Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-06-07
MRS. PLASSMAN
HAD DARING TRIP
ON RIVER BOAT
PASSENGERS ABOARD STAR OF
WEST FEARED INDIANS ON
LONG JOURNEY

The late Mrs. Martha EdgertOn
Plassman before her death wrote
! the following account Of early day
life In Montana and OF q steamboat
trip to st. Louis.
I'm the spring of 1881 I was living
| In Fort Benton, which had been in
\ the midst of a promising BOOM Great
! predictions were made of the probable
growth of the town due to its being
the head of navigation on the Mis-
souri, river and one of the main dis
predictions were not dreams of vision
aries: they might have been verified
had not the advent Of railroads proved
a death blow to river traffic.
Those who are familiar with the
Missouri know that only in the summer
during the brief period Of high water
could steamboats, make the entire trip
from st. Louis, or intermediate cities,
to Fort Benton Frequently the last
boats to undertake the journey we're
forced to land passengers and freight
at some remote point, leave both to
their fate, and speed away down the
river before the rapidly falling water
left them stranded for the winter. But
during the season the town saw excit-
when the whistle of the approach
ing boat was heard from the bend OF
the river below town every Indian
woman threw her shawl over her head
and raced with the children to the
''levee," which was not a levee, simply
a landing place, to be on hand when
the boat arrived. Then the stores took
on festive appearance, with their ex-
hibits of new goods Of brilliant hues,
admirably adapted to catch the eye
and make tnroads on the purse of the
visiting Piegan.
Then dances were given on the boat
to the select few who constituted Fort
Benton society; and, in return, the
officers of the boat were Hospitality
entertained All too swiftly the days
sped from May to August, when, with
the closing Of navigation the town re-
lapsed into the usual somnolent condi-
ton until the coming of spring should
awaken it to new life.
Sought Early Boats
Because of the short season, those
who would visit the "east," that Is to
say, any place between st. Paul and
the Atlantic, and who would leave the
country and return by the river route, /
sought passage on the early boats.
was Of this number in the year men /
toned, and was fortunate, so thought, I
in securing stateroom for myself and
two small children on the Star Of the
West, the first boat to arrive.
Despite its beautiful name, Star Of
the West was a dilapidated affair that
from its years Of hard service had /
well merited the right Of retirement. I
1t was fairly clean, but unSpeakably !
dingy in appearance. AS a star, wheth
er of east or west, 1t was notable
failure.
at numbered among its passengers
q colonel of the regular army, quiet,
dignified gentleman; his wife, sensi-
BILE, unaSsuming woman, who seWed
on buttons and kept her husbands
clothes IN order; q captain Of the
army, seeking treatment for double
Vision-an embarrassing complaint for
an officer, 1t would seem-and accom-
Danying him his wife and children.
There were also three or four wives
If officers, whose husbands we're sta
Toned at Fort AsSinniboine. Besides
.hese there were several other passen-
gers, mainly women and children, from
different parts Of the territory.
The final preparations concluded.
he last goodby said, the plank was
he river out Of sight Of town on our
ong journey through the wilderness,
where we were more out of touch with
he outside world than one would be
low In crossing the Atlantic or Pa
ific. We were thrown on our own re-
ources for amusement. Ours proved
o be an agreeable company, divided
My by the caste sentiment that al
Ways prevails where representatives Of
he army are brought into contact with
Williams. This was intensified by the
ttitude of the officials Of our boat
7ho, with an eye for fat army con-
racts, gave precedence at table and
lsewhere 70 officers and their families.
friends Very Gracious
we Of the commonalty accepted our
Inferior position In all humility. We
ways have done so, and therefore
may be inferred that we always
hail. It must be admitted, however,
hat our army friends were unusually