Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-07-22
ANIGHT ON THERIVER
THE LAST RUN ON THE MISSOURI
OF THE MARTHA MITCHELL.

Never doubt anything you hear about
the treachery Of the Missouri river. The
oldest pilots on the stream-those griz-
lzled fellows who went 10 Fort Benton
on trips that Melted from $1,000 to go
900 oach-will tell you that ''tie up
over night Is the only way to insure
tho passengers that the morning VIII
not find them stuck on bar in mid
stream, or, what IL worse, camped on
shore with tho boat pinned by snag
and settling In. the mud. No modern
gnag boat can keep the channel clear Of
the heavy logs that are always floating
down from somewhere up along the
Dakota, Iowa or Nebraska shores, green
at first AZ torn from caving banks, but
dead, hard and splintered when most
dangerous. SnRgs that stick their noses
above the water are little TO be feared,
but the hidden logs, those whose limbs
are caught in the mud, while the trunk
swings up within foot or two of the
surface, have always made steamboat
ing ON the Missouri aprecarious occupa-
lion.
remember ono instance, however, in
which visible snag sent good side
wheel boat 10 the bottom ON one of the
dearest, brightest nights that ever hung
over the river. II was in 1850, or per-
haps year later. The boat was the
Martha Mitchell, q tramp from the low
or waters, running from Cincinnati to
New Orleans. She was making trip
TO 81. Joseph with provisions for the
plains, mostly bacon; and bacon, let me
tell you, was a necessity In the west
then. The passenger list of the Mitchell
was heavy, 80 that many Of the travellers
were forced 10 remain on deck. IL was
10 o'clock on u moonlit night in August
The captain had gone 10 bed for won
der, and only sleepy Waterman who
sat astcrn represented the executive
among those awake on deck, A dozen
passengers were seated about the big
bell forward, telling stories while they
reveled in the beauties of the night.
Tho moon was shining with clear,
white light that made everything for
100 yards ahead M plainly visible M ut
monday. There was no noise save the
dull throb, throb, throb of the engines,
the gentle puff of tho released steam
and the breaking Of tho water on the
wheels paddles.
Sundenly Jack Caruthers, young
fellow from st. Louis, gazed forward in
the course OF tho boat, and pointing 20 n
small, black object Just discernible in
the distance, asked:
whats that thing, boysg'
"a log probably" returned an old
timer. They're always floating about"
"But I've been watching IT," Caru-
theirs went on. "aud she hasn't moved
much"
The entire party looked at the black
object in the distance. II grew palmer
as the boat climbed the stream, but not
IA II II were floating down ON the cur
rent-the approach was too slow.
"Soo there" Caruthers exclaimed.
Its swinging from side 10 side"
Funny" said the old timer. but IL
shos snag the pilot II got around il all
dsht"
by his time all Of the deck passengers
wo4S looking at the black object. The
boat did not change its course There
WI no more comment-all eyes were
r'al on the dark spot in the river.
Who the boat waa within forty feet of
u tl. DID timer sprang up and placing
b. b. 81 IA trumpet fashion about his
moutn allied back 90 tho pilot:
"u0.Ip, up thorer
IA was no reply, aud the nose of
tho nI boat continued straight for the
OBJ
or choruaed the party.
]. what Ia FTP came grufT an
m
ow her hard 30 lRrboard. !" the old
ta said; "Thero'a n big snag twonty
f front"
ere was "a changing Of bells below
d. q, and the passengers In their herths
Sen lao boat lurch violently IA the ma
rf cry was reversed and tho steamer
ur erred her rudder. But IL was too
iff IN thirty soconda there was an
~ jar. greater than the FIRST. The
m is noso seemed 10 climb into the
ait % effort was made to back the
bnl. at 10 would not bulge. Then the
iH gors became panic stricken, run
uih about IN their night garments and
Grcatening 10 jump overheard. The
clear headed captain was ON hand In a
moment, however, and before the old
eteamcr had settled foot every passon-
ger was started for the shore.
In the morning we watched the cabin
Of the Martha float OF while we stood
On tho groat bluffs Just above Roche
port Then the hulk sank out Of sight.
The owners u the Martha did not
save their bacon. The sleepy pilot
saved his by escaping through the woods.
We only Wondered that he did not run
Us ASHORE befOro the accident, but the
captain said that he knew the river 50
will there that his work WAS mechani-
cal-Dcsroit Free PrcSs.
a
Eicctrte Test f0r Spurious coins
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