| Birth: | 1816 | | Death: | 1896 | 
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)
Family links:
Spouse:
Charlotte Celeste Claiborne Leathers (1832 - 1913)*
Children:
Bowling Starke Leathers (1855 - 1919)*
*Calculated relationship
Cause of death: killed by a bicyclist on St. Charles Street in New Orleans
Search Amazon for Thomas Leathers | | | Burial:
Natchez City Cemetery
Natchez
Adams County
Mississippi, USA
Plot: On Steamboat Road |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Aug 06, 2000
Find A Grave Memorial# 11420 |
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REST IN PEACE
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Dolores
Added: Dec. 1, 2012 |
T.P. Was my 6th Cousin. I come from a long line of Asa's. My Uncle was Asa, Mmy Grandfather was as well and so on. Capt. Leathers belongings, along with photos and documents are stored at the Cabildo, next to St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. The Museum...(Read more)
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Asa Leathers
Added: Jul. 3, 2012 |
My mother was Cardelia Leathers. That makes Capt. Tom my 5x Grandfather. What a cool Guy! He was actually asked to be Commander of the Confederate Navy in Charge of Mississippi Defense by Jefferson Davis, however he declined. We still maintain he won the ...(Read more)
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Tom Thie
Added: Mar. 22, 2012 |
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(4.3 after 12 votes)
