The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-01-20
interesting Early Day History
Is Related in Book by For.
mer Yankton Man.
BLocKADED BY BuFFALoEs

BL0CKADED BY BUFFALOES
From The Sioux City Tribune.
Missouri river navigation enthusiasts
cause in THE Conquest of the Mis-
souri," just published by A. c.. McClurg
& Co. The book presents graphic pic
lures of steamboating in the early days
when the Missouri really was navi-
gated. reading as entertainingly as a
novel. While primarily a biography of
Captain Grant Marsh, the famous old
In retirement at Washington, N. d.,
The Conquest Of the Missouri con-
tatns many interesting chronicles of
western life in the pioneer days and IL
a valuable contribution to the history
Of that period.
work in Sioux City and vicinity. The
author. Joseph Mills Hanson, is a for
mer resident of Yankton and has many
friends in the Dakotas. AS one Of the
most important ports on the river in
the early days Sioux City is largely in
volved in the story OF Captain Marsh's
trips. And the famous old steamboats,!
Of recollections to old timers: Nellie
Peck. Far West, 'Ielena, Benton, Tenn
pest, Nile. Stockdale, L"alla, Marion,
Silver Lake, Key West, Josephine. Car
roll, E.. H. Durfee. Sioux City, Yellow
stone, Batcheler. w. J. Behan. Little
Eagle, Expansion. A few OF these boats
still ply upon the river.
And What 1oats!
What boats they were! Wood vas
used for fuel. and the waste in these
days would be consil cred a%trocious.
There is t:4e story Of the big steamer
Nebraska. which had a battery Of is
boilers. Captain Marsh tells it to the
effect that 1T landed at q yard and took
on 100 cords Of wood. AS there were
to the captain held 1t up to the bank
by the outside wheel. which made It
necessary to keep the engines going.
When the fuel was loaded and the boat
ready to start, 1t was found that all the
wood taken aboard had been used up in
holding the boat to the bank.
Mr.. Hanson relates a thrilling story
of a steamboat race from Sioux City to
Fort Bentt>. To quote from the narra-
tive:
after the close Of navigation in 1871,
several of the interests on the upper
river combined in forming a large COM
panN, h object OF which was to Sc
cure complete control of the steamboat
business there. The new concern was
known as the Coulsen Packet company,
famous in Missouri river history, and
Commodore Sanford b. Coulson and his
brothers. Captain Martin and John
Coulson, Captain James c.. McVay,
Captain John Todd. Captain Grant p.
Marsh and Messrs. Durfee & Peck. The
boats originally owned by this power
full syndicate We're the Nelson Peck,
West, Western, Key West, e. H.
Durfee, Sioux City and Mary McDon-
aid.
with the coming of spring, 1872,
there opened the most prosperous sea-
son in h history of the upper river.
This was largely h result Of the COM
pletion Of the Northern Pacific railroad
from Fargo to Bismarck, in northern
Dakota territory. As usual. a food of
settlers followed the railroad. spread
ing out along the eastern side Of the
river, n the needs of all these people
greatly increased the demands for
steamboat transportation.
They're Oft!
ut did not Jake long for the boats to
prove themselves. The Nellie Peck and
the Far West developed great superb
GRITTY over the others in point of speed,
and the question Of which Of them was
entitled to be regarded as the sovereign
of the river became an absorbing one.
AOSkAA IOoN1 AAAoNS SoAIy S1lpS " cOEk
Benton in the spring, the Nellie Peck
arriving there on May IS. the first boat
in, and the Far West on May "a. the
second arrival. They happened to return
to Sioux City in such time that one
could load Immediately after the other.
Captain Marsh was loading his vessel
when the Far West appeared, her gal
liant captain, Mart C%oulson, taking in
the possibilities Of the situation at a
glance. The Nellie Peck had no sooner
cast off her lines than the Far West
took her place at the levee, rushed her
cargo on board and swung out after
her rival. which had got the start.
1.-THE season was the middle Of June
and the Big Muddy was booming bank
full through the bottom lands. It was
an ideal stage for stcamboattng and
everything was %propitious for a race to
the finish. The Nellie Peck had the
larger cargo. and both boats transacted
ings, but Captain Marsh kept his lead
for 1870 miles. Then, at Dauphin's
Rapids. only 103 miles below Fort Ber-
ton. the Far West overhauled and tri-
umphantly passed him, beating him to
the Benton levee by several hours, on
June 80: The local admirers Of the Mel
lie Peck were much cast down by this
result. while the delight of the opposite
party was increased by the fact that
the Far West had broken all previous
records for the run between Sioux City
and Benton. making it in II days and
20 hours.
But Captain Marsh was not discour-
aged, even though his friend, Mart
Coulson. was now gaining the advan-
tage of the first cargo and the start,
which he had enjoyed at Sioux City.
He loaded his boat as quickly as pos
stble and started after his rival, al
ready some hours ahead, determined to
her even IL he collapsed q fue
in doing 1t. There was little business
to detain either of the steamers on the
run, and officers and crew
gave. themselves up to the excitement
OF the race. Mart Coulson we'll knew
that the Nellie Peck was pursuing him,
and his men were using every effort to
keep their lead. Neither boat stopped
storm or for night. and neither