Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-09-30

rather DE Smet Tor many years mis-
Slonary and manager Of Catholic mis-
sions among the Indians. lie happened
to be on board the boat, as he frequent
ly was on expeditions Of this kind. 1t
was decided that Clark should be dis
posed Of, for IL was evident thnt there
was no snfety for the boat while he re-
NAMED on board. Ponies were secured
from the traders ut Fort Peck, ~ miles
distant, who had come to see the steam
boat, Clark, with two or three others,
who were anxious to get to Fort Ben
ton, started with very little prepare
tions. Before the Indians had got over
their CONSERVATION, Clark, whom none
OF them knew personally, had got be-
yond the reach OF their fleetest horses,
and, through the influence of Father
De Smet, they probably never pursued
him.
Among the passengers on the Nellie
Rogers ON that day was tom Dorris,"
n young man from St. Louis, bound for
the gold mines at Helena. lie was one
of Clarks companions in the Gilpin
race. The riders traverescd the dis
lance Of 200 miles in three days. The
cause for the murder OF young McKen-
zie was never definitely ascertNined.
II was believed that an old grudge ex-
listed that wns to be settled in that way
whenever the parties met. Nothing was
ever heard OF Clark afterwarl beyond
n letter written by gentleman living
at Findlay, o., in 1850. The story here
told was published In Cincinnati paper
Mt that time, and the announcement
was made of Capt. e. W. Goulds forth
coming book. This gentleman, who re-
quested that his name be not used,
wrote that he met Malcolm Clark ut
Fort Benton in 1862. Clark, he said,
was n man to be feared, but gentle.
man when not angry. lie was married
to a beautiful half-breed girl, with
whom he seemed to live quite pleasant.
ly. She had brother named Isadore,
who made his home with Clark and
hunted and traded with him. In 1865
Clark moved to Prickly Pear creek and
located ranch there. For some rem
son Clark became cruel and overbear-
Ing TO his wife. After enduring It for
awhile she appealed TO her brother for
protection. He and Clark had an al.
tercation, in which Isadore shot and
killed him.
On the 3D. Of January, 1874, the whole
city of st. Louis was thrown into con-
steInation and feverish excitement by
the report that the steamboat Shep-
herdess had been wrecked in Cahohia
bend, only three miles from the center
OF the city. Many lives were reported to
have been lost. Several boats were inn
mediately dispatched to the scene OF the
disaster, and the worst rumors were
soon verified.
The Shepherdess, while ascending the
Mississippi river on her wny from Gin
cinnatl to st. Louis, struck snag at
II o'clock ut night just above the mouth
of Caholia creek. The night was dark
and stormy. The conclusion was Sc
we're, and several planks were torn from
the bottom of the boat. There were be-
tween co and 10 passengers on board.
Most Of them had retired, but four or
five gentlemen in the cabin were sitting
around the stove, for 1t was cold, winter
weather.
In less than two minutes after the
boat struck the water rose to the lower
deck, where most of the passengers in
that part of the boat were asleep. The
captain ran to the cabin occupied by the
women and assured them that there wns
no danger. Then he returned 10 the
forecastle and is supposed to have been
washed overheard, as nothing was seen
or heard Of him nfterward. One of the
pilots attempted to descend into the
hold for the purpose of examining the
leak, but the rush of water quickly
drove him back.
Shrieks Of distress arose from the
deck below, and several women who ran
to the stern railing reported that they
saw u number of persons struggling In
the river. The water rushed In with
tremendous ropidity, and before three
minutes had elapsed it had risen TO the
floor Of the upper cabin, Some persons
ON the upper deck saved themselves by |
getting into o ynwl, which was cut
loose and rowed to the shore with q
broom,
The rapid rise of the water caused all
those who could to seek safety on the |
hurricane deck. This position was not |
attained without great difficulty, for the |
bow had sunk so deep in the water that |
the only access was by way Of the stern. |
the boat was drifting down
the stream, and few hundred yards |
below she struck another snag, which |
rose above the surface. This threw the |
steamer nearly on her beam ends on the |
larboard side.
Drifting from the snag, she again
lurched to starboard. With every lurch
several persons were washed of. Some
IF them reached the shore, but many
were drowned. A short distance below,
just above the first shot tower, the hull
struck q bluff bank, which again ca
reened the boat nearly ON her side. The
huL and cabin parted, The former sunk
md lodged on a bar above Carondelet,
while the cabin hoated down to the
point Of the bar below that place, where