The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1924-08-28
NARROWED ON THE MISSOURI DIM 1881 RIVER
PASSENGERS SPEND ANXIOUS HOURS WHEN
LOW WATER STRANDS BOAT AT cow ISLAND

Kentucky. WITH t arm.
people were two surgeons, and
lieutenant, who was taking re
|cruits to Assinaboine. There wa
also a full quota of civilians OF
board, most of them never having
been in Montana, but about t
seek their fortunes there.
1t was a pleasant company, anc
the weather being much coolel
there was promise of an enjoy
able trip. The first day, however
a fleeing rumor reached our ears
that the river was falling rapidly
and unless we made good time
doubt was expressed of Our being
able to reach Fort Benton.
Breasting the current is always
more difficult than floating with it
At this time the current was not sc
strong as earlier in the season, but
the shallow waters left more sand
bars exposed, and made the navi-
cation of the river much more
difficult.
/. "Isn't it a pity" I said to the pill
OF one day, "the Missouri has SO
many twists and turns"
mo" he replied, IF it hadn't
we'd never get up it."
Hour after hour while the day
light lasted, we labored up the tor
tuous channel, at less and less rate
of speed. When the sun went
down, and it was unsafe for travel,
the boat tied up to the shore.
Sometimes the more venturesome
passengers went on the land, and
frequently the soldiers seized the
opportunity to swim.
One evening several of us were
sitting on the front deck, enjoying
that greatest pleasure, Of idly
watching others work as the roust-
abouts went to and fro over the
gang plank, bringing on board the
iext days supply of wood. There
we're nc mosquitoes to annoy US,
md it was delightfully."- cool. Sol
were swimming near the
,oat. We could see their heads
!bove the water, and hear them call
o one another. Suddenly there
anne a cry, "Helpl Help!" 1t
net with no response.
There's a man drowning out
one of the civilians said to
he lieutenant.
ooh, no." was his careless an
wer, she is only doing that to call
ttention to himself"
No further cry was heard, and
ext morning at roll call a recruit
id not answer to his name. The
atal under-tow of the river had
another victim. On Our
ormer trip, it was the daughter
f a Sioux chief now it was a
rivate soldier. There arose a
reat lamentation over the death
f the former; I heard no mourn
lg at the loss of the latter.
One night my eldest child had a
svere attack of the Group. For
inately there was a doctor near at
and to give advice and assistance,
.hich was all that was required.
[e said he must have some hot
alter, and at once went in search of
, but the fires were all out in the
lgine room and the pantry. His
,arch did not prove entirely unsuc- !
as he brought back with I
a tin cup partly filled with cold |
alter. This was heated over alv
mp, and the steam generated soon /
relief to the patient. 1t
as a simple remedy that probably {
ould not have been tried, had the {
octor brought medicines with him,
if a drug store could have been /;
,ached.
A couple of days after this Incl
emit we arrived at Cow Island.
he river had fallen alarmingly,
aking it questionable whether the
oat would be able to make the +,
own trip, if it started at once. /;
here was no longer any thought
its going farther UP the river, j