The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-05-15
A THRILLING INCIDENT.
FATHER DE sMET AND THE MUIR
DER OF YOUNG M'KENZIE.

Without Word Clark Fires tho Fetal
shot-His Successful Flight-A Chapter
in the History OF Early Navigation OF
the Upper Missouri.
The following description of an exciting
event, which, at the time, excited wide spread
attention, forms an interesting chapter in
Capt. L. w. Gould's work on 'The Naviga-
ton of Western Waters:
Perhaps no river in the Valley of the Mis-
sissippi has been the scene Of so many thrill
ing events, Indian fights, steamboat wrecks,
hairbreadth escapes and perils from naviga-
ton rs has the Missouri
Previous to the discovery of gold in Mon
tana the American Fur company and its con-
temporaries 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 annum, adding another from time
to time as their trade extended up the river
The arrival OF departure from St. Louis of
s'mountan boat" created about as much ex-
element and curiosity at that time as did
that of Peyonge or Mackinaw boat loaded
with skins and peltries at an earlier date.
| While the Indians were at peace with each
other, the steamboats, annual trip was looked
forward to by them with pleasure and great
anxiety, as it was their source of supplies,
and of them Indians are always short.
ACTORS IN THE TRAGEDY.
The Rev Father De Smet, for many years
missionary and general manager Of Catho-
lie missions among tho Indians of the nor tn
west, was not unfrequently passenger on
these pioneer boats
The black gown which he always wore in
4
great veneration, as the representative of
the Great Spirit. His amiable and suave
manner always assured them, as it did every
one else, that no evil could befall them in his
presence, and he was, when known to be
near, q constant check upon their habits of
dissipation, quarrels and hostilities
No matter how fierce the feuds between
different tribes, he went fearlessly from one
to the other to allay any connection or fight
and was always respected.
The writer saw this practically illustrated
while lying at the mouth of Milk river, some
200 miles below Fort Benton, in 1864.
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 navi-
cation was not considered very safe. Boats
were occasionally fired into. when running
close to shore, and when lying up at
night always kept picket guard, and the
pilot was protected 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
a tragic event occurred, through which, had
it not been for the presence of Father De
Smet, the steamer Nellie Rogers and prob
ably some of her crew would have been sacri-
feed for the cruel and unprovoked murder of
| young Mckenzie, the son of a prominent mcr-
chant of st. Louis, whom many st. Louisans
will remember MS a very estimahle gentle
man. He at one time was an Indian trader
on the Upper Missouri.
He had married squaw, Indian fashion,
and raised family Of half breeds, "a part of
which he took to the states and educated.
This young man, then about 80 years old, had
| returned to his tribe, the Crows, married
and was living at Fort Peck, acting, perhaps,
in the capacity Of interpreter. He, with his
| wife and ono young child, together with a
large number of Indians of both sexes and OF
oil ages had encamped on the bank opposite
where the boat was discharging. They al
had access to tho boat and were constantly
passing to and fro.
But as the bar on tho boat had been closed
by Mr.. Chouteau's order, who had the boat
under charter, no excessive drinking was
allowed. There had been on board as a pas
senger all the way from st. Louis Mr..
Clark formerly from Philadelphia, quiet,
gentlemanly man OF education, who for the
previous ten or twelve years had been living
among the Indians-principally at Fort Ben
| ton