New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-22
PIONEER TRIP TO FORT BENTON.

From The NJ Lopis Democrat, dso. II.
Some fifteen or twenty years sgo, when Council
Bluffs and Omaha were Indian country and st. Joseph
was considered the furtheimost point OF civilization
the Missouri, Pierre Chouteau, , OF this city, well
known the head Of the American Fur Company,
ceved the project Of navigating the Upper Missouri by
steam. The project was pronounced foolish and im-
possible by many Of that gentemans friend, and part
rers and steamboat men generally, and the loss Of any
boat with which the trp should be attempted
tdenty predicted. Finally, by taking ali the Response
tlty and Tsk upon himself, the attempt was msde and
the cation Of the Missouri River as far I'D as the
mouth Of the Yellowstone, nearly three Thousand miles
from here, pronounced practicable. As was right and
proper, large and pecuniary reward in the trade OF
that country resulted to Mr.. Chouteau, whose ndi.
vdual courage had ipaugurated the popular and
widely known mountain trip
Since then several captains have colteDded for the
honor ofreschng the highest point on the Missouri
I'LL this year the honor rested with Capt. Durac who
made trip with the FL Paso to the mouth of Mix
River, some 30 miles above the Yelo wstOne During
the last Winter Charles T. Choueau acting under the
advice OF his father Pierre Chouteau, r, determined
he could obtain the contract for carrying I'D the
lndian stores from government, to make attempt to
reach For Benton by steamboat. Succeeding in get
ting the contract, he Immediately chartered the Chip
pewa to run 10 Fort Union in connection with the Com
pany's boat the Spread Eagle, and from thence to
take the Government supplies to Fort Benton. A
large proportion of the risk upon the Chippewa
taken by the American Fur Company, insurance
offices beirg cautious about taking risks upon boat
which, in their opinion, had many probabilities in
favor Of her oss. AS in the case of the Pioneer trip
10 the Yellowstone SO in this failure and loss weIe
predicted on every hand.
When the boats arrived at Fort Union, Mr.. Chou
teau proposed to buy the Chippewa. The terms of
the charter allowed the owner, at any point of more
than ordinary danger, TO abandon the trip. As the
river much lower at that point than had been an
ueipated, Mr. Chouteau very much feared that Capt.
CTspster might rehnqush the trip, and thus compel
him 20 abandon the enterprise, which he and his able
adviser, Capt. John II. La Barge, believed would
prove successful. Under these circumstances, the
Chippewa was purchased for the extfavagant sum Of
near $1,000. Capt. La Barge took charge of her,
ard on the 80 Of July, she lei Fort Union with 49,
tuna Of freight 10 or Il passengers, and crew of 10
or % men. Every arrangement had been made which
tended toward success ANA the determination was eI-
pressed to pat her through even If il had TO be done
over dry bars. At only point wss the channel
found so shallow as 10 be serous impedirnent ana
there the men hurried into il, dug out with shoyes
ard the boat pushed On.
The channel between the rocks on the rapids wss
found to be so ranow that there was great danger.
should the boat sheer of in the least Of her being
dashed 70 pieces. To svo,i this, the anchor was
placed ahead, and The boa. pulled by the capstsn
On lie 18th OF July me Chippews reached For.
beI'or aIa Tic ns' easou q De Missouri Ryer FOR