Clark: December 7, 1805
After overnight rain, the party set out at 8 a.m. in fair weather, paddling against the tide toward the site Captain Lewis had selected for winter quarters. They met Sergeant Pryor's hunting party, who reported the elk meat had spoiled before retrieval, leaving only four hides. High waves and a hard northeast wind around noon delayed travel, and York briefly went missing. They crossed what Clark named Meriwether's Bay and ascended a river to a pine-covered rise, agreeing it was the best location to build and winter in this hunting country.
December 7th Saturday 1805 Some rain from 10 to 12 last night this morning
fair, we Set out at 8 oClock down to the place Capt Lewis pitched on for
winter quarters, when he was down proceeded on against the tide at the
point No. 2 we met our men Sent down after meet
To point Adams is West
To pt. Disapointment N 75 W
They informed me that they found the Elk after being lost in the woods for
one Day and part of another, the most of the meat was Spoiled, they
distance was So great and uncertain and the way bad, they brought only the
Skins, york was left behind by Some accident which detained us Some time
eer he Came up after passing round the pt. No. 2 in verry high swells, we
Stopd & Dined in the commencement of a bay, after which proceeded on
around the bay to S E. & assended a Creek 8 miles to a high pt. &
Camped haveing passed arm makeing up to our left into the countrey
Mt. St. Helens is the mountain we mistook for Mt. Reeaneer
receved 2 Small Brooks on the East, extencive marshes at this place of
Encampment We propose to build & pass the winter, The situation is in
the Center of as we conceve a hunting CountreyThis day is fair
except about 12 oClock at which time Some rain and a hard wind imedeately
after we passed the point from the N. E which Continued for a about 2
hours and Cleared up. no meat
—
Saturday 7th of December 1805 Some rain from 10 to 12 last night, this
morning fair, have every thing put on board the Canoes and Set out to the
place Capt Lewis had viewed and thought well Situated for winter quarterswe
proceeded on against the tide to a point about ____ miles here we met
Sergt Pryor and his party returning to the Camp we had left without any
meat, the waves verry verry high, as much as our Canoes Could bear
rendered it impossible to land for the party, we proceeded on around the
point into the bay and landed to take brackfast on 2 Deer which had been
killed & hung up, one of which we found the other had been taken off
by some wild animal probably Panthors or the Wildcat of this Countrey here
all the party of Serjt Pryors joined us except my man york, who had Stoped
to rite his load and missed his way, Sergt Pryor informed us that he had
found the Elk, which was much further from the bay than he expected, that
they missed the way for one day and a half, & when he found the Elk
they were mostly Spoiled, and they only brought the Skins of 4 of the Elk
after brackfast I delayed about half an hour before York Came up, and then
proceeded around this Bay which I have taken the liberty of calling
Meriwethers Bay the Cristian name of Capt. Lewis who no doubt was the 1st
white man who ever Surveyed this Bay, we assended a river which falls in
on the South Side of this Bay 3 miles to the first point of high land on
the West Side, the place Capt. Lewis had viewed and formed in a thick
groth of pine about 200 yards from the river, this situation is on a rise
about 30 feet higher than the high tides leavel and thickly Covered with
lofty pine. this is certainly the most eligable Situation for our purposes
of any in its neighbourhood.
Meriwethers Bay is about 4 miles across deep & receves 2 rivers the
Kil how-d-nah-kle and the Ne tul and Several Small Creekswe had a
hard wind from the N. E. and Some rain about 12 oClock to day which lasted
2 hours and Cleared away. From the Point above Meriwethers Bay
to Point Adams is West
to point Disapointment is N. 75° W
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
December 7th Saturday 1805. Some rain from 10 to 12 last night, this morning fair. We set out at 8 o'clock down to the place Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) chose for winter quarters when he was down. Proceeded on against the tide. At point No. 2 we met our men sent down after meat.
To point Adams is West
To pt. Disapointment (Disappointment) N 75 W
They informed me that they found the Elk after being lost in the woods for one day and part of another. Most of the meat was spoiled; the distance was so great and uncertain and the way bad, so they brought only the skins. York was left behind by some accident which detained us some time before he came up. After passing round the pt. No. 2 in very high swells, we stopped and dined at the commencement of a bay, after which we proceeded on around the bay to S E. and ascended a creek 8 miles to a high point and camped, having passed an arm making up to our left into the country.
Mt. St. Helens is the mountain we mistook for Mt. Reeaneer (Mt. Rainier).
Received 2 small brooks on the east; extensive marshes at this place of encampment. We propose to build and pass the winter here. The situation is in the center, as we conceive, of a hunting country. This day is fair except about 12 o'clock, at which time some rain and a hard wind came immediately after we passed the point from the N.E., which continued for about 2 hours and cleared up. No meat.
---
Saturday 7th of December 1805. Some rain from 10 to 12 last night; this morning fair. We had everything put on board the canoes and set out to the place Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) had viewed and thought well situated for winter quarters. We proceeded on against the tide to a point about ____ miles. Here we met Sergt Pryor (Sgt. Pryor) and his party returning to the camp we had left, without any meat. The waves were very, very high, as much as our canoes could bear, which made it impossible to land for the party. We proceeded on around the point into the bay and landed to take breakfast on 2 deer which had been killed and hung up. One of them we found; the other had been taken off by some wild animal, probably panthers or the wildcat of this country. Here all of Serjt Pryor's (Sgt. Pryor's) party joined us except my man York, who had stopped to right his load and missed his way. Sergt Pryor (Sgt. Pryor) informed us that he had found the Elk, which was much further from the bay than he expected, that they missed the way for one day and a half, and when he found the Elk they were mostly spoiled, and they only brought the skins of 4 of the Elk.
After breakfast I delayed about half an hour before York came up, and then proceeded around this bay, which I have taken the liberty of calling Meriwethers Bay, the Christian name of Capt. Lewis, who no doubt was the first white man who ever surveyed this bay. We ascended a river which falls in on the south side of this bay 3 miles to the first point of high land on the west side, the place Capt. Lewis had viewed and formed in a thick growth of pine about 200 yards from the river. This situation is on a rise about 30 feet higher than the high tide's level and thickly covered with lofty pine. This is certainly the most eligible situation for our purposes of any in its neighborhood.
Meriwethers Bay is about 4 miles across, deep, and receives 2 rivers, the Kil-how-d-nah-kle and the Ne tul, and several small creeks. We had a hard wind from the N.E. and some rain about 12 o'clock today, which lasted 2 hours and cleared away.
From the point above Meriwethers Bay
to Point Adams is West
to point Disapointment (Disappointment) is N. 75° W
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