The Far West was a notable shallow-draft sternwheel steamboat constructed in Pittsburgh in 1870, measuring approximately 190 feet (58 meters) in length with a beam of 33 feet (10 meters). She was designed for high performance on the upper Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, featuring three decks: a main deck, a cabin deck, and a hurricane deck. Her hull was hollow, serving as cargo storage, with hatches on the main deck facilitating loading and unloading, though crew working within had limited headroom. The vessel's shallow draft—only 20 inches (51 cm) unloaded and 30 inches (76 cm) fully loaded with 200 tons of freight—allowed her to navigate shallow waters and sandbars effectively, often employing an innovative "grasshopper" maneuver using spars and steam capstans to lift and shift her over sandbars, primarily to back off rather than move forward over them. Power was supplied by two high-pressure steam engines built by Herbertson Engine Works, each with 15-inch diameter pistons and a 5-foot stroke, powered by three boilers consuming up to 30 cords of wood daily. These engines drove a large 30-foot (9.1 meters) stern paddle wheel, enabling her to achieve remarkable speeds and set various upstream and downstream speed records. The vessel's design included two tall smoke stacks and a cupola-like pilot house with glass windows on all sides, providing optimal navigation vantage. Initially owned by Coulson Packet Line, the Far West supported military expeditions, notably during the Great Sioux War of 1876. She played a critical logistical role, ferrying supplies and troops, and was present at the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After the battle, she transported wounded and delivered urgent news to the east, making a record-breaking 54-hour run of 710 miles from the Little Bighorn to Bismarck. Her robust construction, speed, shallow draft, and capacity for hard work made her an iconic vessel in the era before the rise of railroads, symbolizing the vital role of river transportation in the American frontier. She was finally lost in October 1883 after striking a snag near St. Charles, Missouri.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.