Water Logged

Day 27: Steamboat Identified

By Dr. Annalies Corbin (9/29/02)

Taking a look at the wreck

 Local St. Charles lore had always called the wreck just downstream from the old Wabash railroad bridge the MONTANA. During the last century the wreckage has come and gone as the river rose and fell. Every decade or so the river bank shifted during a period of high water and then fell the following summer to reveal the wreckage yet again. Each time the old steamer turned up the folks in St. Charles would revive the old stories and refresh local memory of the day the vessel was lost.
According to Ways (pg. 330) the steamboat MONTANA was, "…a sternwheel packet built in California, Pa. (hull), and completed at Pittsburgh in 1879. [She was] 959 tons, 250 ft. x 48.8 ft. x 5.5 ft. Engines, 18's - 7 ft. Four boilers, each 42" by 26 ft. Paddlewheel 18.2 ft. diameter,working 26 ft. buckets. [Her] original owners were Nicholas Buisson, of St. Louis; Sallie B. Coulson, of Allegheny, Pa.; D.W. Maratta, of Columbus, Oh.; and Capt. John Todd of Wellsville, Oh., who commanded. [Her] first trip was from Pittsburgh to Evansville and return, and then [she] loaded at Pittsburgh for Fort Benton, Mont[ana, with] Capt. Nicholas Buisson. [She] arrived there May 28, 1879, with 550 tons, and again June 23 with 600 tons and discharged a large cargo at the Coal Banks, " the greatest cargo ever brought to Montana by a single boat." She was back at Bismark, D.T. on June 30, 1879, preparing to reload for a third trip to Fort Benton when at 8:30 p.m. a tornado completely stripped the cabin off. Her sister boat DACOTAH also was there but was relatively unharmed. [The MONTANA] continued making Missouri River trips but never again was at Fort Benton. Also ran New Orleans in the winter months. Capt. Edward A. Phillips was master later, and last of all Capt. George G. Keith. She was up-bound June 22, 1884, half way through the St. Charles bridge [Wabash Rail Road Bridge], William Rodney Massie at the wheel, when she veered, hit a pier, and sank. The ferry JOHN L. FERGUSON came to the scene." Numerous accountings such as Frederick Ways exist for the loss of the MONTANA.

Work throughout the week

 

 

ECU students and professors at work

 

 

 For those interested in Missouri River steamboat history, this investigation of the steamboat MONTANA provides a wonderful chance to look at the smallest of details of western river steamboat construction. Salvaged at the time of her loss, the only treasure that remains is that of the largest artifact, her hull. We are fortunate in this excavation in several ways. First, there is a significant portion of the hull still here. Within minutes of last Mondays' dive it was clear that the wreck in question was most likely the MONTANA. Further investigations throughout the week only solidified this identification. Next, the historical record pertaining to the MONTANA and its subsequent loss is staggering. As archaeologists we are fortunate that many photographs of the MONTANA exist; more fortunate that so many exist of her loss. Not only was she photographed shortly after striking the rail bridge in 1884, but the MONTANA was photographed periodically during her salvage, and as she slowly disintegrated once her empty hull was finally abandoned. This pictorial record, when compared with the archaeological evidence, provides a fairly comprehensive record of the site formation process of this type of river accident. Finally, as underwater archaeologists, we are always excited to work on shipwrecks that provide a wealth of historical and archaeological information - we are extremely fortunate, however, when we get the chance to practice our craft in a more-or-less "dry" environment. Although manageable if completely submerged, this season's low water offers an opportunity to more thoroughly investigate the smallest of construction details on the MONTANA. We have been surprised with every turn of the shovel!
I look forward to sharing all that we discover with you as our analysis continues. If any of you have taken pictures of the MONTANA as she was exposed over the years and would be willing to share your photographs with me I would greatly appreciate it. Many of you already have - we have 20th century photographs that date to the 1960s. Through the photos we can watch the wreck slowly degrade to the point she is today. Please email me if you would be willing to let me look at you photographs (corbina@mail.ecu.edu ) . Finally - I am grateful to the State of Missouri for their generosity concerning this project, to Dr. Steve Dasovich for asking me to look at the wreck, to my co-PI, Dr. Bradley A. Rodgers for his never failing urge to uncover just a little more, and to a spectacular crew who have shoveled mud, water, clay and slime without complaint.