Clark: December 16, 1805
Clark and his party endured a miserable, freezing night in pouring rain with only elk skins for cover, sitting up much of the night as water rose beneath them. The five men who had stayed out overnight—Ordway, Colter, Collins, Whitehouse, and McNeal—rejoined him cold and wet. Clark loaded canoes with elk meat, dispatched men to retrieve more elk, and traveled back to camp through violent winds, falling trees, hail, and thunder. At camp, three Indians had arrived to sell fish to Lewis. Several men complained of injuries from hauling heavy meat.
December 16th Monday 1805 rained all the last night we Covered our Selves
as well as we Could with Elk Skins, & Set up the greater part of the
night, all wet I lay in the water verry Cold, the 5 men who Stayed out all
night joined me this morning Cold & wet, Ordway Colter Collens, Jo
Whitehouse J McNeal, I had the two Canoes loaded with the 11 Elk which was
brought to the Canoes, despatched 12 men to meet me below with 2 Elk, The
rain Contines, with Tremendious gusts of wind, which is Tremds. I
proceeded on and took in the 2 Elk which was brought to the Creek, &
Send back 7 men to Carrey to the Canoe & take down to Camp 3 Elk which
was left in the woods, and I proceeded on to Camp thro the Same Chanel I
had assd. The winds violent Trees falling in every derection, whorl winds,
with gusts of rain Hail & Thunder, this kind of weather lasted all
day, Certainly one of the worst days that ever was! I found 3 Indeans with
Capt Lewis in camp they had brought fish to Sell, we had a house Covered
with Punchen & our meat hung up. Several men Complaining of hurting
themselves Carry meet, &c.
—
Monday 16th December 1805 I as also the party with me experiencd a most
dreadfull night rain and wet without any Couvering, indeed we Set up the
greater part of the Night, when we lay down the water Soon Came under us
and obliged us to rise. the five men who Stayed out all night joind me
this morning wet and Cold, haveing Stayed out without fire or Shelter and
the rain poreing down upon them all night their appearance was truly
distressingthey had left all their loads near the place they Spent the
nightI dispatched 12 men for 2 Elk which was reather below on the
opposit Side of the Creak, with directions to meet me at the 2d bend in
the Creek below, had all the meat which had been brought in yesterday put
into 2 Canoes and proceeded down to the 2d bend where I met the 12 men
with the 2 Elk, dispatchd 6 men with one of those who Staid out last night
for the meet left in the woods & the remainder an elk at Some distance
and proceeded on my Self with 3 Canoes to the fort. wind violent from the
S E
trees falling, rain and hail, we with Some risque proceeded on thro the
high waves in the river, a tempestious disagreeable day.
I found 3 indians at our Camp, they brought fish to Sell which were pore
& not fit for use, had the meet house coverd and the meat all hung up,
Several men complain of haveing hurt themselves heavy loads of meat.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
December 16th Monday 1805. It rained all last night. We covered ourselves as well as we could with elk skins, and sat up the greater part of the night, all wet. I lay in the water very cold. The 5 men who stayed out all night joined me this morning, cold and wet: Ordway, Colter, Collins, Jo Whitehouse, and J. McNeal. I had the two canoes loaded with the 11 elk that were brought to the canoes. I dispatched 12 men to meet me below with 2 elk. The rain continues, with tremendous gusts of wind. I proceeded on and took in the 2 elk that were brought to the creek, and sent back 7 men to carry to the canoe and take down to camp 3 elk that were left in the woods. I then proceeded on to camp through the same channel I had passed. The winds were violent, trees falling in every direction, whirlwinds, with gusts of rain, hail, and thunder. This kind of weather lasted all day—certainly one of the worst days that ever was! I found 3 Indians with Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) in camp; they had brought fish to sell. We had a house covered with puncheons and our meat hung up. Several men are complaining of hurting themselves carrying meat, etc.
Monday 16th December 1805. I, as also the party with me, experienced a most dreadful night—rain and wet without any covering. Indeed, we sat up the greater part of the night; when we lay down, the water soon came under us and obliged us to rise. The five men who stayed out all night joined me this morning wet and cold, having stayed out without fire or shelter, and with the rain pouring down upon them all night, their appearance was truly distressing. They had left all their loads near the place they spent the night. I dispatched 12 men for 2 elk that were rather below on the opposite side of the creek, with directions to meet me at the 2nd bend in the creek below. I had all the meat that had been brought in yesterday put into 2 canoes and proceeded down to the 2nd bend, where I met the 12 men with the 2 elk. I dispatched 6 men, along with one of those who stayed out last night, for the meat left in the woods, and the remainder for an elk at some distance, and proceeded on myself with 3 canoes to the fort. The wind was violent from the S.E., trees falling, rain and hail. We, with some risk, proceeded on through the high waves in the river—a tempestuous, disagreeable day.
I found 3 Indians at our camp; they brought fish to sell, which were poor and not fit for use. I had the meat house covered and the meat all hung up. Several men complain of having hurt themselves with heavy loads of meat.
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