[15] As an example of primitive lighthouse or fog-signal work, the story is told of a steamboat captain who always made a certain crossing on the lower river, if at night, by the aid of the bark of a dog belonging to a farmhouse directly in line with the course of the boat. The dog came out on the bank whenever boats were approaching, and saluted them vigorously until they had passed. The captain ran by this bark with the most implicit confidence. But unhappily the dog did change his position—once—and the captain ran by its bark no more, for the next morning his own bark was a hopeless wreck upon a neighboring sandbar.
[16] About 1856 this matter was made the subject of military investigation under General Harney.
[17] The practicability of commercial steamboating on the Missouri River had begun to be recognized about 1829. In the summer of that year the W. D. Duncan commenced a regular packet trade to Fort Leavenworth.
[18] Kenneth McKenzie, the ablest trader the American Fur Company produced, was at this time in charge of Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone, and of all the company’s operations in the tributary country along the upper rivers.
[19] This affords a glimpse at the crafty and oppressive methods of the company, which bore with intolerable hardship upon its employees. To pay wages in merchandise at an advance of three or four hundred per cent. upon their cost was a great saving to the company, but an unqualified fraud upon its servants.
[20] Fort McKenzie was six miles above the mouth of the Marias River; Fort Union was three miles above the mouth of the Yellowstone: and Fort Clark was about fifty-six miles above the modern Bismarck, N. D.
[21] Log of steamboat Omega, May 10, 1843: “Nous venons très bien jusqu’aux cotes à Hart où, à sept heures, nous sommes sommés par un officier de dragoons de mettre à terre. Je reçois une note polie du Capitaine Burgwin m’informant que son devoir l’oblige de faire visiter le bâteau. Aussitôt nous nous mettons à l’ouvrage, et pendant ce temps M. Audubon va faire une visite au Capitaine. Ils reviennent ensemble deux heures après. Je force en quelque sorte l’officier à faire un recherche aussi stricte que possible, mais à la condition qu’il en sera de même avec les autres traiteurs.”
[22] The above description of this inspection is from “The American Fur Trade of the Far West,” by the present author.
[23] Captain Sire, in the logbook of the Nimrod, Friday, May 10, 1844, says: “Il s’est passé encore longtemps avant que Messieurs les agents faisaient leur visite. Tout se trouvait satisfaisante. J’ai décidé de ne partir que demain matin, et pour cause.—May 11. Nous nous mettons en route avant le jour.”
[24] It appears that the company’s bond was to have been put in suit; but the United States Attorney would not bring the case to trial unless he could get La Barge as a witness. When La Barge got back to St. Louis Sarpy came on board and told him to make himself scarce immediately. The Captain hastened to St. Charles and took service on the Iatan, where he remained until the storm had blown over. The case was finally compromised through the influence of Thomas H. Benton.