She was built in 1866 on the Snake River, at a point ninety miles from Boise City, in Idaho Territory, and was employed in the upper waters of the Snake, running to near the mouth of the Bruneau, within one hundred and twenty-five miles of the head of Salt Lake.
When the mining excitement in that region subsided there ceased to be business for her, and her owner determined to bring her to Portland.

She passed several rapids on the Snake, and at a low stage of water was run over the Dalles.

Then she had to wait nearly a year until high water on the Cascades, and finally passed those rapids, and carried her owner, Mr.
Ainsworth, who was also for this passage of the Cascades her pilot, and myself safely into Portland.
We steamed from Dalles City about three o'clock on an afternoon so windy as to make the Columbia very rough.

When we arrived at the head of the Cascades we found the shore lined with people to watch our passage through the rapids.

As we swept into the foaming and roaring waters the engine was slowed a little, and for a few minutes the pilots had their hands full; for the fierce currents, sweeping her now to one side and then to the other, made the steering extraordinarily difficult.