Rollin' Down the River 1842

Rollin' Down the River 1842. Pathways of Shakopee History. , The first steamboat Argo churned the muddy waters of the Rivière Saint-Pierre (St. Peter's River) in 1842, eventually arriving at Sakpe II's village of Tíŋta Otuŋwe. , On July 22, 1850, the steamboat Yankee started at the mouth of the Minnesota River on a day when the temperature was 104 degrees, and swarms of mosquitoes prevented the crew and passengers from sleeping. The crew soon headed back, stopping at Tíŋta Otuŋwe. The ground near the Tíŋta Otuŋwe river landing was covered with corn and bean patches, which the Dakota women were busy hoeing. Sakpe and 100 of his braves came down to the landing to meet the steamboat., Steamboats continued to arrive at Shakopee via the river until the 1880s. Clarion, Time and Tide, Jeannette Roberts, and other steamboats brought at irregular intervals passengers who came to explore the country and settle. The farmers stopped working to watch the huge paddle wheels churn by them. When the hard winter ended and ice slowly melted, everyone cheered when the smoke announced the arrival of the first steamboat of the season. Loaded with supplies, the steamboats brought news of the outside world., With the advent of the railroads and their river-spanning bridges, steamboat traffic declined, and after a few years, the Minnesota River ceased to be an important avenue of transportation., River Navigation , George R. DeMers of Shakopee was a veteran river man and pilot of the Minnesota River. Many times, having to navigate his way past sand bars, rocks, rapids, murky waters and a storm at night, George relied on his training, his knowledge of the Minnesota River, and an uncanny sixth sense possessed by the old-time river men. In all those years, he never lost a boat or experienced a serious mishap. "It was pretty serious business," said George, "steering through the night with 300 people asleep behind you and realizing that you alone were responsible for their safety!"