Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-09-15
First Scientific Study of Montana Wildlife Was
That Made by Audubon Nearly 100 Years Ago
By WALTER E. TAYLOR

Down the years Montana has
had many notable artists, writer's,
and scientists visit within her
boundaries but of them all the
most renowned was probably a
keen-eyed gentleman who arrived
at Fort Union on the steamboat
Omega early in the month of June,
1S43, after a 49-day voyage from
st. Louis. That noted traveller was
none other than the great scientist
artist-author, John James Audubon.
Already his was an international repu-
tation and with him Travelled large
party Of naturalists to assist him in
his study, Of the wonders of the. re-
gion. Audubon had already made a
study OF. the fauna Of the Mississippi
valley which is considered the great
est contribution ever made to natural
history in America. Today, even the
prints Of Audubon's matchless bird
drawings are priceless museum pieces:
the great French-American appeared
almost simultaneously and, oddly
enough, neither of the writer's of these
biographies said much of Audubon's
wrote to Constance Rourke, one of the
authors, and asked why she had not
mentioned the visit she replied that
there really was no proof that Audu-
bon came as far as the region that
Is now the Treasure state. Proof that
memoirs, Including those Of Capt Jo-
seph La Barge, the man who piloted
the Omega on that notable voyage in
the spring of 1843. Captain La Barge.
the most famed Of the river boat cap
tains of the early days, became well
OraQt dllrinO
the voyage and his word is not to be
disputed. The famous Sire logbook of
the river voyages of the middle 1840's,
written entirely in French, also men,
lions Audubon's visit.
Made Sketch in Montana
Charles Kessler. of Helena, once
owned a drawing made by Audubon
while in Montana. 1t depicted scene
along the Yellowstone and showed sew
eral buffalo grazing. on the hills. The
the Clark family of Butte mining fame
and was bequeathed to the library OF
a California university upon his death.
The Omega carried 100 passengers
when she sailed from st. Louis April
rs, 1843, and in addition to Audubon
colorful company of traders, trappers,
soldiers. and even group OF Indians
who had been down to see the white
mans metropolis of st. Louis, which
at that time had a population of only
a few hundred souls.
The temperamental Audubon kept
the captain and crew in hot water dur
ing much of the voyage and before 1t
ended many of the crew and passengers
reported themselves as being thorough
ly tired of him. Nevertheless, he was
at times an amusing travelling compan:
ion and on at least one occasion prove
his ability to carry out prank like
true Frenchman. At the time Audi
bon made his voyage to Montana the
United States government was making
an effort to stop the traffic IN liquor
to the Indians Of the new country. All
craft going up the Missouri were in
spected for liquor and the Omega was
no exception for at one point on the
river the boat was called to a stop by
army officers and the captain knew an
inspection was in order.
Now it happened that Audubon him,
self had a large store of liquors and
wines along as part of his baggage but
his great fame made him immune to
inspection and he had special United
States government permit TO carry
liquor Not so the, ships captain, who
which was to be sold in. Fort Union.
It looked as though the bottled goods
would be confiscated until Audubon
stepped in and engaged the officers IN
a conversation which led to two hour
hunt in the brush along the river.
Captains Liquor Hidden
The army men were immensely Ilat.
tered to have so great parsonage
take such an interest in them and the
Frenchman kept them away from the
boat for two hours, which was long
enough for the crew to get the cap
tain'S liquor safely hidden in the hold.
returned to the boat for luncheon