F. Y. Batchelor (Packet, 1878-1907)

Photographer

Fiske, Frank B.

Date

• 1905

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: Freedom, Pennsylvania (hull); completed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1878
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Lost, caught by ice in winter quarters, Running Water, South Dakota
• OWNERS: Leighton and Jordan; Benton Packet Company (1885); Captain Joseph Leach, Jr. (1906)
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Grant Marsh (pilot, 1878); in 1890: Captain Thomas Mariner (master), Bob Wright and Ben Jewell (pilots)
• RIVERS: Missouri River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 1957; Built at the McCaskey and Kerr yard, with Captain C. W. Batchelor looking after the construction; built complete in 64 days, with machinery by Robert Lea. She was launched on April 8, 1878. On June 28, 1878, she arrived at Fort Custer on the Bighorn River, the only boat arriving there that season. Then she ran back to Fort Buford in quicker time than the Far West had made it when carrying out the wounded from the Battle of Bighorn. F. Y. Batchelor's record from Bismarck to Fort Buford was made in August 1878, beating the Red Cloud's record by eight hours; Captain Grant Marsh was pilot at the time. This was an upriver run, 55 hours, 25 minutes, 307 miles. She struck rocks 16 miles below Forest City, South Dakota, in November 1879, and sank but later was raised. Leighton and Jordan ran her until 1885 when she was sold to Benton Packet Company. She was carrying troops from Fort Yates to Bismarck at some point, probably in the early 1890's. She made her last trip to Fort Benton in 1890, Captain Thomas Mariner, master, with Bob Wright and Ben Jewell, pilots. This was said to be the last commercial freight taken to the fort by steamboat. She worked around Bismarck after that and was caught by ice in winter quarters at Running Water, South Dakota, and wrecked on March 6, 1907. Her owner at the time was Captain Joseph Leach, Jr., who bought her in 1906
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Circa 1905; postcard from photograph by Frank B. Fiske