The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1949-01-06
Tobacco Valley
History Tells
River Boats

1nLGTGS LlEB ana duLnenLlC az
counts of steamboating on the KoO-
tenai in the latter days of the last
century are given in an interesting
resume of a chapter taken froan
THE Story of the Tobacco Plaims
Country" a historical book soon 90
be published by the Pioneers 81
the Tobacco Plains Country" an
organization made up of pioneers
from the Tobacco Plains sectioA-
The article appears in last Sundays
Pacific Parade, the magazine secti0a
of The SpokeSman-Review Il IS
written by Mrs Guy Brock Of Rex
ford.
Well written, and illustrated with
attractive pictures, both old ami
new the article tells of the An
nerly, the first steamer to ply the
waters of the Kootenai River In
Montana. The Annerly was bufft
by two men, Walter Jones, a for
mer Texas rancher, who in the SOS
was a Storekeeper and homesteader
at Jennings, and Captain Harry De
Pew who launched the vessel IN
1892 with Captain DePeW as the
skipper The vessel was a sierra
wheeler, 80 feet long on the water
line, with a Is foot beam and a
capacity of so tons. She drew so
much water that runs could be
made only during comparatively
high water, from the end of May
until October
An interesting account Of a voy-
age on the Annerly taken some SIS
years ago by Johanna Quirk Cut
fee, who still makes her home IN
Eureka, is given as narrated by the
pioneer, herself She tells of near
wreck while navigating Elbow Can
yon short distance above Jen-
nings. The accident resulted in a
three day lay-off for repairs.
The article also tells of the open
ing of the North Star Mine north
of Fort Steel, B. c., and the result
ing shipments of ore to the railroad.
its nearest point at that time being
Jennings. Captain ]. d. Miller built
the Ruth. She was ISL feet over
all with a % foot beam. She car
ried her load on a 40 inch draugfst.
her steam capstan pulling her over
bars IN u inches of water.
A description is given of the race
between the Ruth and the Gwend-
olyn, a Canadian steamer which
came south from Columbia lake
through Baille- GTohman's Grand
canal" into the Kootenai River. The
race started from Jennings, the two
vessels heading north to the ore
bins six miles north of Fort Steel
where they loaded and started back
,Or Jennings and the railroad. TAX
ng chances by travelling at night
Zach steamer made good time with
he Ruth being in the lead when
he went on the rocks at Elbow
,anyon above Jennings. Soon the
IWendolyn Joined her rival on the
'ocks, and it was then that Bill
)oak, (recently deceased in Lib
~ rescued 70 passengers from the
Ruth, using boat which he man
ged to free from the wreck.
The Ruth was never repaired but
he Gwendolyn was soon rebuilt and
alter jointed by the North Star.
lew boat of 80 foot width and $50
on capacity. Both of these boats
we're owned by The International
transportation Co. Captain Miller
JaS in charge of The North Star
DIT 4NdoSGl WdS IlTSL TDdLe, Bill
)oak, purser the late Jim Harris
artender, and Charlie Miller. Cap
ain Miller's son, pilot Going up
iver there were seven places where
ne North Star had to be pulled
p with headline and steam capstan
uring high water. and l3 places
uring low water.
According to the article as it ap-
cared in The Spokesman. The
ustler was built in 1897 by B. Wal
II Jones and Captain DePew but
'as wrecked a short time later in
le canyon. The last boat built
II the Kootenai trade was the J.
. Farrell. with nice cabins, steam
eat and electric lights; but to quote
lie conclusion of the article, "Tw-
ght con es to all things-and the
nd of the river traffic was spelled
y the shining new rails running
p through the valley ridden by
lie Gathering iron horse that could
lake the trip from Jennings to
ernie in one day"