sentences:  It became famous as the participant against another Mississippi paddle steamer, the "Robert E. Lee", in a race from New Orleans to St. Louis in June 1870, immortalized in a lithograph by Currier and Ives.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.