 This "Natchez" had beaten the previous speed record, that of the J. M. White in 1844.Stripped down, carrying no cargo, steaming on through fog and making only one stop, the "Robert E. Lee" won the race in 3 days, 18 hours and 14 minutes.By contrast, the "Natchez" carried her normal load and stopped as normal, tying up overnight when fog was encountered.