The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-14
1rpms OF THE SEVENTH VOLUME.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE INDIANS AND THE STEAM.
ROAT

The first steamboat that ever assembled the
Red River, was called the Western Engineer.
Il was small, low vessel, then belonging to
the government, assembled the Red River about
the year 1915 or 16. on a voyage of explora-
ton. The funnel which is intended to carry
ofthe smoke, and which ordinarily stands up
right like large pillar in tie centre of the
boat, was so contrived as TO lead the smoke 10
the bow of the vessel, which was fashioned TO
resemble the head of an enormous serpent
When the red sons of the forest beheld this sim
cular locking object rapidly advancing against
the powerful current, without the assistance Of
sails or oars, bearing the white men on lis DO.
som. and vomiting from lis mouth fire and
smoke, the simple, but awe struck savages lin
ed the banks ofthe river and declared they
wcuid never take up the Ratchet against the
white men. who could construct and control
such useful and huge fiery canoe
Mr.. Calhn, the eel braled Indian traveller.
who is now in Europe. in his late work OIL the
Indians, gives the following Interesting des-
cripiion of his voyage in the first steamboat up
the Missouri:
"lf any thing ever did astonish the Indians.
il was steamer. These poor ignorant peo-
pIe, for the distance of 1000 miles up the Mis-
souri, river. had never seen or heard ola steam.
beat; and in the same places they seemed at
loss what 10 do or how to act; they had no
name for it-so it was, like every thing else
with them) which is mysterious and unaccoun-
table, called medicine (mysery.) We had on
board one twelve pound cannon and three or
four eight pound swiveIs, which we were TAX
ing up to arm the fur company's fort at the
mouth of the Yellow Slone;and at the approach
of every village they were all discharged sew
eral times in rapid succession, which threw
the inhabitants into utter confusion and amaze
mcnt-some Of them threw their faces TO the
ground, and cried TO the Great Spiri-some
shot their horses and dogs, and sacrificed them
10 appease the Great Spirit, whom they con.
ceived was ofended--some deserted their vii
lage and ran 10 the top of the bluffs some miles
distant: and others, in some places, as the boat
landed in front of their villages, came with
great caution, and peeped over the bank Of the
river 10 see the fate of their chiefs whose duty
il was from the nature of their office) TO ap
preach Us. whether friends or foes. and go OF
board Sometimes in tbs plight, they were IN
staniIy thrown neck and shoulders-men, wo-
men, and children, and dogs-sage, sachem
cd and voung--all in a mess at the frighi'u
disc..orge of steam from the escape pipe, which
the Captain of The boar let DOSE upon them for
his own amusement.
There were many curious conjectures a
mong their wise men with regard TO the ma.
ture and powers of the steamboat. Among the
Mandaus, some called it the big thunder ca
noe; for, when in the distance below The village
they saw the lightnings fash from the sides
and heard the thunder come from it; others cal
led it big medicine canoe with eyes; it was
medicine (mystery) because they could not I'm.
dcrstand it; and it must have eyes, for, said
they, sit sees lis own way and takes the deep
water in the middle of the channel" They
had no idea of the boat being steered by the
man at the wheel, and well might they have
been as;onished at lis taking the deepest wa
ter.''- Youths Medallion.