The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-02-21

were being lighted IN n rude
buildings of the prairie post
stream announced the coming of al
steamboat. Instantly the fort was
aroused. Guards were posted along the
bank, the officer of the day took his
stand at the landing, n the doughty
commandant himself issued forth from
his log quarters to await developments
Was it the Only Chance? And was
they had heard she would be? It took
only the confused murmur Of many
voices, raised both in song and in
curses, to answer the latter question.
When, through the dusk, he was able
to read the name on her bow and to
hear the captains picturesque and ex-
pressive oaths as he ordered the n
Choir down. the officer on the bank
hailed her.
Push off, sir, and anchor farther
down." he ordered.
This the captain, in even more orig
inal language, refused to do. The Off
GERS on shore had met him before, on
his way up, him and his supply of
whisky, and they knew that only vio-
lence would work.
you'll slip her mornings, sir, or
ses ad haTSsr will be cut and your boat
Reluctantly and to the accompani-
ment of insults from the miners aboard,
the Only Chance proceeded q short
distance downstream and the army Of
ficers returned to their victuals. But
the guards remained through the night
and until the boat had puffed away
Frontier Hospitality? Rather grim
necessity. Had the boat been coming
upstream, enroute to Montana and
bearing mail, supplies and passengers,
she would have been received, with
open arms. But bound from the gold
ant at this fort referred to as 'bois-
ferrous, undisciplined characters" her
officers willing to sell whisky to the
soldiers or to connive at their deser-
ton, her coming was another story.
There had been trouble between SOL
diers and miners on several other &C.
casions, n fracaS resulting in a court
martial, and once the troops had been
called out to ,quell a mutiny or the
boat. Most Of the captains co-operated
with the military authorities for mu-
tual protection but when they did not,
stern measures had to be taken.
to keep HSs soldiers IS at a frontier fort dur r.
ing the winter, especially when, as in
this case, winter quarters were not COM
pleted and back-breaking work in zero
weather. followed by months of snow
bound inaction, lay ahead. Even those
whose enlistments expired ran the risk
heavy ice in the river in spring in or
der to get back as soon as possible to
civilization. Usually paid for six or sew
en- months in the fall. with no place
to spend the money, numerous soldiers
tried TO get aboard the last boats down,
and the boats officers, not averse to
accepting additional passengers, rem
dered every assistance. Once the boats
had disappeared downstream, usually
in September, but sometimes late into,
October, there was no more commune
cation with the outside world until
April or May. Sometimes mail would be
brought by courier r dog team from
tant, but it could not be depended
upon.
The post where the Only Chance had
been so rudely received was Fort Stew
enson. one of a e line of forts built
in M 1867 between the int 10 Of D..
it was not far from the Lewis and
Clark winter quarters of 1804-05: In
command that fall of 1867 was General
Regis de Trobriand, one Of the most
unusual, if least known, officers to
serve IN the west during the Indian war
and never completely translated for
the general public. contains many
notes on river traffic not obtainable
elsewhere. 4
DeTrobriand, scion of a noble French
family, had resigned his commission
after the revolution of 1880, refusing
to serve under Louis Philippe; in Amer
lea, he became a citizen, married; an
American girl, and served with distinc-
ton throughout the Civil war. It is
said that no other Frenchman save
Lafayette ever held so high a rank in
the United States army. Retiring to
Paris to complete his history of the
Potomac campaigns, still a standard
learn that he had been retained as
colonel of the 31st Infantry, with head
quarters in Dakota. He arrived at Stew
enson on the Deer Lodge" in the late
summer of 1867, remained there until
1869, when he was transferred to Mon
tana. He conducted a notable campaign