The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-07

Calttain Marsh then proceed
ed. up the river with the omar
celia" to the Yellowstone. Jus1
above the site Of this city he
discovered the twisted hoops
and iron tires and other medal
parts of the wagon train be.
longing to the Minnesota Indi.
ans, who had retreated before
the expedition under General
Sibley. They burned their wa.
CONS on the river bank, being
unable to transport them across
the Missouri.
Following this CAPTAIN Marsl
was placed in command of the
"Luella," this being lis first
chief command. He made the
river forts during the days of
the Vigilantes, and could recount
incident and incident Of their
summary justice to evil doors.
captain Marsh worked on the
Missouri river running be-
tive n the lover river ports and
the government forts for years
The trip Of the Gear West"
with the wounded from the
battle of the Little Big Horn:
following Clusters i'll fated ex-
peditson, who were landed here
is one Of his most remarkable,
experiences.
The steamer Ear Vest was
moored at the mouth of the,
Little Big HON. She was the
only supHiN boat Of the eNpedi7
ton and had made her way up
the Big Horn farther than any
Other boat. She had performed
one exploit unprecedented in
west m river navigation in
reaching the mouth of the Little
Big Horn, an,,i was ready to
Perform another uncqualled in
steamboating in the west. The
wounded We're carried. on board
the steamer, and DR.. Porter was
detailed to go down with them.
Adjutant General Col.
Edwin Smith, was sent along
with the Officials dispatches and
a hundred other messages. He
had a travelingbag full of tele-
for the Bismarck office.
Grant Marsh, Of Yank-
ton, was in command Of the
Far West" He put everything
in the compl sent order and
took on a large amount Of fuel.
received orders to reach Bis
.arck as soon as possible. He
llnd' r.tood his intructions liter
ally, and never did a river man
obey them more conscientiously.'
On the evening of the Bird Of
July the steamer weighed an
,hor. In a few minutes the cad
so fittine]y named, was
Under full head of steam. 1t,
vas a strang land, and an I'M
known river. What a cargo on
hat steamer! What news for
he &C untry! What a story to
larry to the government, to Fort
lincoln to TIE widows.
1t was rushing from a field Of
lavbc to a nation Of moruners.
me steamer GEAR West" never
'eceiNed the credit, due her.
Tor the pilbts-Dawd Campbell
Neither has the gallant Marsh. |,
nd John johnson. Marsh, too,
'cted' as pilot. 1t required ALI |,
heir endurance and skill They
'roved the men Tor the en1er-
The engineer whose
lame is not known now, did his
Everyone Of the crew is
ntitled to the same acknow+
edgment. They felt no sacri
ice was too great upon that
quincy, and in behalf Of the;
rounded heroes. A very moder,
tie imagination can picture the
cclit upon CHNC
There were wounds Of every; +,
and more dead than {
The suffering was not. :
ar1m mated with the removal :
ON the. field to the boiler !,
eek. 1t continued and ended, ;
I death more than once before {
'ort Lincoln was hailed. Port1lf
r watched for fifty+four ho1ms. !,
lie stood the test. The Big ;
Torn river is full Of islands and !
successful passage even on the. :
ossom Of a "June rise" is mott !
n easy feat. The "FNar West" !
Guild make a short run on this
that side Of an island as The
'licl judgment Of the pilot
'ouM dictate. Tt is not a rived
| the eastern sense of that q
ord, it is only a creek a steam !
oat moving as fast as a rail-
'ay train in a narrow, winning
is not a pleasure. Tt was
~ vTLnoexo~A on.okn- ~. I.,II