The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-01-31
Original Story.
FRONTIERSKETCHES
By JOHN J. HEALY.
NUMBER FORTY.

The steamer Cutter, commanded b,
Captain Frank Moore, wintered at tht
mouth Of the Marias river in the winter
of I8G+5. The Cutter was small stern
wheeler, built for the upper Mississippi;
trade, but attracted by the high rates then
paid for freight, had started for Benton
with load Of merchandise and private
stores. She was at first accompanied by
two other steamers, bat the latter were
pressed into service by the military, then
engaged n extensive expeditions on the
LIVER river against the Sioux Indians.
The Cutter continued her journey to
Fort Benton, but arrived SO late in the
season that her Captain concluded It
would be wiser plan to winter his vessel
III the ne;ghJorhool of Benton than to
run The risk or straHdiug her upon d sand
Lar and having her captured by the
hostile Indians who then swarmed ia
multtudes along the stream. The mouth
Cf the Marias was selected for winter
quar- ers, having safe eddy for protection
against ice gorges, and believe the
vessel passed the winter without sustain
ing AM injury whatever.
1t is more than probable, however, that
the Captain Of the Cutter had other
reasons for wiatering his boat IL Mon
taDa. Moore was All excellent steamboat
Captain, a Jolly companion and q sarewd
business Spectator. He soon became
taYorite with the few solid men Of the
Territory, and the cabin Of his vessel was
the scene Of numerous Publications during
the lo1g winter evenings. He rode over
the surr ,un ing country, examined the
river oretuly between the Marias and
Benton, and for some distance above the
latter pcilt, and I think formed the
oliAion there and then that Benton was
too hi, h up for the head Of navigation.
At all events he soon made trip to
Virginia City, then the only settlement Of
importance in Montana, and In company
with N. ". Burr.s, supposed capitalist,
aud Bob Dole, son Of Commissioner
Dole, Of Indiana, made the return trip
to Benton, via tie Missouri river above
the Falls. During the voyage, soundings
ore taken and the possibilities Of naviga-
tins u upper river with steamers built
IL. the purpose, were examined as
thoroughly as circumstances would per
init. The Falls were also examined, and
at various favorable points locations for
manufacturing towns and populous cities
were married out.
The first session of the Montana Legis-
lature convened at Bannack in the winter
Of lS54-5, and when Moore ana his com
rades returned to Virginia City, they with
others were granted "a charter for the ex-
elusive right to navigate the Upper
Missouri for the term Of twenty years, and
tlso t. establish the towns Of Opher, East
ana West Opher, embracing both sides Of
the Aarjas river for some distance above
its mouth and the bostom lands Of the
Missouri opposite these points. The lat !
ter grant was intended TO prevent another
company from starting rival town. !
Whether or u II this much favored com d
ploy ever Intended to place steamboats, !
lhs river above ths Falls, ] ana unable \
to say, but they we're undoubtedly il 9
earnest regarding the new towns, as they y
proceeded at once 70 gather q crowd Of >
hardy aIventurers from the upper country \
to assist in building pp Bsnton's pro.
pasel rival Among the men thus Ell G
listed Was Frank Angevine, who with i
.,r5 got townsite oil the brain and Il
went to work with d win to establish the II
ophers, beliorciDg they we're to be the pi
future head ofnAyigltioa aud that Ben 81
too was too high uP ever to amount to b
anything ms & river town. At
There appears to Be i fatality attending to
every effort to establ sh i rival town or al n
III opposition to Benton's com n
n@rejA Or flnighting interests, and the de
p.eseot egors was no exception. The
b.aek.cet ana Blood Indians Of the Isl
-s2'ta were At th.s time at war with every ev
value thing within tae borders of Monta NJ
~ aad, incredible u II may seem, they SCI
'#Se encouraged iii ttts5Ir hostility by the sa