Clark: December 11, 1804
An extremely cold day at Fort Mandan, with temperatures of 21 degrees below zero at sunrise and continuing to drop. Ice crystals filled the air so thickly it resembled fog, and the sun appeared to cast a double image. Clark sent three horses out to retrieve meat and ordered all hunters to return to the fort. The horses came back loaded at one o'clock, and the hunters returned by night, several slightly frostbitten. Black Cat, chief of the Mandans, visited. The river remained frozen and unmoving.
11th December Tuesday 1804 a verry Cold morning Wind from the north The
Thermomettr at (4 oClock A M at 21°) Sunrise at 21° See list. below 0
which is 53° below the freesing point and getting colder, the Sun Shows
and reflects two imigies, the ice floating in the atmespear being So thick
that the appearance is like a fog Despurceing
Sent out three horses for meat & with Derections for all the hunters
to return to the fort as Soon as possible at 1 oClock the horses returned
loaded at night all the hunters returned, Several a little frosted, The
Black Cat Chief of the Mandans paid us a Visit to day continue Cold all
day river at a Stand
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
11th December Tuesday 1804. A very cold morning, wind from the north. The thermometer at 4 o'clock A.M. was 21°, and at sunrise was 21° (see list) below 0, which is 53° below the freezing point, and getting colder. The sun shows and reflects two images, the ice floating in the atmosphere being so thick that the appearance is like a fog dispersing.
Sent out three horses for meat, with directions for all the hunters to return to the fort as soon as possible. At 1 o'clock the horses returned loaded. At night all the hunters returned, several a little frostbitten. The Black Cat, chief of the Mandans, paid us a visit today. Continued cold all day. River at a stand.
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