The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-04-15

bargain was struck for $19O. The following
day the boat cast off and continued It's
nOrthwestward course toward Fort Benton
At first young Wackerlin had not the re-
hottest idea of the character or the men
with whom he had cast his lot. On board
he found men who, like himself, had en-
gagged passage to Fort Benton. One OF
these was the late Peter Valitan Of Deer
Lodge, Montana. ~.
Young Wackerlin was a crack shot with
a rife, and his craftsmanship won the al,
miratiOn of Captain Miller and his crew Of
! desperadOes. This accomplishment served
to render his passage a far more pleasant
one than it might otherwise have been.
Habitual DrunkardS
AS he became better acquainted witt
members of the RichmOnd's crew, the boy
soon learned their history, and became con
sciOus of the fact that he was hObnObbing
as it we're, with one of the most notorious
of Quantrell's outlaw bands. At each land
ing where the boat stopped, most of the
crew would go ashore for a debauch. But
hard drinkers and lawless as they may
have been, they never attempted to harm
young Wackerlin. They treated him in
most friendly and considerable manner, mol
did they insist on his joining them in theil
revels. He said Of them that sober, they
were a strange, picturesque lot, possessing
rough humOr to temper the evil of theil
ways. Under the influence Of liquor, the!
were brutal and QuarrelsOme. One time
after much abuse, they drove all the negr'
~deckhands overheard.
Shanghai Minstrels
Following this episode, they locked at
small town where a travelling minstre
troupe were giving a performance for tn
entertainment Of the pOpulace Of a littl
| river settlement. CAPTAIN Miller. who wa
himself a good deal of a humOrist, pos
sessing a suave manner, induced the trOup
to take passage or the Richmond for
town higher up the river. After the boa
was cast loose, these actors found them
| selves nTnCCn0 into service QG dnNEhgnde
which enforced labor they performed dur
ing the remainder Of the trip. At nigh
they entertained the guerillas and pasSeI
gers with music and recitatiOns.
At Mandan, N. D., when the RichmOn
arrived a big Indian council was in prog
ress several tribes having gathered for
pOw-wOw with the military authorities. TIL
crew and passengers all went ashore {
witness the procedure. Captain Miller wa
especially impressed and thereafter b
would regale the people IN the steame
with a realistic i"mperSOnatiOn Of an In
dian chief addressing the council. AZ
venturOus as the journey proved to be, til
Quantrell men did not, however, forget til
main purpose of the expedition; and, q
they neared Fort Benton, their l~Onged-fC
/ revenge upon Farmer Peale was UppermOl
their own circles they discussed the trea
ment Peale would receive after they ha
discovered him.
PeaIe Murdered
Arrived at the mouth Of the Judith rive
they tied up the boat and dispatched OF
of their number ahead to Fort Benton
learn if Peale was there; and, if not, whe-
he had gone. In less than a week, Il
messenger returned with the news III
word had been received to the effect TIL
Peale had been killed in a gambling hou
Eight at Helena, only a few days previOl
to the arrival of the messenger.
A conference of the QuantTell men vi
held and 1t was determined to prOce'
with the boat and confirm the report
Peale's killing. At Fort Benton they we
afforded verbal confirmation of the repO
and they then entered upon a wild debauC
broke up some of the gambling games al
terrOrized the town for several days. B
fore starting down the river, they push
on to Helena to make absolutely certa
that Peale was dead and buried. Havi
done this, they returned to Fort BentC
boarded their steamer and headed dow
4 stream.
Scatter Westward
By the time they had arrived at Sic
Z City, federal authorities were on tht
I trail. They abandoned the Richmond a
Z struck out overland for Idaho. There tn
lived for a time the lives Of road agen
some Of their number being killed. Sol
Of them went to Cheyenne and opened
a gambling house. Captain Miller final
went to Quantrell's ranch in Texas, whe
he later died Of tuberculosis.
Murder Of Captain Spear
One OF the most unusual crimes e'
committed on the waters of the big Mu
dy" during the days when steamboat tn
fc was in it's heyday, was the murder
1867 by an American soldier Of CapCa
W. d. Spear, an officer of the Britt
army, who was travelling on leave: ~
wa san episode, too, which resulted
strained relations between the British a
the United States governments, and for
time threatened serious complications. II
tragedy was enacted on board the steam
Octavia, a brand new boat which had j.
been nOmnfnfnn and WAS DESIGNED for IN
hc between st. Louis and Fort Bent'
The boat had been built under the dir
ton Of Captain Joseph LaBarge and Y
Octavia LaBarge.
Trade on the river appeared dull in
spring; but, in spite Of the fact that
had no contracts with the government
carrying supplies to the military posts
the Up Country, advertised for a trip
Fort Benton. Within two weeks, the b.
was hlled with private stocks Of freli
and a good list of passengers. The freii
lncluded merchandise for practically eV'
nrm In Helena and Fort Benton, and
list OF passen gers was a long one. Amc
the notable men on the vessel was O.
cay smith, the newly appointed govern
OF Montana Territory, and the surve,
general Of the territory, Thomas e. II
later a wen known st. Louis banker.
Captain LaBarge and Gen. sherman
An interesting incident took place ]
0etore the departure Of the boat in wh
General sherman figured. 1t appeared {
a Colonel Thomas, General Shefman's gu
termaster, a contracted with w. NJ.
Pherson, another boat owner, for all
seasons business Of the army up the RI
Ihe Octavia was about to leave st. LC
on a tuesday, and on the Saturday /
eed1ng General Smith went to Captain
Barge and told him that General SherI
had advised him that the Octavia was
PICK up 100 soldiers at Omaha and ca
them to the mOuth Of the Judith river
Montana, where Camp Cook was lOca
This was news to Captain LaBarge.
went 70 can on General Sherman,
greeted him cordially and toid him
had arranged matters so that no ID
men at Omaha.
but that Is not the question, gener