| Summary: | FARGO ON THE MARCH (continued) Hudson Bay Company posts, a delegation of Turtle Mountain Indians returning from a visit to Washington, cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, and "more small children and babies than I had ever seen before or since," were listed as burden by Mr. Keeney. Space was so crowded that Mr. Keeney slept on the floor under a table, a position which he gave up because Judge Barnes, a large man, was sleeping on the weak and groaning piece of furniture. Keeney states that the boat bumped into shore several times and that tree branches often swept the decks, causing anxious parents to fear for the safety of their children. Some of the youngsters tugged at the branches and a mother's shrill cry of, "My child, my God, my child!" gave warning that one had been dragged overboard. J. H. Bel- hymer, a prisoner whose weeping and praying wife was on board also, saw the child, a nine- year-old girl, fall overboard. A guard's pistol ball tore splinters from the deck as the prisoner, manacled at ankle and wrist, leaped after the child. This happened in the swift Goose River rapids, the boat crew having trouble to check her speed and reverse the engines. Finally a life-boat was lowered to save both man and child. The powerful Belhymer managed to reach the child and keep afloat until rescued. Belhymer's shackles were removed on the spot, and charges against him dropped in return for his brave deed. Keeney mentions that six boats were making regular trips between Fargo-Moorhead and Winnipeg at that time. Records do not give the size of these boats but Lounsberry refers to the "200 ton steamers" on one occasion. An 1883 issue of the Bismarck Tribune records that 16 boats, ranging from 100 to 250 tons, operated at that time, and that there were 21 barges averaging 300 tons. The first trip of the steamer Dakota from Breckenridge to Moorhead, a distance of 50 miles, required eight days. The crew found themselves four miles from Breckenridge at the end of the first day. In crossing Connolly Rapids all cargo had to be unloaded and the boat pulled across the bar. Fuel was cord wood purchased from settlers along the way or gathered on shore by the crew. The boat arrived in Fargo just a week after the first Northern Pacific train had crossed the new bridge into North Dakota. James J. Hill, "Empire GMC TRUCKS "War Proven Power" GASOLINE or DIESEL Available with Transmission and Axle Options to match every Load and Road Factory trained personnel to make GMC Diesel Conversions Laboratory testing and overhauling of Diesel Fuel Pumps, Injectors, Blower and Governors AUTHORIZED SALES AND SERVICE YRA Ii Mi: Truck & Equipment Co. Fargo 1436 Front Street Phone 6461 Dick Flake, Prop. Ifau'ie Welcome at The Postal Pharmacy Fargo's Prescription Center across from the Post Office Our 18 Years of Service to the Community Free Delivery S & H Green Stamps III Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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