Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-12-20
Missouri Offered Broad But Treacherous Highway Into
Montana From East Down It Floaed Frontier Treasures

The confluence of three mountain
horn rivers. the Callatin, the Madi-
son and the Jefferson, forms in
southwestern Montana that great river
known In common parlance as the
Big Muddy" otherwise the Missouri.
These are not the only names 1t has
borne. Marquette called it the "Peki-
tanoui," and 1t is so given on early
maps. 1t was also spoken OF as the
''Osage," and the yellow river" La
Sale gave it what has resolved,
through variety Of Spellings, into its
present name, which was that OF an
, indian tribe living near its mouth,
the "Ollmissourites," Massorites,"
'Ernissourittes," and "Missourtts." In
the Indian language it means dwell
ers at the mouth of the river"
Days OF Fur Traffic
It's birthplace, Three Forks, was
an important trading point during the
DAYS of the fur traffic Game was
plentiful there, and at certain seasons
many tribes made 1t their hunting
ground. Several times the fur traders
plrpoSed to establish a permanent
post there, but were prevented from
doing so mainly by the eros Ventures
of the Prairie, who were irreconchable
enemies of the whites.
At first a clear mountain stream,
except at spring flood tide, 1t becomes
turbid after receiving its tributary, the
Milk river, and takes on the color
that entities it to be called the big
Muddy" or yellow river" strange
fact concerning this river that Is sell
dom mentioned, but deserves TO pei
noted, is that its waters are said tol
be the purest Of any of the worlds
great rivers.
A shallow river with swift current,
its navigation but for short distance
above where it empties into the Mis-
sissippi, would be impossible were 1T
not for its winding course, with many
bends, adding miles to its length. Early
navieatorS tell of the difficulties they
encountered because Of its changing
current that wrought havoc with the
topoQraphy of the country through
which it flowed.
The story is told of farmer living
some five miles inland from the lower
Missouri, who, in digging wei, touno
a Bible with the name Naomi IN
scribed on its cover. He was naturally
curious to learn how it came there
The news of the discovery reached
st. Louis, where the mystery was
solved. Some river pilots, among them
Capt. Joseph LaBarge-recalleo the
wreck at that very place where Ine
bible was found, Of the sCeanpods
Naomi. many years before. Bible OF
missionary societies gave Bibles 10 Inc
steamboats,. They were atCacneo "
tables in the ladies' cabin py sniau
hrass chains. The one brought 10 the
surface bv the farmer belonged to tne
wrecked Naomi, which the tickle river
had destroyed and abandoned.
Navigation Difficult
T,iffic,,lt as is the navigation OF the
missouri those who lived near iIs
hanks have always attempted 1t. Prod
ahIv the first craft used was the pun
I1oat II was made of willow poles
dashed together with rawhide strings,
and covered with buffalo bull hides,
fine seams sewed with sinews ana &C.
Tnented with buffalo tallow and asnes.
Not nail was used in its construc-
tton These boats varied In size, some
of them being large enough to carry
5000 or 5000 pounds Of freight, wnlle
those used by the Indians Of the up
per Missouri we're said to be about
the size Of washtub required only
one hide to cover it, and held but
single person. These latter must have
resembled the coracles used by the
ancient French, Irish and Welsh.
The canoe of the Missouri was
cottonwood "dugout," from 20 to %
feet long, and 4 feet wide. Cotton
wood was used, birch not growing
along the river. The motive power OF
both canoe and bull boat was the oar
Another craft used by the French
yoyageurs In the fur trade was the
pirogue, which was double canoe
dashed together In the form OF a
flatiron, with a pointed bow and