by Bob Gunter
In our day and time the crossing of a river is an easy thing to do. There are bridges at every desirable location and they are crossed without a thought. It has not been too long ago that most of the rivers in Bonner County were crossed by the use of ferries.
To many people today the thought of crossing a river on a ferry borders the romantic and speaks of a time when things were calm and less hurried. The history of the ferries in the area reflects many disasters that occurred while people were trying to get to the other side.
Some records indicate a ferry operating in 1893. Since that was at least 10 years after the Northern Pacific came through, it is most likely that there was a considerable amount of river crossing during the construction of both the railroad bridge and
trackage on both sides.
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The Pend d'Oreille Review reported one such disaster in December of 1923. Dr. R.N. Jackson and his nurse, Mrs. Fred Walters, were responding to a call for help from a family that lived on the other side of the river.
Divers look for victims of a Ferry Boat Accident, Sandpoint Idaho.
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Dr. Jackson drove his car off the ferry at Seneacquoteen thinking the ferry had reached shore. A search party used a tugboat to try recovering the bodies and a professional diver was later utilized. The bodies of both victims were eventually recovered and the county mourned the death of the two prominent citizens
In August 1925 the local paper, the Pend d'Oreille Review, again reported the death of two local youths. Six young people were returning from a picnic when their car slipped off the ferry at Seneacquoteen. Four of the young people escaped death but Lilly Isabelle Olson, a teacher, and Joseph Sherman Bassett were drowned.
Not all the ferry accidents resulted in death. The Review, in 1916, reported the fact that a tourist, Mr. A. Greenburg, had driven to the area in search of land to purchase. He and his companion reached the Laclede Ferry about 11:00 PM and not realizing he was on an open ferry he drove his car into the river. The two occupants jumped into the deep water when they saw the water splashing over the front tires of the vehicle. The automobile was recovered the next day and Mr. Greenburg stated that he liked the area so much that he intended to find a sui
On December 11, 1924 the Review again reported a disaster on the Pend Oreille River at Newport. John F. Duncan, a pioneer of Washington, died when his car plunged into the river. In the auto with Duncan was Vincent Brown. He was pulled from the icy water by the ferryman and survived.
Dr. Jackson Accident in December of 1923, Sandpoint Idaho.
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During the time that the ferries were in operation there were many accidents and near disasters. The crossing of the river on a ferryboat was adventurous but it was not without hazards.
All photographs have been used with permission of the Bonner County Museum. |
