Yesterday I continued my research on steamboat travel and came across a newspaper article discussing the troubles experienced by numerous steamers attempting to make their way to Ft. Benton.  It reminded me of the fact that Mary and her mother were on the Missouri River for three months!

The difficulties  being experienced by the Savannah elicited this commentary:

The Steamer Savannah left Bismarck with two barges in tow. After a struggle of 19 days she left the barges and proceeded up the Yellowstone with 44 women and 103 children. She hopes to reach Tongue river before the children are too old to be recognized by their fathers, but the probability is that when they arrive they will be qualified to vote.

The Benton record. (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]), 29 June 1877. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038126/1877-06-29/ed-1/seq-3/>