Old Man River: Upper Mississippi River Steamboating Days Stories, Tales of the Old Time Steamboats and Steamboatmen

Excerpt from Old Man River: Upper Mississippi River Steamboating Days Stories, Tales of the Old Time Steamboats and Steamboatmen
Of course every captain who had a fast boat sought the first opportunity to test Captain Worden's claims. The "White Cloud," a fast side-wheeler, tried conclusions with the "Key City" and was beaten. The "Northener," a really fast boat, had a race with her through Lake St. Croix. This was a river classic. The race began at St. Paul and ended at Prescott. Here the "Key City" hoisted her broom. Ned West was the pilot of the winning boat, "as fine a pilot as ever turned a wheel."
In one of her following races the "Key City," leaving St. Paul heavily laden with freight, beat the "Keokuk" to Lake City by over two miles. Then she beat her to Reads Landing by about one and one-half miles. At Wabasha her competitor was one mile behind the "Key City." The "Key City" made business landings at Alma, Minnieska, Fountain City, Winona and Trempealeau, thus consuming over an hours time and yet she was only one mile behind her opponent when the "Keokuk" reached La Crosse. The supremecy of the "Key City" was unquestioned.
The "Key City" was loafing along upper Lake Pepin, towing a heavy barge, when she met the "Messenger," a big and fast Lower River side-wheel steamboat. The latter blew her whistle, a challenge for a race. That was enough for Captain Worden. He put some men aboard the barge and set her adrift. His firemen began sifting in rosin with the cordwood, and, it is presumed, hung a grate-bar on the safety valve. It did not take the "Key City" long to strike her gait. The chimneys of both boats were soon red-hot. The "Key City" soon overhauled and passed the "Messenger." Running far enough ahead of her to make such a proceeding safe she ran across the bow of her rival, and circling back returned to her barge.
Other fast and powerful steamboats, among them the "Tishmongo," "Tigress" and "Resolute" tried to wrest her laurels from the "Key City," but all had to take the wash of her stern.
The fast run of the "Grey Eagle" in 1858 between Dunleith (East Dubuque) and St. Paul was 24 hours and 3 minutes, with 21 landings.