The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-22
STEAMBOAT ARRIVES.
Old Time Missouri River Navigator
Relates Early Day Experiences.

The sound of a steamboat whistle,
which is familiar to old-time residents
of this city, brought q large crowd to
the lower levee about 8 o'clock Thurs
day morning to welcome the govern.
mept boat Mandan. Her trip up the
Missouri river from Sioux City has
occupied severa! weeks, part OF the
! time being occupied 10 removing
snags, and making new charts Of 10.
calities in which the curse of the
river has been changed.
Captain Gould, who is in charge of
the Mapdan made several visits here
in steamboa ting days, and is renew
ing acquaintance with many OF his
old.time Fort Benton friends. The
Manda an is a strongly built boat, 10
structed especially for river work, the
hull and lower deck being covered with
steel sheathiug. Her bow is fitted with
derricks. from which is suspended a
massive snag-liftiug apparatus with
iron jaws that will accommodate any
obstacle that 1t is desired to remove.
Among the visitors who are in town
to meet the Mandan is Captain Marsh,
one of the pioneers in upper Missouri
river ste amboat traffic. who made fire..
Quent trips to this point in the seven.
ties, his last visit dating back to 1879.
Captain Marsh relates many interest.
ing stories Of steamboating in early
days, one Of them relating to a bust.
ness trans action with w. G.. Conrad,
the we'll known Montana banker, who
was at that time employed by |. G..
Baker.
Captain Marsh was in charge Of the
steamboat Josephine, which was loaded
with a cargo Of freight from Sioux
City to Fort Benton, and as it was
late in the seaso it seemed probable
that the boat could not come further
up the river than Cow island. Upon
his arrival At that point, Captain
Marsh found Mr.. Conrad camped
there with bull teams, and was in.
formed that the low stage of water
would prevent him from reaching Fort
Benton. He inquired the rate for
hauling from Cow island to this city
and as it appeared TO be exhorbitant
it was decided to proceed up the river
and the Josephine being of light draf,
managed to reach her destination.
Two larger boats were scheduled tc
follow the Josephine, and in the mean
time MIR. Conrad had tested the depth
of the water at various places between
| Dapphin rapids and Cow island by
wading into the river and using g
! sounding stick. BE discovered tha'
= the larger boats could not possibly
b pull through some of the shallow
> places. and patiently awaited theil
i coming. When they arrived and thu
{ question Of treighting the merchandise
t to this city was discussed, Mr.. Con
: rad quoted q rate that was three o,
e four times the steamboat. rate from
Sioux City.
The steamboat men refused TO pa,
the price, and attempted to continu'
their trip up stream, but they sooI
encountered trouble and concluded t
: accept Mr.. Conrad's terms.
Captain Marsh will go down tn
Missouri river with the Mandan i,
the interest of the Benton Packet CON
( pany, to inspect the conditions an,
. report to Captain l. p. Baker, mana
ger of that line, with a view to run
ming q s~teamboat between this poin
. and the mouth of Milk river. 1t i
z proposed to inaugurate this bushes
the present season il possible.