The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-31
" Outh's Depart ma G nat.


THE INDIANS AND THE STEAMBOAT
The first steamboat that ever assembled the Red
River, was called the Western Engineer 1t was
small, low vessel, then belonging to the govern.
ment assembled the Red River about tho wear 1915
or 16, ON voyage Of exploration. The funnel
which is intended TO carry off the smoke, and
which ordinarily stands upright like a large pillar
in the centre of the boat, which 50 contrived as
10 lead the smoke to the bow of the ell, which
was fashioned to resemble the head OF an enormous
serpent. When the red Of the forest behe dths
singular looking object rapidly advancing agans,
the powerful current, without the assistance of sails
or oars, bearing the white men on its bosom, and
vomiting from its mouth fire and smoke the simple
but awe struck savages lined the banks of the
and declared they would never take up the Ratchet
! against the white men, who could construct and
control such useful and huge fiery canoe.
| Mr.. Catin the celebrated Indian traveller, who
is now in Europe, in h is late work on the Indians
gives the following interesting description of his
voyage in the first steamboat up the Missouri
eff any thing ever did astonsb the Indians, il
was steamer. These poor ignorant people, for
The distance of 1000 miles up the Missouri river
had never OF head Of q steamboat; and in the
same places they seemed at loss what TO do or how
to act; they had name for it-so it was like ev.
cry thing else with them) which is my sterious and
unaccountabe, called med, c,he (tnys,ery) We
mad on board one twelve pound cannon and three
or four eight pound vivels, which we were taking
up to arm The fur companys fort at the mouth O
the Yellow Stone; and at the approach of every
village they were all discharged several times in
rapid succession (which threw the inhab tants into
| ter confusion and amazement-some OF them threw
their faces to the ground, q cried TO the Great Spr
it-some shot their horses and dogs, and sacrificed
them TO appease the Great Spirit, whom they con.
ceived was offended-some deserted their village
and ram the top of the bluffs some miles distant
and others, in sonie places, the boat landed il
front Of their villages came with great caution ane
peeped the bank Of the river to see the fate
their chiefs whose duty it was (!rom the nature o
their ofice)to approach us, whether friends foes
and 60 on board. Sometimes in this plight, the,
were instantly thrown neck and shouders-men
women, and children, and dogs-sagc, sachem ole
and young-all in mess at the irightfuI discharg,
of steam from the escape pipe, which the captain
OF the boat let loose upon them for his own amuse
ment.
There were many curious conectures among
their wise men with regard to the nature and pow
ers of the steamboat. Among the Mandaus, some
called it the "big thunder canoe; for when in the
distance below the village, they saw the lIghtnngs
fash from the sides, and heard the thunder come
from it; others called it big medicine canoe with
eyes; it was medcine(mystery because they could
not understand it; and it must have eyes, for said
they tit sees its way and takes the deep wa
ter in the middle of the channel" They had nc
idea Of the boat being steered by the at the
wheel, and well might they have been astonshed
at his taking the deepest water. "-Youhs Medal
! hon