The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-02-19
BY Mrs. Martha Edgerton PIassman

In the spring of 1881 l was livini
in Fort Benton, which had been il
the midst of a promising boom
: Great predictions were made of thu
probable growth of the town due tt
, its being the head of navigation OF
the Missouri river and one of the
main distributing points of the state
These predictions were not dream:
of Missionaries; they might have beer
verified had not the advent of rail
roads proved a death blow to river
traffic.
Those who are familiar with the
Missouri know that only in the sum-
mer during the brief period of high
water could steamboats, make the
entire trip from st. Louis, or inter-
mediate cities, to Fort Benton. Ere
quently the last boats to undertake
the journey were forced to land pas
sengers and freight at some remote
point, leave both to their fate, and
speed away down the river before the
rapidly falling water left them
stranded for the winter. But during
the season the town saw exciting
times.
When the whistle of the approach
ing boat was heard from the bend of
the river below town every Indian
woman threw her shawl over her
head and raced with the children to
the 'levee," which was not a levee,
simply a landing place, to be on hand
when the boat arrived. Then the
stores took on a festive appearance,
with their exhibits of new goods of
brilliant hues, admirably adapted to
catch the eye and make inroads on
the purse of the visiting Piegan.
Then dances were given on the
boat to the select few who constitu-
ted Fort Benton society; and, in re-
turn, the officers of the boat were
Hospitality entertained. All too swift
ly the days sped from May to August,
when, with the closing of navigation
the town relapsed into the usual SOM
nolent condition until the coming of
spring should awaken it to new life.
On Anticipated Steamboat
Because of the short season, those
who would visit the ~"east," that is to
say, any place between st. Paul and
the Atlantic, and who would leave
the country and return by the river
route, sought passage on the early
boats. 1 was of this number in the
year mentioned, and was fortunate,
so I thought, in securing a stateroom
for myself and two small children on
the Star of the West, the first boat
to arrive.
Despite its beautiful name, Star of
the West was a dilapidated affair
that from its years of hard service
had we'll merited the right of retire.
ment. 1t was fairly clean, but UNI
speakably dingy in appearance. AS
1 star, whether of east or west, it
was a notable failure.
1t numbered among its passengers
a colonel of the regular army, al
quiet, dignified gentleman; his wife,
sensible, u-nassuming woman, who
sewed on buttons and kept her hus-
bands clothes in order; a captain of
The army seeking treatment for dou-
Die vision-an embarrassing COM
plant for an officer, 1t would seem-tt
and accompanying him his wife and
children. There were also three or {
Jour wives Of officers, whose hus- /
bands we're stationed at Fort ASSN
Besides these there were
several other passengers, mainly wo-
men and children, from different
parts of the territory. !.
The final preparations concluded, |
last goodbye said, the plank was Z
lrawn in and we soon rifted down :
he river out of sight of town on our |
ong journey through the wilderness, ,
where we were more out of touch .
With the outside world than one q
would be now in crossing the Allan >
ic or Pacific. We were thrown on E
,ur own resources for amusement.
Ours proved to be an agreeable COM '
iment that always prevails where d
representatives of the army are :
into contact with civilians. I
This was intensified by the attitude =
If the officials of our boat who, with I
n eye for fat army contracts, gave Z
precedence at table and elsewhere to !.
'fficers and their families. Il
Army Friends Very Gracious 5
We Of the c~ommonality accepted g
'ur inferior position in all humility. T.
We always have done so, and there- :.
ore it may be inferred that we al 9
Ways shall. 1t must be admitted, 9
Iowever, that our army friends were 9
unusually gracious and contributed Il
to the pleasure of the jour- q
icy. G.
We found no difficulty in killing u
me. When the weather was favor p
BILE we sat on deck, not reading or "
linking more than we were COM 81
'elled to, and lazily watched the p
LIQUIDS, the brown water and the des- 9,
late landscape drift by. Now and u
hen we ran on a sand bar, when the II
onkey engine was brought into ac- II
ion, and its rafting and snorting as
! strove to set us afloat furnished
Telcome diversion, accompanied as tt
was by the sing-song voices of the in
len taking soundings. There was tt
ne daily climb to the pilot house to ii
Interview the pilot, the process of in
wooding up" to observe with its al
ong lines of roustabouts passing to in
fro over the gangplank, and the
OCCASIONAL stop at an Indian agency ST
discharge freight. On rainy days &C
evenings there were cards and st
o~nversation in the cabin; and, on nj
ne acknowledgements occasion, a til
buffalo were sighted a half mile
way, numbering along parallel with pa
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