Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-09-04
STORY OF TRIP
TO FORT BENTON
80 YEARS BACK
GROUP MADE JOURNEY IN FLAT
BOAT AND HAD PLENTY
OF TROUBLE

BOAT AND HAD PLENTY
OF TROUBLE
In 1852, Alexander Culbertson, then
In charge Of Fort Union, and Peter
A. Sharp. a partner of the American
Fur Co.. selected from their employees
Louis Letellier, a Canadian French
man to 60 to Fort Benton and build
boats. Letellier was a carpenter, and
worked in shipyard, which latter
fact made him better fitted for the
required boat building than the ordi-
nary carpenter. The love OF adventure
had brought him from PARKWAY Quebec
to this end Of the world, and now
prompted him to accept the job Of
fered him, only he stipulated that 1t
was as passenger, and not as a
worker, he should make the journey.
No steamboats, assembled the upper
Missouri at that time. A flat-bottomed
boat was to take them to their des-
tination. This craft was not to sail, or
be rowed but pulled against the strong
current Of the river. Twenty-Five men
'harnessed," says Letellier, to a rope
rs feet long served as motive power.
The master Of the boat was Malcolm
Clark, who many years later was
killed by Piegans in the Prickly Pear
canyon. Baptiste Champagne acted as
pilot; Letellier as carpenter, tailor,
cook, 4 hunters, IL Blackfeet squaws
and rs men on the cordelle constituted
the crew.
For provisions their dependence was
on the hunters, and as there was an
abundance of game at first, they never
lacked for meat. The men on the
a11a Of A IN tNn NifNfr q mr.
pulled the boat for an hour before
breakfast. This cordelling was no light
task. The river bank was lined with
trees and underbrush, through which
it was necessary to force their way.
Often two men had to go in advance
of the line with axes to clear path.
Tributary rivers and creeks were
forded, and in addition to this the
Missouri was often crossed in order
to find the channel, which at that
season was quite low. The boat was
heavily loaded with goods for the In
dian trade, and provisions for the fort.
An empty boat would have been diff
cult TO haul upstream, as anyone can
testify who has seen steamboat
laboring against the current.
Two Men Drowned
While searching for the channel,
two men were drowned, notwithstand-
ing the low water. The river was not
uniformly shallow, and there Is always
a strong undertow, which is often fatal
to the swimmer. Except for the loss
of the two men, nothing of moment
happened for a few days. Then they
were hailed from the bank by party
of Blackfeet. On seeing them, Clark
at once ordered feast to be prepared
if they came on board, and plenty OF
meat was soon boiling in the kettles.
The Indians did not wait for an
invitation, but holding their guns well
above their heads, they swan over to
the boat, where they conducted them
selves in an indolent manner, as If
they had its crew in their power. 1t
was the policy of the fur companies
to refrain from antagonizing the In
dams with which they traded, or per-
haps Clark would have given these
unlimited and undesirable guests a
warm reception. They stalked about
in their usual lordly fashion, for the
Indian is your true aristocrat in
bearing.
At length the savory stew boiling
over the fire was almost ready. when
the Indians treated the crew to
surprise by discharging their guns at
the side of the boat and kicking over
the kettles of boiling meat then
dropped into the river and again
sought the shore. No one mourned
their departure, however much they
may have grieved over the wasted
meat, if it were wasted. Hungry men
are not fastidious, and the meat, II
not kicked overheard, could have been
saved.
Before leaving the boat, Clark was
ordered by them to take on board
some young boys, from IL to 10 years
of age, and to feed them. They also
said there was a crippled Indian
little farther up the river and Clark
was to take him to Fort Benton. Inc
Indian had been accidentally shot in
the leg while hunting.
The boys were taken on in obedi-
ence to commands, and being grow
ing boys, did not lack for appetite.
They amused themselves as they
pleased without giving thought to the
additional labor they were causing the
men who were Juggling on the cordelle,
or the solitary cook who satisfied their
hunger.
The next day after taking on the
boys, the boat reached the spot where
the crippled Indian had been le1C.
The men who were looking for him,
found him lying under willows from
which hung within his reach pack
age of dried meat. On their way 10
where the lame man was, those IN
search of him saw a large grizzly
bear, leisurely strolling in the same
direction, having probably scented the
meat. When the men came in sight
he ran away. The coming OF the men
undoubtedly saved the Indians Lie.
He was carried on board the boat,
where, with good treatment, he speed
lily recovered the use of his leg.
Boys Steal Horses
The boy passengers. after day or
so, found the boat routine tiresome,
and stole away one night, taking with
them the best horses of the hunters,
and leaving but two that were too
slow for chasing buffalo. The young
thieves had no difficulty in getting
away, as the boat always tied up at