Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1898-06-10


hours. All that seemed TO stand be-
tween an outraged body of fighting
Indians and the Nellie Rogers was Rev.
Father De Smet, for many years mis-
sionary and manager Of Catholic mis-
sions among the Indians. lie happened
90 be OIL board the boat, aS be frequent
IL was on expeditions OF this kiad. Ii
was decided that Clark should be dis,
POSED of, for il was evident that there
was 40 safety for the boat while he r.
ula'ucd on board. Ponies were secured
from the traders at Fort peek. !! miles
distant, who mad come 90 Soc thcstcam.
boat. Clark, with Two or thrce others
who were anxious 10 get 20 Fort Ben
ton. started with very little prepara-
tions. Before the indians had got over
their CONSERVATION, Clark. whom none
OF them knew personally, had got bee
yond the reach Of their dcctest horses,
and. through the influence OF Father
De Smet, they probably never pursued
him.
Among the passc. gers or the Nellie
Rogers ca thai day WAS TON Doris"
n young mau from -. Louis bogud for
the guld mines M Helena. Hr was orc
OF Ciark'S companions in the Gilr,n
race. IT." riders travcre-cd tile dis
tanoe Of 900 miles I'm three days The
cause for the murder Of young McKen.
zie was lever definitely a>r,rtaiued.
It wa, believed that an Old arutge ex-
iStcd taat vas 10 ue settled ia th1t way
ever hcard Of Clark aftcrsard beyond
a letter written hy gentleman living
a. FinG.pY. O.. IN 1850. The story here
told was published ia "a Cincinnati paper
1t tAat time. ard the announcement
was made Of Capt. j.. w. Gouid'> forth.
comin" book This gentleman. who re.
quested that his name be not used
wrote that he met Malcolm Clark AT
Fort Denton IN lsc2. Clark. lee said
was a man TO be feared. but gentle
man when rot angry. lie was married
90 a beautiful half-breed rirl. win
whom hc seemed 10 live quite pleasant
IT,. She had a brother named Isad0re.
who made his home with CLARK and
hunted and traded with him. In 1868
Clark moved 10 Prickly Pear creek and
located a ranch there. For some rea,
son Clark became cruel and overbcai,
ing TO his wife After enduring ii for
awhile She appealed 20 her brother FOR
protection. He and Clark had an al.
tercation, in which Isadore shot aid
killed him.
On the 81 Of January. s44. the whole
city OF st. Louis was thrown into con.
sternation and fev%rish excitement b,
the report that tha steamboat Shep
herdess had been wrecked in Cahokis
bend, only three miles from the center
OF the city. Many lives were reported TO
have been lost. Several boats were i'm
mediately dispatched 10 the scene of the
disaster, and the worst rumors were
soon verified.
The Shepnerdess. while ascending he
Mississippi river on her way from Gin
cinnaG 10 ST. Louis struck q snag NJ
IL o'clock at night just above the mouth
Of Cahokia creek. The night was dark
and stormy. The conclusion was Sc
we're, and several pldnEs were torn from
the bottom of the boat. There were be.
tween co and 20 passengers Oh board.
Most Of them had retired. but four or
live gentlemen i'm the cabin were sitting
around the stove. for twas cold. winteI
weather
Tn less than two minutes after this
beat struck the water rose TO the loves
reck. where most OF the passeu gers IT,
that part Of the boat We're asleep. Tho
captain ran 10 the cabin occupied hy the
women and assured them that thcre vaa
no danger. Then he returned 80 the
lorccastIc and is supposed 10 Lave been
washed overheard. ms nothing r-ae seen
Or beard Of him aftcrward. One OF tho
pilots attempted 70 descend into tha
hold for the purpose of examining tho
leak. but the rush OF water quickly
drove him back.
Shrichs OF distress arose from the
deck below. ana several women who ran
20 the stern railing reported that they
saw number Of persons struggling IN
the river The water rushed i'm with
tremendous rapidity. and before three
minutes had elapsed il had risen 10 the
loor Of the upper cabin. Some persons
cu the upper deck saved themselves by
getting into yawl. which was cut
loose and rowed to the shore with "a
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 thC-water that
the only access was by way OF the stern.
Meanwhile 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 srag. she again
lurchcd TO starboard. With every lurch
several persons were washed eft. Some
of them reached the shore, but many
were drowned. 4 short distance below,
lust above the first shot tower the hull
struck Il bluff bank. which again ca
rcencd the boat nearly on her side. The
hull and cabin parted. The former sunk
ov1 foJpaI m l.r nhoVa 4 n Ial Of