, 1889-08-15
AN ADVENTURE.
Father De Smet Saves the Life of
the Slayer of Young
Mckenzie.
A Chapter in the History of
Early Navigation on the
Upper Missouri,

ShupNcI III captain E' w. Nouiu . Noih
on "The Navigation of Western Wa
ters."
Perhaps no river in the valley of the
Mississippi has been the scene of so
many thrilling events, hlndian fight,
steamboat wrecks, hairsbreadth escapes
and perils from navigation as the Mis-
souri,.
Previous to the discovery of gold in
Montana, the American Fur Company
and its contemporaries and predecessors
in the fur trade monopolized about all
the traffic there was above Sioux City,
commencing soon after the Introduction
of steam, in 1919, with one boat per an.
mum, adding another from time to time
as their trade extended up the river.
The arrival or departure from st;
Louis of mountain boat" created
about Us much excitement and curiosity
at that time MS did that of Pevonge or
Mackinaw boat loaded with skins and
peltries at All earlier date, While the
lupians were at peace with each other,
the steamboats, annual trip was looked
forward to by them with pleasure and
great anxity, as IL was their source Of
supplies, and of them Indians are al.
ways short.
ACTORS IN THE TRAGEDY.
The Rev. Father De Smet, for many
years missionary and general manager
OF Catholic missions among the Indians
of the Northwest, was not unfrcquently
II passenger on these pioneer boats,
The black gown which he always
wore in the presence of Indians inspired
in them great veneration, as the repre-
sentative of the Great Spirit. His
amiable and suave manner always as
sured them, as IL did everyone else, that
no evil could befal them in his presence,
and he was, when known to be near, a
constant check upon their habits of dis
sipation, quarrels and hoStllities.
No matter how fierce the feuds be-
tween different tribes, he went fearless
ly from one 10 the other to aliay any
commotion or fight and was always re-
spected.
The writer saw this practically illus
trated while lying at the mouth of Milk
river, Some 200 miles below Fort Benton,
in 1884.
At that time the Sioux Indians were
at war with the United States and with
many tribes of Indians. Their country
bordered the Missouri river for many
miles, and navigation was not consid-
cred very safe. Boats were occasional ly
fired into when running close to shore,
and when lying up at night always kept
"A picket guard, and the pilot was pro-
tected by shields of boiler iron when
under way. This was very low water
year and we were two months getting to
the mouth OF Milk river where we were
obliged to store our cargo. While lying
there tragic event occurred, through
which, had IL not been for the presen &c
of Father De Smet, the steamer Nellie
Rogers and probably some of her crew
x.zt,lI hax,a. ha.,, ,,ptl .NaI Z IA 4
and unprovoked murder Of young Me.
Kenzie' the son of prominent mer.
chant of st Louis, whom many St Lou.
isans will remember as n very cStimable
gentleman. He at one time was an In.
dian trader IN the Upper Missouri.
He ~ "-. t a squaw, Indian fashion,
and r iumily of half breeds, a
| part oi y he took TO the states and
eduCate,,, This young man, then abou2
| 80 years old, had returned to his tribe,
the Crows married and was living at
| Fort Peck acting perhaps in the capa'
| city of Interpreter He, with his wife
and one young child, together with a
large number of Indians of both sexes
and ofall ages, had encamped on the
bank opposite whore the boat was dis.
charging. They oil had access TO thr
boat and were constantly passing 70 and
fro
But as the bar on the boat had been
closed by Mr.. Choteau's order, who had
theboat under Churterno excessive
drinking was allowed There had been on
board as q passenger all the way from
st. Louis Il Mr., Clark, formerly from
Philadelphia, a quiet, gcntlcmanly man
of iucation, who for the previous ten or
twelve years had been living among the
Indians-principally at Fort Benton
THE MURDER AND FLIGHT.
several hours Mckenzie camo on board
with others and stepped into the cabin,
and Just rs he got abreast of the stove
in the hall, Clark stepped out of his
state-IoOm, which was one OF the finest
rooms In the cabin, with pistol in hand,
and without word from eitheruf them,
Instantly fired and Mckenzie fell, shot
through the heart.
His wifo was one of the first who
rushed on board, with many of heI
kindred and friends, and the excitement
soon became intcnsc--on the part of the
Indians, for tho sudden death of prem.
inent member OF their tribe; on the part
of the passengers and crew, for fear oi
summary vengeance from the Indians
who were entirely masters of the silua.
ton. The fires were out, and, OF course
no steam could be had to move the boat
| for some hours. Father De Smet and
his black gown seemed about all that
stood between an outraged body o.
| lighting Indians, and the Nellie Rogers
| her passengers and crew, until CLARK
could be disposed Of While he wa.
fearless and Indifferent, II was evident
there was no safety as long as he re-
mained on board. Ponies were secureo
/ from the traders at Fort Peck, twely,
miles distant, but who had come to see
| "the steamboat" Clark, with two OF
| three others, who were anxious to get tc
! Fort Benton. started with very littlt
preparation, and very little delay, uno
''stood not upon the order of their go
ing" And until they We're well ou Of
tho Crow country it was thought nc
grass would grow under their horses
feet"
Before the Indians had gotten over
their surprise and CONSERVATION, Clark
whom none of them knew personally
had gotten beyond the reach of theiI
fastest horses, and through the infu-
ence of Father dc Smet, it is probable
they never pursued him. Tom Dor
ris. a young man from st. Louis, bound
for the gold mines at Helena, then Just
beginning to attract attention, was ont
of Clark's travelling companions during
that John Gilpin race. subsequently II
was learned that no halt was made nm
| til Fort Benton was reached, and the
distance, 200 miles, covered inside OF
three days.
As there was no law and but little
| Justice In that country then, no invest.
cation was ever made, and no cause evei
assigned for the sudden taking of OF
McKensie,
1t was believed an old grudge existed
that was TO be settled in that way when
ever the parties met 1t was afterwarc
said by Clark that he was the author o
several similar tragedies previous tc
| the one at tho mouth of Milk river. al