Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-01-18
Steamer Yellowstone, i'm One Trip to Fort Pierre,
Lifted Barrier of Inaccessibility From Missouri
By JOEL =. OvERHoLsER

the upper Missouri river country
In enc epochaI voyage more than
a century ago. The man, Pierre
ChOuteAu, head Of the American
Fur Co., went on TO business sue
cess, famae and fortune. The
Steamboat the Yellowstone, sim
ply disappeared, at least so far
as the upper Missouri was con-
cerned, after two or three trips.
The writer is indebted to James r.
Mulleng Of Fort Worth, Tex, for add
ing an interesting chapter to the his
tory of the steamer Yellowstone,
which, in one voyage to Fort Pierre,
In 1881, lifted the barrier Of inacces-
sibility from the upper Missouri
valley.
Pierre Chouteau was a man with
an idea-the idea that steamboats,
could successfully navigate the Mis-
souri, river, at least as far as Fort
Union, bring down the vast shipments
Of fllrs from that great territory, and.
more important, carry supplies to the
upper Missouri trading posts, and end
forever the drudgery of hauling few
hundreds Of pounds Of trading goods
by sheer manpower a thousand miles
and more against the tugging current
Of the Missouri river.
In common with all men with an
idea, Chouteau met resistance from
the conservatives, who insisted that
the American Fur Co. was making
money fast enough anyway, that his
wild idea could not possibly succeed.
But the stubborn Frenchman argued
and worked, and finally, drew up the
plans for the Yellowstone side
wheel steamboat which drew five feet
Of water loaded. The boat was 1870
e. kz.rf1
1880 Is r''''0u'Sn' F'' Ii inc "'
Made Trip lie Years Ago
Pierre Chouteau's boat was brought
down to st. Louis, and left that city
on April is. 1881, bound for the upper
Missouri with Indian trade goods
aboard. Lowest water in years held the
Yellowstone at Fort Pierre that year,
and the scoffers undoubtedly believed
their case was proven. But Chouteau
had cause for optimism, for the yell
lowstone, commanded by the expert
enced Captain Bennett, returned safe
ly to st. Louis in July, with q big
load Of furs, and 10000 dried buffalo
tongues, delicacy for the eastern
markets. That one trip did more than
whole fleet Of keel boats could have
accomplished.
The following year, bucling flood
waters, the Yellowstone carried the
house flag of the American Fur Co. |
clear to the river for which 1t was
named, and Fort Union employees |
greeted the first Of the
mountain boats"
And the fire boat" as some In
dians termed it, had another remark /
able effect of empire-shaking import |
ance Scared half out Of their wits |
~ ~.rr ~rko fya
tribes Of Indians took one Mortified |
look and ran for their lives. Some
what surprised at finding themselves
the aborigines turned to
and the American Fur Co.
had gained an entirely unsuspected
victory.
The fame Of these whites who could
drive such a giant boat against the
current Of the powerful Missouri
spread over the inland empire. The
Iar-off previously hostile Blackfeet
listened to the tales, and reconsidered
their attitude toward the American
Bay factors ragged at dwindling re-
turns, saw their southernmost posts
osing rich trade, and tried desper-
ately to turn the tide. But the 'firc
boats" had come to the upper river
'or good, and the United States, by
he action Of a French trader in an
inland village, had strengthened its
yrasp upon the northwest.
The Yellowstone made another trip
n 1888 disastrous one But 1t was
me which made one Of the greatest
captains on the upper Missouri Cap
ain Bennett was taken off the boat
or some reason, on the downward
rip. and young Joseph LaBarge,
ub pilot, left in charge. Cholera
truck at the crew, killed half of it.
md young LaBarge, short-handed,
ventually brought the boat safely into
It. Louis-an exploit which brought '.
he young mamie was about 18-
Of the company, and soon
ull command.
few Chapter Added
The story Of the Yellowstone is well
nown to those interested IN the Mis- !
ouri traffic, up to this point, but J
Gullens adds an interesting and I'M '
ortant chapter to the boats history !
his is the account he sketched brief I
: in letter:
The Yellowstone was loaded out for 4
lew Orleans in that fan of 1888, and
Tent into the New Orleans and Bayou
,afourche sugar trade. Then again Q
istory, while events which led to two c
airs were taking place in the south. n
he Texans, irritated beyond endur- f
nee by Mexican interference with a
leir affairs, we're talking revolt At a
MS distance in space and years it fl
,ems that Mexico was merely trying
control an unruly province, peopled n
rgely by foreigners, but to the p