The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-08-05
Lively Times
Stednb0dtinQ
On Koofenai

Continued from page u

AAOllltIutd 'totA. 4dEt
gers by the hundreds were anxiou.
to go north.
Doak sidetracked a moment to re-
late how Silver Bill Clarke had
sold his rich holdings at Barker but
as often happens IN mining Ven
lures was to go to the new fields
with the pack on his back and fresh
enthusiasm as his only capital.
Old Records
NV narrator seemed lost in
thought as he rummaged about his
desk, bringing out old newspaper
clippings, a mining claim registry
in Meagher county in 1881. the
treasured coils of his four horse
whip ('I use the stock for ramrod
now" he smiled) and finally the
leather bound book he had used for
orders while he was purser of the
steamer Ruth.
How big were the boats2' He
described them with possesslve
light in his eye. They had to be
built to suit the whims of this river.
he explained. Stern wheelers. of
course. with an l8-foot paddle
wheel. The Ruth, now. had %
foot beam and was Isl feet over the
fantail. Fantail2 That was sort Of
bumper to keep the drift wood out
of the paddle wheel. said Doak, as
he sketched picture of the boat.
Double engines-72-inch stroke and
l2-inch pistons.
The North Star was an improve
ment with l6-inch pistons and a
shorter stroke Of 48 inches but was
equipped with poppet valves which
allowed it to be Unanswered more
readily in tricky water. Plot houses
had to be built as far forward as
possible SO that the pilot could see
the river directly below him. There
was no time to relay instructions
from the pilot house in the rear, as
they were built on the Mississippi
Seconds decided the boats course
In the fast water that raced through
the narrow channels and the pilot
had to almost have his hand on
the shoulder of the engineer.
The boats left Jennings at day
light, would tie up for night along
the bank and then reach Fort
Steele on the following afternoon.
The run down could be made in one
day unless they were hung up 0n
some shifting sandbar. Nine hours
on a bar with ropes ahead and the
capstan pulling was no unusual ex-
perience. AWarpingN the boat up
over stretch Of shoal water was
hard work and tested the ingenuity
OF the captain as we'll as the STAN
ina of his crew
Hardy Men
Doak is a stoutly built man and
was known for his ability to "pole"
bateau or boat with sloping
prov at either end Two dollars and
fifty cents day and keep was
the ordinary wage for a river man.
They were real men Work all day
and frolic all night with grubstak IS
for their friends and ready fists for
those who opposed them"
But had heard rumors of a near
tragedy on the river where Bill
Doak had put his experience to good
use and had won the approval OF
the rough men who have danger
Tor daily companion and | pressed
him for the story Read this &C
said as he handed me a yelloWad
newspaper
1t was the March IA, 1921, ISSUE
of the Nelson Daily News. | read !
narrative by Capt f. p. Armstrong
Early Days on the kootenai River
Steamer Race Ends in Disaster.
1t follows.
On May 8, 1896, the newspaper
announced that the steamers Rutr
and GWendoline had the previous
day been wrecked in the Jenning
canyon
Thereby hangs tale that ha
never been fully told, The wrecl
was really the elimination of
three-day race.
Both boats left Jennings, Mon
tana, on May S. the Gwendolin
three or four hours ahead of til,
Ruth. The latter, steamer, abou
the size Of the Kokanee, with simi
lar cabins, was much the taste
boat, but the Gwen, smaller. light
err craft, and easily handled, ha
the advantage in shoal or trick
water
Ruse Fails to Work
During The afternoon it wa
made plain that the larger boa
must overhaul and pass the smaller
To save its face the Gwen put in I
a woodpile, but Captain Sanborn
of the Ruth would not forego
spectacular victory (probably egge
on by his passengers and tied Ii
to another Pile just afreadi Fire rae
was on.
Il might say here that the boat
belonged to the same company, {
which was the manager and wer
the only craft on the river at tn
time though the North Star wa
building.
No sooner were we abreast {
Ruth than she put out having n
more need of wood than we had.
"She soon forged ahead until on
nose was by his engine door to tn
great delight Of her passengers an
to the accompaniment of many .
tho r,c1,o1 royro rkc y,,a5o a. c,,cb