The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-01-08
A Steamboat Trip on the Missouri
Presented a Rare Opportunity for
RetrOspectiOn of the Old Northwest

them came Prince Macmillan. Sir
George Gore, a relative of KosciuskO.
and other titled men, either from
love of adventure, or for scientific
study. OF the cOmmOnalty, the names
OF Lewis and Clark, Agassiz. Father
DE Smet, Bonneville, Wyeth will sug-
gest themselves to those who know
the story of these posts, especially
that of Fort Union, at the mouth Of
the Yellowstone.
The "~fire-bOat," according to DIR.
Eastman, was not unexpected by the
Sioux, as it had been predicted that
such a strange craft would some day
ride the waters of the Mississippi: vet
they were not the less filled with as
constituent and awe, when the pro
phecy was fulfilled, and the first
steamboat successfully combatted the
strong current Of the mighty river.
breathing out a huge column of
smoke, and moved by some unseen.
mysterious power. 1t was a fear
some sight that never lost its at
traction for them.
Those river boats might have been
described as four stored. Close to the
water lay the largest, or lower deck.
where the deck hands lived, NOV
ed and had their being, when their
duties did not call them elsewhere
Over this was the cabin. Occupving
the center of the second story. In il
were the state rooms of the passeH-
gers, the dining room, and the gener
al gathering place, where they tar
rled of evenings when there was no
moon to illuminate the scene with
out. The third stroy included the IN
per deck, and the Texas the state
rooms of the officials. From this
deck, some steps, or a ladder led to
the pilot house, that lowered alOft.
dominating the whole, and housing
during the day-fOr the boat did no.
run during the nigbt-the controlling
force of the boats mechanism-what
might be called it's brains.
The pilot house was small. with q
bench at n side evidently intended
for visitors, as the pilot could never
cease his watchfulness long enough
to avail himself of it. The building
was open on all sides to permit of un-
ObstrUcted view i'm every direction.
and there at the wheel stood the pilot
from dawn until sunset, his eve
sWerving scarcely an instant from the
treacherOus stream before him.
Mark Twain has given a vivid pic
ture of the education of a pilot on the
Mississippi; the education of a Mis-
souri, river pilot must have been quite
as difficult to acquire. 1t demanded
an accurate memory and a remark
ably keen eye for observation.
When with others 1 climbed to the
pilot house to talk with the man who
occupied that important post. I never
2 dreamed Of how absolutely he held
u safety within the clutch of his
! sensitive hands which manipulated
the wheel. 1 saw the river and the
surrounding banks, but not as he did.
An eddy in the current meant moth
! ing to me-; it indicated the presence
OF a snag to him, and with the deft
turn OF the wheel We passed it safe
, ly. My idle glance observed the
bank, it is true, but I failed to note
: that 1T had been undermined by the
7 river of late, and the channel was al
tered. 1t did not escape the pilots
watchful eye.
The pilot first knew was a son OF
Captain Joseph LaBarge, whose
I brother brought the first steamboat
to Fort Benton. Probably no better
. pilot ever guided a boat on the Mis-
souri,, than the one I was privileged
to watch. Captain LaBarge was
dark, like the Frenchman he was
. This, his son, was tall and blonde
with golden hair and beard, showing
the German strain of his race. AS he
stood there in the sunlight, gazing
. intently down the stream, one might
have fancied so looked a Norman as
v his h~igh-prOwed boat approached the
. shores of France.
Every night the boat tied I'D tC
the shore, the plank was put out, and
q 'wOOding-Up' followed, under the
charge Of the mate, who stood on the
shOreward side of the second deck
+ sometimes with my youngest child
a mere baby, in his arms, he having
taken a great fancy to her, and urged
Z the long lines of rOust-abOuts whC
/, came and went over the gang-plank
s to greater effort, often in none toe
j choice terms.
All this belongs to the past, and
|, fortunate r those who can recall il
4 Now the mighty river, three-headed
like a god of the Far East, goes on
!, its way undisturbed as formerly IL
v its upper course, by the whistle Of the
) audacious steamboats, which ono,
3 Continued on Agricultural PaEol