Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-05-07

Eleven Missouri river steamers
carried the Power Block p at one
time or another, transporting goods
that helped 70 make Fort Benton
the supply center Of Montana, max
Ing the Power name prominent In
the state and eventually leading
Commodore" 4. g. Power TO q seat
in the senate Of the United States,
as one Of the first two Montana
senators.
All these Power boats were eventually
wrecked in accidents, the usual end Of
the Missouri river steamboat. Only
three ended their careers by snagging
while ice took an equal number, two
struck bridges, one was burned, one
settled on piling and broke up and
another hit rock and stove in her
bottom
Nearly 100 trips recorded by these
steamers show that the lines boats were
dependable and durable, they making
a better record than the Coulson, Peck
or Baker lines, chief competitors Of
the Block P. The Benton, with 48 trips
to Fort Benton, and the Helena, with
40, lead all packets in the number of
voyages, and both saw years Of honor
able service on the lower river before
their careers ended.
The Benton was wrecked three times,
two of the accidents being spectacular,
the Helena twice, the Bachelor twice
and the General Thompkins sinking
once before its final miShap.
The Benton, which made the best
record Of any boat on the upper Mis-
souri,, began In 1875 by making the
trip from Pittsburgh, Pa, to Fort
Benton, and made its last voyage in
1897. In between were years Of service.
In 1879 the Benton carried Colonel
1T ConnIfo4H HEn4arafnd
Police, bound for the British northwest
territory. Tt was sold by the Power line
in 1889 and snagged and sank Septem-
Der of that year, but was raised and
repaired. Near Arrow Rock, Mo-, July
81, 1895, the tiller rope parted and the
boat began spinning In the current,
ending its runaway by crashing into 3
snag and going under Tor the SECOND
time. Again 1t was raised. July ID, 1897,
the Benton began whiStling for the
Sioux City drawbridge to open and let
her through. The crowd, gathering as
usual to watch the boats pass the draw,
saw the old steamer swing into sight
from up the river. Attendants struggled
with the machinery which opened the
span, but it failed to operate. At the
last minute the paddleWheel of the
spun in the current and backed, then
swung into submerged piling that ripped
a hole in her bottom. Filling rapidly
and out of control, the swift current
sent the old Benton crashing sideways
against the pier, then swept her under
the bridge, which carried away the
cabins and pilot house, before she sank
for the last time. The loss on the boat /
was about $4,000.
The Helena went into service in 1878.
It was a slightly smaller and faster
boat than the Benton. After serving
the line for 10 years the Helena was
sold in 1887 and was snagged and sank
at Lower Bonhomme island In that
same year. Oct. q, 1891, passing that
same island, she hit another snag and
sank for good. The boat was valued at
$4,000.
The Butte was larger than either the
Helena or Benton. and like all the
Power boats but the Judith, was built
in the Pittsburgh hoatyards. The
Butte'S service was only from 1880 to |
Aug. /. 1888, when fire of unknown
origin destroyed her utterly, 70 miles
above Fort Peck. The Butte had only /
1ne spectacular accident that destroyed |
another vessel. AT Bismarck in 1882
she was being raised to have repair
work done, when supports slipped and I
she slid off the stays against the |
Colonel Mcleod, sinking that Baker
line vessel.
The r. Y. Bachelor went into service
n 1878 for the CoulSons. It had |
record run from Bismarck TO Fort /
Buford, 307 miles, IN SIS hours and % |
minutes with Grant Marsh in COM
mand, Aug. IL, 1879, just two months /
before 1t crashed on 8 rock ledge and /
sank. Raised, it served long years for |
many companies, and was beginning |
It's 3Oth year on the river when cut |
down by great ice gorge at Running |
Water, S. D., March 8, 1907.
Kountz leased the Gen. @. II. Tomp- |
xins to Power in 1879 for one trip. This |