The Steamer F.F. Oakes

One of the incidents which has always intrigued me is the story of the Steamer F. F. Oakes attempting to go from Columbia Falls up the Flathead River to coal mines in the North Fork.

Letters concerning the steamship, hopeful beginning, difficulties encountered on the trip, and ultimate ending when the boat was wrecked were written in May and June, 1892.

E. J. Mathews, manager of the Northern International Improvement Co., Columbia Falls, wrote to

J. E. Gaylord, president, in Butte City.

Communication dated May 24, 1892, reported that “Mr. Talbott left yesterday with the Steamer (Oakes), A. S. Lanneau in charge, for the coal mines. Have had no report from her since yesterday noon, when she was seen passing the mouth of the South Fork, forging ahead slowly.

“I was aboard when she started and rode about two miles up the river. Considerable difficulty was experienced in keeping up steam owing to the fuel not being just what it should have been, and the fireman not knowing how to handle the boiler to the best advantage. With 160 pounds pressure, the boat made very fair progress in the swift currents encountered while I was aboard.

“The river is rising rapidly and if it continues to do so, it will be much easier to navigate in another week as the current will not be so strong. Don’t hardly think the boat has reached the coal mines yet, as Robinson and Rust came down yesterday and report that the rise in the North Fork is just sufficient to make the current so swift that in their judgment, it would render it impossible for the boat to steer.

“Should Mr. Talbott find this to be the case, I think he will tie up and wait for more water, as when he left here it was Coal Mines or bust.”

Five days later, May 29, 1892, Mathews wrote, “The Boat is having a hard time of it. Lanneau left her last Thursday on account of some conflict authority between himself and Mr. Talbott, concerning the best method of procedure and walked back to town from Canyon Creek.

“He positively declares that the boat has not sufficient power to steam the current she will encounter before reaching the Coal. Friday at noon Mr. Burrel passed her in the vicinity of Canyon Creek and today at noon, about 3/4 of a mile further up stream. Mr. Talbott thinks if he succeeds in getting a half mile further he will experience no further trouble on the up trip.”

A letter from Mathews dated May 31 noted, “No news from Mr. Talbott since Tuesday noon, when the Steamer F. F. Oakes was seen in the vicinity of Canyon Creek where she has been for several days, still headed upstream.”

Description of the wreck was written in a June 3, 1892, letter from Mathews to Gaylord in Butte City.

“The steamboat was wrecked about three miles above the mouth of Canyon Creek, Wednesday about noon.

There is a large rock in the river at this point and the current is very rapid. The boat was tied to a tree on the bank, which is 30 to 40 ft. above the stream and the crew were running out another line to make fast further up the river to draw the boat over the rapids. The engines were working all the while but before the second line was made fast a steam pipe burst, thus throwing such a tension on the line that was fast that it pulled out the tree to which it was tied leaving the boat with nothing but her own rapidly decreasing power to steam the current. This she was unable to

do and consequently she commenced going downstream.

“Christ Prestbye, the man Mr. Lanneau had engaged to help him, and Mr. Talbott were in the wheel house which was filled almost to suffocation by escaped steam and made a desperate endeavor to keep the boat off the large rock only a short distance below them but their efforts were futile. The boat struck the rock, careened, allowing the water to run in the open hatchways in the engine room capsizing the boat. Four of the crew were ashore at the time of the accident with the line, three more leaped ashore when the tree pulled out, leaving five still aboard the ship.

“The cook jumped into the river and swam ashore on this side. The others remained on the boat until rescued by those ashore by means of a raft. Two of the crew built a raft, crossed the river and came down the trail arriving here about 11 o’clock.

“The rest started through the timber for McDonald Lake Trail, which they followed to Belton, a station on the Railroad 15 miles from here and 25 miles from the point where the wreck occurred, reaching there about one o’clock yesterday, after having spent nearly 24 hours in the woods, without food or fire, in a steady cold rain. They were all drenched to the skin and there was not a single watch in the crowd.

“Drift from the wreck reached here about four o’clock in the afternoon, and receiving no further tidings we dispatched two men to Canyon Creek, in the vicinity of which we knew the boat to be, by the Coal Trail, and two more by the river. The two men going by the trail met the three, who had crossed the river at the place where the wreck occurred about five miles from town. One of the crew sprained his ankle in leaping ashore when the boat started to drift down stream.

“Mr. Talbott is alright with the exception of a bruised heel caused by the long walk in wet shoes.

“Mr. Talbott says he would undoubtedly have taken the boat to the Coal Mines had she not met with the accident, as less than a quarter of a mile further he would have been past the last of the bad places and would have comparatively good river the rest of the trip.”

It’s 114 years later and longtime local and North Fork residents still respect this section of the Flathead River.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News.