[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.
[25] While detained at the Omaha villages the crew had cut and piled about fifty cords of wood.
[26] The original journal is silent about this affair, but the facts were suppressed, says Captain La Barge, by clerk Finch, of the American Fur Company, in order not to expose the questionable conduct of Campbell and Matlock in regard to the annuities. La Barge himself wrote the following marginal note opposite the entry for June 9: “The Indians fired on the boat while we were lying there and killed Charles Smith, deckhand.”
[27] _The Republican_, March 19, 1849, in an editorial notice of the event, thus referred to Captain La Barge: “There is no Captain on the Western waters more highly esteemed than Captain La Barge. He is a St. Louisan born, and has been familiar with the river from early life.”