The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-03
ALONG THE MISSOURI tND YRLl0H-
STONE RIVERS.
Scenes and Incidents OF the Trip In
1879

1879 arrived in Bismarck, d. T., then a
rough town called into existence by the
| temporary termination of the Northern
Pacific railroad and the Black Hills min
| ing excitement. 1t was the point from
whence all boats plying in the upper
water loaded passengers and merchan-
Aasd Nnleaded freight These boats
drew about four feet of water and were
propelled by stern wheel and power
ful engine. and had been built expressly
for the short summers work of supply
ing the trading companies with goods
and bringing down peltries; then trans
porting troops to the posts built along
these streams, to intimidate and subju
gate the savages; and in the year 1876
the steamboat Josephine, captained by
Grant Marsh, daring navigator, ascend
ed the Yellowstone river to the Big
Horn and took aboard the wounded of
that
MEMORABLE FIGHT
of that year, landing them few days
after at Ft. Lincoln, many miles from
the scene of the battle.
Slowly the steamboat on which had
taken passage wended its way against
the strong current. 1t was in charge of
the redoubtable Marsh, who had started
on the voyage much against his WILL
In his Judgment the journey had been
taken two weeks too soon, ,bnt the wishes
and arguments of the boats owner at
last prevailed and he reluctantly under
took to reach the mouth of the Big
Horn, over 1000 miles of dangerous
water course. The majority of the pas
sengers were bound for the tongue river,
which they hoped to reach in seven
days. The first day all vas smooth sail
ing, though the weather was 50 cold that
passengers were fain to. remain in the
cabin. On the second day trials began,
the captains brow clOuded and those
used to these streams were greatly con-
sternated by finding the boat aground.
Two poles had hung at the PROV of the
boat and many were the pilgrims con-
lectures as to their use. These were now
speedily lowered to the sand bar, and by
the use of a powerful engine called the
"nigger," the boat was hoisted by slow
degrees over the unseen obstacle. Hour
after hour and day after day was this
hardworked "nigger" made to propel
the heavily ladened craft. The "roust-
abouts" or deck hands certainly earned
their wages on this trip, and if within
easy reach of town would, it was easy
to perceive, have abandonded the boat,
their wages and the continued carousal
which they afforded Beside the spars,
the boat was propelled by making long
line fast to what is termed a''dead-man"
a heavy piece of timber securely fastened
in hole, SO that when the "nigger" was
stared the solid earth was made to
Withstand the tremendous strain, and
unless the engine or rope broke the boat
was hauled for some distance. By these
mean the boats were carried over dan
gerous rapids.
On the tenth day boat was deserted
a long distance off, She proved to be
DISABLED
by broken wheel and rudder, and
was waiting for returning steamer to
tow her to Bismarck. Fortunately she
was close to shore when the accident
occurred or it might have become seri-
GUS calamity, as the swift tide would
have born her rapidly down stream and
although enable to steer her, the mo-
mentum attained without the counter
action of the wheel would have been
sufficient to demolish the boat had she
encountered a rock or run ashore. All
of the merchandise she had carried had
beed unloaded and g guard placed over
it to keep off prowling Indians. On the
next day our boat landed at TT. Buford,
at the mouth of the Yellowstone river.
The soldiers, the few ladies, the agency
labolers and the Indians, Gros Ventres
and Crees, were all on the banks and re-
garded the harbinger of spring, the bear
er of breadstuffs and state luxuries, as d
thirsty traveller of the desert approaches
an oasis The sutler store at once be-
comes the sceneS of confusion. Boxes
are urloaded, uncovered and articles dis
posed of without mark; no grumbling at
prices. Here is trapper who wants
bacon, sngar and Coffee He has waited
weeks for the first boat, but the display
of bfight-eolored garments, new guns
and Indian trnkets is not to be over
come. He rashly purchases everything
that takes his eye, flaming silk hand
kerchief adorn his neck, and his squaw
or sweetheart is soon loaded with color
ed ribbons, brass rings and bracelets, and
gay eOlored blankets. In his anxiety to
and when he comes to settle his score he
finds that instead Of getting money from
the trader for his furs he had brought
in, he is in debt considerable amount
He does not grumble bllt receives his
necessities and starts for his summers
hunt among the mountains, to the salts
| faction of the trader who not only has
obtained large profit on his goods, but
has secured all of his skins for the nexi
season. by slight financial obligation
This is no imagined sketch, but a rsua
occurrence at the time Iwrite about.
Every sntler in these days had an
ENyEABLE BONANZA.
Every post had one Of these stores which