Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1875-1878, 1878-05-17
A lightning Sfea,s boat Ride.

blemdrck correspondence 81. raul F1Oneer kree1
The steamer Far West was moorcd ut the mouth
of the Lite Big Horn. She the supply boat
Of the expedition and had made her way mp the
Big Horn farther than any other bont She had
performed one exploit unprecedented In western
river navigation in reaching the mouth Of the Lit
tic Big Horn: and was rcady to perform another
uncquallcd in stcanboaiing in the West. Tho
wounded were carried on board the steamer snd
DR.. Porter was detailed to go down with them.
Tcrry's Adjutnnt General. Col. Ed. Smith. va.
sent along with the official dispatches and a hun
drcd other messages: lie had 4 travelling bng full
Of tccgrnms for the Bismarck office. Capt. Grant
Marsh. Of fankton. was in command Of the Far
Vest he pat everything In the complctrrt order
and took on large amount of fuel. lie received
orders to reach Bismarck as soon as possible. He
rrdcrstood his instructions literally. and nevsr
did ri er nan obey Them more cous -ieniioasl.. I.
On the evening Of the third Of July tn. steamer
weighed anchor. In u few minutes the Far West,
70 tittingly named, wns under full head Of steam.
It was strange land. and IN unknown river.
What cargo on Tint steamer: What news fox
crnmcnt. to Fort Lincoln. to the widows.
1t was rushing from field Of havoc to nation
Of mourners The steamer Fnr West never. re-
ceivcd the credit due her Neither has the gallant
Marsh. Nor the pilots, David Cumpbell and
John johnson. Marsh. too. acted II. pilot. II
required all their endurance and rkill. They
Ger. whose name IL not known to me. did his duty.
Every one Of the crew IL entitled TO tho same ae-
acknowledgement. They felt no sacrifice was too
great upon, that journey. and in behalf Of the
wounded heroes. 4 very moderate imagination
can picture the scene upon that
FLOATING HoSPITAI-
There were wounds Of every character. and men
more dead than alive. The suffering was not
terminated with the removal from the neld 10 tho
boiler deck. 1t continued and ended in death
Here again the son Of \. i. Mills, Of the cmpiro
State. was tested. Porter watched for hftv-iOur
hours. He stood the test. The Big Horn River
the bosom Of a June risc'' is not an easy feat.
The Far West would take shoot on this or that
side of an leland i, as the quick Judgment Of the
pilot would dictate. 1t s no river in the EASTERN
sense Of that word 1t is only creek 4 steam
bont moving as fast as railway train in narrow.
winding stream Is not pleasure. II was NO
hcadland. and the pilot the only power to save.
Occasionally the bank would be- touched aud tho
men would topplc over like ten.pins. 1t WAS .
struck Down the Big Horn the heroine went,
missing islands. snasn and shore. 1t was thrill
ing voyage The rate Of speed WAS unrivalled In
staunch craft shot. and down that scaled river t."
pilots she made over twenty miles an hour. Tho
sold captain was taking chances hut he scarcely
thought OF them en- hG was Under nylng ORDER;
to keep mp steam at the highest pitch. Once
the guagc marked pressure that turned his cool
head and made every nerve in his powerful frame
quivcr. The crisis passed and the Far West es-
| capped fate more terrible than Clusters. Once \
stop was made and shallow grave explained tho
s% " IL thu, Sns
rapids, every mile 4 repetition Of the former:
From the Yellowstone into the broad Missouri.
and then there was clear sailing. Therc was a
deeper and wider channel and more confidence.
\ few minutes were lost at BufOrd. Everybody
at the fort was beside himself. The boat was
crowded with inquircrs. and their inquiries wero
not half answered when the steamer was away.
At Bcrthold wounded scout was put OF. and At
Fort Stevenson brief stop to tell in a word
| what had happened. There was no difference In
the speed from Stevenson to BiAmarck. Tho
same desperate rate was kcpt up tn the end.
They were approaching home with something Of
that feeling which always moves the human
heart At II o'clock on the night Of the 5th OF
One thousand miles In hfty- four hours, was th,,
proud record. You have Capt. Marsh's challenge
to produce duplicate. '1.t -