competing against the was a deep brown from the swells, “and those swells roll down William 16 Tedford. The Loetschers ran in a beating of the sun.” the river for at least a mile below 26-foot long steel boat powered the boat, if he’s going upstream Most racers slept little or not by three Cadillac engines. and you’re going upstream, the at all. Sawyer, in his first solo run, Tedford, his 17-year-old son, river gets rougher and rougher woke up in the water at one point; Bill, Jr., and Nick Cioll raced in and rougher and it goes from he had fallen asleep at the wheel a 15-foot-long plywood boat shore to shore. You can’t get and run onto a sandbar. He also powered by 33-horsepower around it without jumping over lost the main channel a couple engines. “Tedford said his boat these waves. . . . You’re leaping of times when fatigue-induced weighed less than one of the over these waves, which is why we confusion contributed to Loetscher’s engines,” according liked to have the catamaran. . . . navigation errors. Roy Cullum to the .13 The It kinda cushioned the impact Post-Dispatch reported that he “started to see Tedfords crafted the three-engine when you came down the other boats and buildings and men 20 configuration not for speed—it side of the waves.” walking on the river” near the only increased their top speed by end of his run.17 Besides the bumps and hazards two miles per hour—but to of barge wakes, the crew was busy create a backup engine for their It didn’t help that most racers the whole time the boat was catamaran, because “the boat weren’t able to eat much while the moving. Navigators kept track of could plane with two engines but pg. 26 Interest in racing on the Mississippi River rekindled in the 1980s, thanks to flashy new speedboats and celebrity competitors

deep water. Drivers couldn’t take was a three-time winner, the They ran the competition in their eyes off the river. If there trophy would be retired. Interest 1959 and 1960, then in 1961 were other crew members, they in the races was waning by then, shortened the course to end at were either watching for debris in as well. In 1929, the Post-Dispatch Greenville, Mississippi, instead the river or busy with other tasks. provided daily updates on the of New Orleans. Bill Tedford, Jr., said whoever progress of the Bogie. Most of the wasn’t driving “had to constantly successful runs after that received The Mississippi River Marathon change these fuel tanks, because press coverage both before and Racing Association returned you run out of fuel about after the race. By 1972, however, in 1970 to sponsor an event every 45 minutes.” 21 Tedford’s new record merited commemorating the one barely a paragraph in a round-up hundredth anniversary of the race The technology continued column in the sports section.22 between the Lee and Natchez. The to improve over time. Fiberglass marathon started at New Orleans hulls came into use and engines again and ran upriver to St. Louis, grew more and more powerful. The Mississippi where boats finished on July 4 in In 1929, Dr. Leroy broke the Marathon front of big crowds celebrating Lee’s record with a boat that Independence Day. Only stock could top out around 30 miles The Koenig Cup wasn’t the only boats with outboard motors per hour. In their July 1956 run, speed race on the Mississippi were allowed to compete, and the Tedford’s team sometimes ran inspired by the Lee and Natchez. race ran only during daylight at 40 miles per hour at night. In 1956, the Mississippi River hours; boats made a mandatory In 1968, Lou Cooley’s boat Marathon Racing Association overnight stop at Greenville, could hit a top speed of 140 sponsored its first annual New Mississippi. While the pre-race miles per hour. Orleans to St. Louis race. Six publicity suggested that the boats started at New Orleans, but organizers had high hopes to After the flurry of activity only the boat piloted by Byron attract competitors, only three in the 1950s, the records proved Pool and Lonnie Kirkpatrick boats ultimately entered. Bill Petty harder to beat. Bill Tedford took finished. They completed the run and John Pierce finished first. the Koenig Cup back in 1964. In on August 6, finishing about 1968, the husband and wife duo of five hours slower than the record Lou and Dorothy Cooley topped at the time. The Grace Cup Tedford’s time by 17 minutes, thanks in part to a support team The race was moved to Labor Interest in racing on the of a dozen members spread out Day weekend in 1957 and 1958, Mississippi River rekindled in the among an accompanying airplane and Pool and Kirkpatrick won 1980s, thanks to flashy new and refueling teams on land. both times, beating fifteen boats speedboats and celebrity in 1957 and twenty-eight competitors, culminating in a The last Koenig Cup was boats in 1958. Their third win record that may never be beaten. awarded in 1972 to Bill Tedford brought a quick end to the again, who ran with his usual team competition, but their 1958 finish In 1982, Larry Smith, founder (son Bill, Jr., and Nick Cioll) in established a new record of of Team Scarab racing boats, a boat they called the Robert E 29 hours and 29 minutes.23 asked Michael Reagan, son of Lee VI. Their record time of President Ronald Reagan, to pilot 26 hours and 50 minutes bettered The marathon returned in a boat to challenge Bill Tedford’s the Cooley’s time by two hours. 1959 with a new sponsor, the 1972 record. Reagan, whose Mid-America Racing Association, racing credentials included a win It was Tedford’s third win, and with two significant changes: at the 1967 Outboard World and the rules for the competition the race ran downstream from St. Championships at Lake Havasu, stipulated that as soon as there Louis to New Orleans and boats Arizona, needed some convincing, only ran during daylight hours. but he agreed when the event spring/summer ’20

pg. 27

Robert Cox holding the Grace Cup trophy in January 2020. Cox won the trophy in October 1983 when he completed the race from New Orleans to St. Louis in 23 hours, nine minutes, beating Michael Reagan’s record from the previous year by two hours. The Grace Cup was retired in 1986 with Cox as the last champion. (Image: Robert Cox)

also became a fundraiser for the achievement represented by the Johnny Mann on the throttles and U.S. Olympic Committee. New Orleans to St. Louis speed Mike Low as navigator. Reagan, run. lt is one of the most grueling though, would pilot whichever Reagan leveraged his name endurance tests in America.” 24 boat was in the lead for the final recognition and connections Like the Koenig Cup, the trophy leg into St. Louis. That turned to convince the W.R. Grace would be awarded to any boat out to be an easy decision, as Bud Company, owners of the Robert that established a new record time Light I was the only boat in E. Lee restaurant at St. for a continuous run from New position to challenge the record. Louis, to sponsor the event. They Orleans to St. Louis. donated $102,700 ($100 per mile) Even with the big budget, to the U. S. Olympic Committee Smith and Reagan signed fancy boats, and extensive and established the Grace Cup up additional major sponsors advance team, Reagan’s boat had a Challenge as the successor to the for the event they called Assault rough time. Below Vicksburg, Koenig Cup. Robert Coquillette, on the Mississippi, including Bud Light I hit a log in the river executive vice president of the Anheuser-Busch, which and lost an engine, and the crew Grace Company, proclaimed sponsored their three boats—Bud had to change the lower units on that the challenge “will stand Light I, II, and III. Reagan started their engines three times during as a permanent symbol of the the race from New Orleans in the race. At Memphis, an error incredible athletic and technical Bud Light I along with crewmates by their ground crew left them pg. 28 William Tedford Sr. and Jr., holding the Koenig Cup in 1972. The Cup was first awarded to Dr. Louis Leroy in 1929, the first person to beat the Robert E. Lee’s record time from New Orleans to St. Louis. In 43 years, Michael Reagan, the Cup changed son of then hands 13 times. President Ronald In 1972, William Reagan, holding Tedford, Sr., won the Grace Cup the Cup for the third on July 22, 1982, time, which, under after setting a the rules of the race, new record of 25 gave him permanent hours, 11 minutes possession of the for the run from silver trophy. (Image: William New Orleans Tedford, Jr.) to St. Louis. Reagan’s team spent more than $500,000 on the attempt and raised another $500,000 for the U.S. Olympic Committee. (St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, Globe-Democrat Collection)

William Tedford Sr., and Jr., in their boat, Robert E. Lee VI. In 1972, the father and son teamed with navigator Nick Cioll to set a new standard for the run from New Orleans to St. Louis, finishing in 26 hours, 50 minutes. To minimize refueling stops, they equipped the boat with multiple gas tanks, each one providing enough fuel for about 45 minutes. (Image: William Tedford, Jr.) spring/summer ’20

pg. 29 “Maybe it’s easier to put these programs together because of who I am, but, remember: The Mississippi River didn’t give a damn who was driving.” –Michael Reagan short on fuel, so they had to standard nineteen-foot Charger Reagan, he used the attempt to make an unplanned stop at New bass boat. As they sped upriver, raise money for the U.S. Olympic Madrid, Missouri, that cost them a few tow captains pointed their Committee. In spite of all the ninety minutes. The stop also spotlights on the river to help preparations, Taylor’s September prompted the helicopter that them navigate through the 1988 attempt failed. It ended, in had been shadowing them (and darkness. Like Tedford, Cox had fact, when he ran the boat onto a carrying corporate sponsors a small support crew, just a sandbar. He ultimately made five August Busch, Bernie Little, and couple of friends who helped attempts to break the record, all Bill Marriott) to land and with refueling by trucking cans of of which were unsuccessful.28 find out what had gone wrong. gasoline from stop to stop; he still managed to beat Reagan’s time Cox, too, made a few more Down the stretch another by two hours. Cox guessed he unsuccessful attempts to break his engine failed, but Bud Light I spent about $7,500 for his race. own record, including one in 1985 ultimately succeeded, breaking in which he ran onto a sandbar Tedford’s record by 99 minutes. Cox hadn’t been aware of the near Natchez. The impact broke They circled in front of the Grace Challenge Cup when he his neck. A towboat pulled the Robert E. Lee a few times, waving began the run, although he knew boat free, after which he managed to a small crowd on the floating about Michael Reagan’s record to pilot the boat for another two restaurant as a band played run the previous year. His primary hundred miles until the engine “Meet Me in St. Louie, Louie.” reason for racing had been quit. “My right arm from the to prove the endurance and middle of my right finger in the After the race was over, capabilities of the bass boats middle was numb from all the way Reagan was asked how much his he sold from his mid-Missouri there to my shoulder to my neck,” famous name helped him set the dealership. He contacted officials Cox said.29 A week after the record; he observed, “Maybe it’s about halfway to St. Louis, who accident, he underwent surgery to easier to put these programs later confirmed that he qualified remove two discs from his neck. together because of who I am, for the record. Reagan called to but, remember: The Mississippi congratulate him, and the two The Grace Company retired River didn’t give a damn who later met in Oregon when Cox the Cup Challenge in 1986, but 25 was driving.” was officially awarded the trophy. Cox came back with Jim Highfill in 1987 and beat his 1984 record The Assault on the Mississippi Oil tycoon Patrick F. Taylor by nearly three hours. In all his crew spent at least $500,000 on was the only significant challenger attempts, Cox never brought the race, while raising another to Cox’s hold on the Grace Cup. along a navigator or relied on $500,000 for the U.S. Olympic In September 1983, he prepared maps. “We just run by the seat of Committee. President Reagan a $250,000, 38-foot Bertram our britches,” he said. 30 spoke at a celebratory banquet offshore racer he called Tygertayl in St. Louis, where Bill Tedford, to break Cox’s record. Taylor had Sr. and Jr., were present; Michael never raced a boat before, but he The Budweiser Reagan had invited them as special heard about Reagan’s attempt and Challenge Cup/ guests. Tedford, by the way, spent figured he could do better.26 He Mississippi River Race about $2,000 for his slightly equipped his boat with radar and less fast time; his support crew shortwave radio to avoid hazards In 1987 eleven teams lined up for consisted of four buddies who in the river. “Hitting (a sandbar) a new take on the New Orleans bought gas in advance (with cash). is a real no-no,” he said before the to St. Louis run: the Budweiser attempt began.27 He ran with a full Challenge Cup-Mississippi River Team Reagan’s hold on the moon and with the advantage of a Race. Unlike other races, boats record didn’t last long. The next falling river and big support team competed head-to-head and year, Bob Cox and Dean Pink left that included a helicopter. Like only ran during daylight hours, New Orleans at 12:31 a.m. in a eliminating the dangers of pg. 30

Arneson entered a thirty-two-foot Skater catamaran powered by a 1,325-horsepower G.E. T 58 turbine engine.

speeding along the Mississippi at Mitchell didn’t get the chance, The Mississippi River high speeds in the dark. Teams though; he found a leak in the Cup Challenge raced 641 miles to Memphis, gas tank and had to withdraw. where they spent the night, then In 1990, Ted McIntyre founded ran the remaining four hundred Of the seventeen boats that the Gulf Coast Power Boat miles to the Arch the next day. began the race at New Orleans, Association to revive the just eight finished. Seven of those continuous run format. His The first team out of the eight boats beat Don Johnson’s company, Marine Turbine gate on September 5 was also the time from the year before. Technologies, spent $75,000 to first team out of the race. Just Childhood friends Roy Fulton, get the race going. It started and sixty miles after the start, Larry Jr., and Jimmy Jackson won the ended at the same points as the Robbins hit a barge wake at 65 1988 race, finishing in just under Koenig Cup, but unlike the older miles per hour and went airborne. fifteen hours for the two-day, competition, boats were allowed When the boat crashed back daytime-only run. River racing to replace engines and to down, the impact broke his arm. was a Fulton family tradition. carry extra engines on board. Just five teams finished the first Fulton’s father, Roy Fulton, Sr., day’s run. As they raced into won the Mississippi River One of the four teams that St. Louis the next day, a crowd of Marathon three times (1959– signed up was headed by some 25,000 lined the riverfront 1961). Fulton, Sr., also served on 69-year-old Howard Arneson, to cheer the winners. Most were Fulton, Jr.’s, support team in an inventor whose innovations probably there to catch a glimpse 1988. The faster times proved included an automatic vacuuming of the novice pilot of the 43-foot problematic for race planners. system for swimming pools and Wellcraft Scarab, a man named The top four boats finished four a surface drive that significantly Don Johnson, who was better hours earlier than expected, improved the speed and efficiency known for starring in the so no crowds on the riverfront of motorboat engines. Arneson television show Miami Vice. “It’s cheered them on. entered a 32-foot Skater treacherous,” he said. “In a catamaran powered by a minute’s notice you can be upside- Organizers had high hopes 1,325-horsepower G.E. T down or sideways or snagged for the Mississippi River Race. 58 turbine engine. Two electric in a tree. It’s a grueling run.” 31 Cities along the Mississippi bass motors boosted its wanted it to be a centerpiece of maneuverability. The boat was Johnson’s team won the race Labor Day riverfront festivals, modified to carry 300 gallons of (they were the only team to like Greenville, Mississippi’s Jet A fuel, enough to ensure complete both legs) with a time Delta Days. Organizer Elizabeth that it would only have to stop under 20 hours, but since they Gentry Sayad “hoped the race to refuel four times. only ran during daylight hours, would develop into ‘the they would not have qualified Indianapolis 500 of motorboat The race began around 7 a.m. for the Koenig Cup or the Grace racing.’” 33 Kenneth Bitting, Jr., on September 22 when Arneson Challenge Cup. the race’s co-organizer, wrote: ignited his turbine’s afterburner, “We are structuring it to become sending a plume of fire shooting Budweiser didn’t return as the the America’s Cup of Power Boat straight up into the air. Arneson sponsor in 1988, but the event Racing – the Mississippi 1039!” 34 and team, sporting orange still attracted 21 teams, including In spite of their optimism, helmets fitted with face shields Mike Mitchell of Fayetteville, they failed to raise enough money and orange life preservers, shot Tenn., who wanted to race to run the event in 1989 and out from the New Orleans harbor “for the challenge of beating had to cancel. and into a lead that they never the Mississippi.” 32 surrendered. “I made up my mind to hammer it right from spring/summer ’20

pg. 31

Publicity flyer for the 1988 Mississippi River Race. The race succeeded the Grace Cup Challenge, although the format was changed to a two-day, daylight only run. Actor Don Johnson won the inaugural Mississippi River Race in 1987. (Image: Missouri State Historical Society, Elizabeth Gentry Sayad Collection) pg. 32 In the end, Arneson shattered Cox’s 1987 record by nearly eight hours, finishing the entire run in just 12 hours and 40 minutes.

the beginning,” Arneson said mockery of it. I’m half his age, tie up for safety, was in no after the race. 35 and I was a whipped puppy.” 37 mood of depression, despite McIntyre was forced to two nights without sleep.” 38 For 1,039 miles, Arneson stuck end his own attempt at New to the main channel of the Madrid, Missouri. By the time twentieth-century Mississippi, resisting the boaters took on the Robert E. temptation to follow chutes that Lee’s record, the Mississippi River might save a few miles. As they Harry Truman vs. had been significantly altered. roared up the river at speeds Robert E. Lee The river had been shortened and up to 110 miles an hour, tow mapped and buoys placed to mark boat crews waved and yelled Virtually all of the boats competing the main channel. While that their support. for the fastest time from New reduced some of the difficulties Orleans to St. Louis were small that the Lee and Natchez had Traveling at high speed on the motorboats. In 1949, a commercial faced, debris in the river was still river was jarring. “Your eyeballs boat took a shot at breaking the problematic. In addition, the jiggle around in your head, and Lee’s record. The Harry Truman, wakes kicked up by commercial the wind buffeting—imagine built for the Federal Barge barges created hazardous trying to stand up in a 100-mph Lines in 1948, was among the conditions for twentieth-century- gale for 12 hours,” Arneson most powerful tows of its time. boats racing at high speeds. said. “I was black and blue for a Powered by twin 1,600-horse- month.” As Arneson roared into power diesel engines that turned Whether it was coal-fired St. Louis, he “had a hard time two propellers, the tow was steamboats pumping muddy seeing, my eyes were watering capable of a top speed of 18 knots water through their boilers or from big tears. You get rummy, (20.7 miles per hour). Captain catamarans powered by jet fuel, emotional, so I had to think of Willis “Cannonball” Smith the races continued to showcase other things.” Navigator Tom guided the boat from New advances in boat technology. George added: “It was a dream Orleans on March 9, 1949, But while the differences in come true. A pure delight! with the intent of breaking the technology from the Robert E. Lee That boat ran as planned and Lee’s record. to the Bogie to Arneson’s Skater history was made!” 36 catamaran are stark, technology Outfitted with the best and alone wasn’t enough to set a new In the end, Arneson shattered most modern equipment, the speed record. Some records were Cox’s 1987 record by nearly Harry Truman still wasn’t set by racers using standard eight hours, finishing the entire immune to the difficulties boating equipment of the era, run in just 12 hours and forty experienced by the power while many of the most advanced minutes. He ran so fast that he boaters. An electrical problem boats were derailed by mechanical beat his ground support team slowed them down near Profit’s or human failures. into St. Louis by two hours, Island (about 150 miles upriver even though he had traveled of New Orleans), and mechanical For Tom George, who served nearly 400 miles further than troubles near Cairo, Illinois, as navigator for high-profile them. His time was a full caused a delay of nearly three racers including Arneson and Don three days faster than the hours. The Harry Truman Johnson, Arneson’s record had Robert E. Lee’s. ultimately fell one hour and brought the competition back to twenty-one minutes short of the its roots: “In the beginning it [the Ted McIntyre, the race s record. Captain Smith was race from New Orleans to St. organizer and one of the other Lee’ in good spirits in spite of falling Louis] was a test for boats and the competitors, observed, “What short: “Smith, who derives his riverboat pilot’s knowledge of the he did to that record is going to nickname from his complexion river. Then the race became more change the whole complexion of and the fact he ‘cannonballs’ of a test for the boats. Now with the event. It’s a daytime race now. through fog when other skippers the record at 12 hrs. 40 min. 51 He devastated the record, made a spring/summer ’20

pg. 33 Edwin Koenig (right) with his father, Henry, on the front porch of their home at 3836 Kosciusko Street in 1943. Edwin Koenig, long-time commodore of the St. Louis Yacht Club, founded a competition for speed boats that was inspired by the famous Lee vs. Natchez steamboat race of 1870. Edwin shared a love for the Mississippi with his father, who had once been a prominent member of the Western Rowing Club. (St. Louis Mercantile Library Association, Globe-Democrat Collection) sec it will be a test for equipment Edwin Koenig Lindbergh, chief mail pilot of the as well the navigator’s and pilot’s Robertson Aircraft Organization knowledge of the river.” 39 Edwin C. Koenig, the son of . . . swooped down to an even Henry C. and Lizzette start.” 42 Lindbergh’s plane, “a The competition, though, also (Bruesselbach) Koenig, was a rickety old model,” easily beat tested the personal perseverance longtime Mississippi River Miss St. Louis to the finish line. 43 of competitors and their ability enthusiast, promoter of motor Lindbergh then turned to adapt to difficult conditions. boating, and avid racer. “It has the plane around and finished While all the races featured an always been my ambition to with a flourish by flying under often unstated drama pitting own the fastest power boat in the Eads Bridge. human technology against nature the world,” he told the St. Louis that fueled some of the public Post-Dispatch in 1927. 41 He set a Koenig owned three excursion interest, ultimately, the most few speed records with sailboats boats that operated on the successful racers were the ones as a young man, and in 1904 Mississippi at St. Louis, who adapted to the river’s world he built his first racing boat, a beginning with the Kabekona— rather than trying to conquer it. steam-powered craft he called “a fabulously appointed excursion And it’s not likely that these races Idlewild. He also built a series of boat”—that he owned with would have had the cultural speed boats he called Independence Andrew D. Franz; they ran staying power if they had been and regularly challenged others exclusive cruises on the held anywhere other than the to race him. On October 18, 1908, Mississippi River for the city’s Mississippi River. As George while attempting to set a speed well-to-do from 1915 to 1917.44 summed up: “The race has always record with the Independence I be[en] a great test of man and on the Mississippi at St. Louis, a Koenig also operated the Belle equipment on one of the greatest rudder broke, and Koenig narrowly of the Bends for three years after rivers in our world and always avoided crashing into one of the World War I, and in the 1930s will be!” 40 piers of the Eads Bridge. he bought the Erastus Wells, renaming it the City of St. Louis. In his role as commodore of He spent over $25,000 of his own the St. Louis Yacht Club (Ted money to convert the boat into Drewes was also a member), the headquarters of the St. he organized motor boating Louis Yacht Club. In 1938, he events—regattas—on the challenged the owners of the Mississippi River, including one steamboat to race that attracted a reported 150,000 the City of St. Louis from New spectators. In 1926, he challenged Orleans to St. Louis, even Major William B. Robertson, a offering a wager of $25,000; pioneer in aviation, to race a they declined. power boat on the Mississippi River as part of the second annual Koenig died in 1960—he was motorboat regatta. Twenty-five 83 years old—and left most of his thousand spectators on the money to Washington University, riverfront watched a full day of Saint Louis University (SLU), motorboat races. At the end, the Shriners Hospital, and Cardinal cruiser Miss St. Louis, the fastest Glennon Hospital, which is why boat of the day, took to the river. you will find a residence hall at As it passed the starting line, Washington University and a “An airplane piloted by Charles E. plaza at SLU named after him. pg. 34

Speed Records from New Orleans to St. Louis

Date Time Captain/Crew Boat Engines Event

1844, May 8 95:09 Captain J.M. Convers JM White: steamboat Steamboat era

1870, June 22 94:45 Captain Thomas Paul Leathers Natchez: steamboat Steamboat era

1870, July 4 90:14 Captain John W. Cannon Robert E. Lee: steamboat Steamboat era

1929, July 25 87:31 Dr. Louis Leroy, Harvey Brown, Bogie: 26-foot mahogany One 150-horsepower Koenig Cup Bob Hunter Chris Craft motorboat Scripps motor

1930, Aug 11 78:40* Claude M. Mickler And How III: 12-foot Did not qualify for Koenig outboard motorboat Cup: changed motors en route

1931, May 10 74:02* Frederick Smith, Harvey Brown, Greyhound: One 130-hp motor Did not qualify for Koenig E. Grady Lyle, Edmund Higgins 23-foot long runabout Cup: did not provide advance notice of attempt

1931, Sept. 28 79:46 Charles F. Schokmiller, Miss Evinrude II: mahogany Four cylinder motor Koenig Cup George Blaich, Jr. outboard motorboat

1953, July 5 79:12 Roy F. Smith, James E. Mawhee Mark Twain: Outboard motors Koenig Cup 14-foot motorboat

1953, Oct. 8 61:22 Frank G. Burkarth, John Ritchie, Cifisco III: Twin 145-hp engines Koenig Cup Herman Blattel 37-foot cabin cruiser

1954, Aug. 15 56:56 Lee Sawyer Huckleberry Finn: Twin Mark 40 Mercury Koenig Cup 15-foot motorboat 25-hp motors

1955, Aug. 5 52:53 Raymond Loetscher, Loetscher’s Little Rock: Three V-8 car Koenig Cup Charles Loetscher, Max Zeiner Homemade 26-foot steel engines configured motorboat to run together

1956, June 24 47:20 Roy Cullum, Dick Arant The Rambler: 15-foot Two 40-hp Koenig Cup aluminum motorboat outboard motors

1956, July 22 41:57 Bill Tedford, Sr., Bill Tedford, Robert E. Lee III: 15-foot Three 30-hp engines Koenig Cup Jr., Nick Cioll marine plywood motorboat

1956, Aug. 25 39:41 Lee Sawyer, John Springmeyer Huckleberry Finn: Two 40-hp Koenig Cup 15-foot plywood boat outboard motors

1957, July 12 31:11 Roy Cullum, Lynn Graham Rambler II: 16-foot Two Mercury Koenig Cup Crosby fiberglass boat 60-hp motors

1958, Aug. 31 29:29* Byron Pool, Lonnie Kirkpatrick Bing Ding III: 17-foot Twin 70-hp, Mark 78 Mississippi River Marathon Race; Crosby fiberglass motorboat Mercury outboards did not qualify for Koenig Cup

1964, July 23 29:22 Bill Tedford, Nick Cioll Robert E. Lee V: catamaran Twin 90-hp motors Koenig Cup

1968, July 7 29:05 Lou Cooley, Dorothy Cooley, 22-foot catamaran Four 105-hp Chrysler Koenig Cup Larry Rentz outboard motors

1972, July 23 26:50 Bill Tedford, Sr., Bill Tedford, Robert E. Lee VI: Twin 120-hp Evinrudes Koenig Cup Jr., Nick Cioll 17-foot fiberglass catamaran

1982, July 22 25:11 Michael Reagan, Mike Low, Bud Light I: Three 425-hp V8 Grace Cup Challenge Johnny Mann 38-foot Wellcraft Scarab Evinrude motors

1983, Oct. 5 23:09 Bob Cox, Dean Pink 19-foot Charger bass boat One 235-HP Johnson Grace Cup Challenge outboard motor

1984, Aug. 11 21:04 Les Westmoreland, Jerry Jackson, 18-foot Baja sportster One 200-hp Not sanctioned Bruce Ellingson Mercury motor

1985, Aug. 30 18:43 Bruce Ellingson, Jerry Jackson Miss Oklahoma: Johnson 3.6 GT Not sanctioned 20-foot Concord ski boat V-8 motor

1987, Aug. 7 20:15 Bob Cox, Jim Highfill 20-foot Charger bass boat 300-hp Johnson APBA sanctioned V-8 outboard motor

1987, Aug. 8 18:39* Sam Beelman, Tom Seals Not sanctioned by APBA

1990, Sept. 22 12:40 Howard Arneson, 32-foot Skater catamaran One 1,325-horsepower Mississippi River Thomas George, Jay Niccum GE T 58 turbine engine Challenge Cup

*Unofficial times spring/summer ’20

pg. 35

ENDNOTES

1 Frederick Way, Jr., She Takes the 13 “Two attempts planned on river 29 Robert A. Cox, interview with the Horns: Steamboat Racing on the speed record,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, author, December 26, 2019. Western Waters (, 1953), 74. July 20, 1956, 4A. 30 Ibid. 2 According to the Koenig Cup rules 14 William Tedford, Jr., interview with published in 1982, the official starting the author, November 25, 2019. 31 Polly Whittell, “Don Johnson Tames point of the race was the Coast Guard the Mississippi,” Motor Boating & Sailing fireboat at the end of Esplanade Street; 15 “New river record set for run from (November 1987), 36. the finish line in St. Louis was the Coast New Orleans,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Guard base at Iron Street. Departure June 25, 1956, 3A. 32 “Race kicked off Saturday,” Vicksburg and finishing times had to be recorded Sunday Post, September 4, 1988. in the official log of each Coast Guard 16 “Motorboat beats Robert E. Lee’s time facility and approved by the Duty to St. Louis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 33 “New sponsor, races on Mississippi,” Officer. See Mark Spencer, “Assault July 25, 1929, 32. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 21, 1987, 4A. on the Mississippi,” Powerboat (September 1982), 19. 17 “2-man boat sets record, New Orleans 34 Kenneth H. Bitting, Jr., letter to Mr. to St. Louis,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Ben Langley, January 30, 1989, Missouri 3 “Speed boat in race against time June 25, 1956. State Historical Society, Elizabeth Gentry from New Orleans to here,” St. Louis Sayad Collection, folder 731 f.121. Globe-Democrat, July 31, 1928. 18 “Motorboat beats Robert E. Lee’s time to St. Louis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 35 Steve Temple, “Fire on the Mississippi,” 4 “Motorboat beats Robert E. Lee’s time July 25, 1929, 32. Powerboat Magazine (November/ to St. Louis,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 1990). July 25, 1929, 32. 19 “Speedboaters set new record for New Orleans-St. Louis run,” St. Louis 36 Ibid. Jim Wood, “Howard Arneson: 5 “Outboard motorboat beats record Post-Dispatch, July 23, 1956, 7C. Marin’s Master of Motion,” Marin from New Orleans,” St. Louis Magazine (April 2008); Temple, “Fire on Post-Dispatch, August 12, 1930, 3A. 20 William Tedford, Jr., interview with the Mississippi”; Thomas George fax to the author, November 25, 2019. Elizabeth Sayad, Sept 26, 1990, Missouri 6 Ibid. State Historical Society, Elizabeth Gentry 21 Ibid. Sayad Collection, folder 731 f.110. 7 Another boat also beat the Bogie’s record but was not awarded the Koenig 22 “Sport Shorts: Miscellaneous,” St. Louis 37 Temple, “Fire on the Mississippi.” Cup. In May 1931, four Memphians— Post-Dispatch, July 24, 1972, 3C. Frederick Smith, Harvey Brown, E. Grady 38 “Towboat Harry Truman has the spirit Lyle, and Edmund Higgins—finished in 23 Pool and Kirkpatrick’s run, however, but loses to ghost of the Robert E. seventy-four hours, two minutes. Their did not meet the criteria to qualify Lee,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 13, effort was disqualified from the Koenig for the Koenig Cup. William Tedford, Jr., 1949, 10A. Cup because they failed to notify the interview with the author, November committee ninety days in advance of 25, 2019. 39 Thomas George fax to their effort. Edwin Koenig nonetheless Elizabeth Sayad. met the crew at the finish line and had 24 Spencer, “Assault on the a cup made for them to commemorate Mississippi,” 16. 40 Ibid. their achievement. Leighton Rutledge, “New Orleans to St. Louis river speed 25 Ibid, 21. 41 Tim Renken, “River run is a tough mark broken,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, one,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, February May 11, 1931. 26 Peter Hernon, “A Taylor-made 23, 1965, 6B. race for a very rich daredevil,” St. Louis 8 “New Orleans-St. Louis motorboat Globe-Democrat, September 20, 42 “Plenty of thrills for 25,000 racers win trophy and $400,” St. Louis 1983, 11A. viewing motorboat races,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 29, 1931, 10A. Post-Dispatch, July 19, 1926, 3. 27 Ibid. 9 Ibid. 43 “Boating enthusiast Edwin C. 28 Three teams beat Cox’s 1983 record, Koenig dies,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10 “Up-river speedboat record beaten but none was sanctioned by the July 5, 1960, 3C. by 17 hours, 50 minutes,” St. Louis American Power Boat Association Post-Dispatch, October 9, 1953, 4C. (APBA), which had become the de facto 44 “Edwin C. Koenig,” Bulletin of the authority ensuring consistency between Missouri Historical Society, XVII, October 11 “Sawyer sets speedboat record from racing attempts. In August 1984, 1960, 107-8. New Orleans to St. Louis,” St. Louis Les Westmoreland, Jerry Jackson, and Post-Dispatch, August 16, 1954, 3A. Bruce Ellingson reached St. Louis in twenty-one hours, four minutes. The 12 “Record-breaking boat men tell of next year, Jackson and Ellingson finished difficulties during river race,” St. Louis the run in eighteen hours, forty-three Post-Dispatch, August 6, 1955, 3A. minutes. In August 1987, Sam Beelman and Tom Seals beat Jackson and Ellingson’s time by four minutes.