Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-09-10
THEH HERALD.
The First Steamboat
rr.0n 3. KIlbourn city Mlrror.l

Quincy, Adams county, we gather
the following facts in reference to the
first steamboat ever passing through
the Wisconsin DelEs Mr.. Kingsbury
says:
In the Spring of 1874, Capt, Hot
telling of the old milwaukee," once
popular boat running between But
falo and Green Bay, entered into an
arran cement with Andrew Dunn OF
Fl. Winnebago, now Portage, to
Mace A steamboat on the Wisconsin
river, and in jane proceeded to Nau-
VOC, where he bought boat called
the maid of Iowa." from the Nor.
moss, and took her to Galena, where
Capt. Kiugsbury went abroad of her
ss ''pllot." A cargo of freight, con-
ssting of Cincinnati pork, Illinois
flour, teas, sugars and general sup
plies for the pinery and Fit. Winnie
bago, besides number ofpassengers,
leaving Galena the last of June, went
to Prairie du Chien, thence back to
the mouth ofthe Wisconsin running
nm the river some two miles struck a
sand bar which detained her over
night. The next morning, the river
being on the rise, the boat proceed
ed on her way up the river, encoun-
tering no farther trouble until reach
ing Point Basse, upwards of 200
miles from the mouth.
The boat stopped at Helena, Shot
Tower, and Sank, where she remain
ed over night. The next morning
she took a pleasure party on board
tor Fort Winnebago, some thirty in
all, among whom was the exiled Hun
garian, Count Hjarasthy, DIR. Wood
ruff, now of Fox Lake, Chas. Davis,
afterwards killed at Lemonweir,
Frank Chapman and others whose
names are forgotten. She arrived at
the Fort about p. m. where the ex-
cursionists were received by the off
cers. Col. John Macintosh, after
wards killed at the battle of Mon
terey, was in command at Fort VIM
nebago.
The party remained over night,
having happy time. Next day re-
turned to Sank, accompanied by a
number OF officers and people of the
fort, returning up the river the Same
evening. On the next morning the
boat started up the river, arriving at
the Elbow of the Dells at about 2 p.
m A great deal of argument was
INDUCED in by the officers of the
boat as to the best means of getting
through the Dells as it was feared
the feat could not be accomplished
with safety to the craft For steer
ing, an oar, after the manner of those
used upon RATS, was tried without
success. 1t was then decided that
the passengers and crew should go
ashore with ropes on each side to
guide and assist in pulling her through
lhs Nsrrows. Everything being IN
readiness, with the help about equally
divided upon either bank, under COM
msnd of Andrew Dunn, the engineer
was instructed to "put on steam, y
when the boat walked along up the
stream, leaving those on shore look
ing after her in establishment. She
proceeded to the head of the Dells
whore she lay up for those left be-
hind.
These parties had labourous task
to encounter in making three miles
by land. They would explore every
ravine to the river, only to find they
must go farther up stream. After
some three hours they succeeded in
reaching the boat. The steamer then
proceeded on her way, landing for
the night at or near the mouth oil
White Creek. The boat reached
Point Basse the following day at 10
O'Clock, where her freight was IN
loaded. The next day she started on
her return trip, havingno trouble un-
til after passing down through the
Dells. When rounding the point just
below where the Kilbourn dam now
is, she struck the rocks breaking her
wheel house. The wheel was fixed
and the boat ran down to the Fort,
lying there long enough to repair
damages, then proceeded to Galena
and took on another load of freight
and came up to the Fort again. Re-
turning from this second trip, she ran
on to q snag and sunk just below
Prairie du Chen, and thus ended the
career of the first steamboat ever run
ming above Portage and through the
Dells.
The Maid ofIowa was 8 full rugged,
side wheel Mississippi boat. She was
1870 feet long, 20 feet beam, and 30
feet over her guards, drawing, light,
about 16 inches of water Her en-
gines were 14-inch cylinder with 4
feet stroke. She had two 40-inch
boilers.
Years previous to this the steamer
Otter had made several trips to Ft.
Winnebsgo. After this the steamer
Enterprise made number of trips
through the Dells to Point Basse.