Clark: January 10, 1805
On an extraordinarily cold morning at Fort Mandan, with the thermometer reading 40 degrees below zero (72 below freezing), the party accounted for hunters who had been caught out overnight. A 13-year-old Indian boy arrived at the fort with frozen feet, having survived the night under only a buffalo robe and thin antelope leggings; his feet were soaked in cold water and he lost only his toes. Other men who stayed out, including one very lightly clothed, returned unharmed. Clark sent three men to hunt elk about seven miles downriver.
10th Of January 1805 This morning a boy of 13 years of age Came to the
fort with his feet frozed, haveing Stayed out all night without fire, with
no other Covering than a Small Robe goat skin leagens & a pr. Buffalow
Skin mockersonsThe Murcery Stood at 72° below the freesing pointSeveral
others Stayed out all night not in the least hurt, This boy lost his Toes
only-
—
10th of January Thursday 1805 last night was excessively Cold the murkery
this morning Stood at 40° below 0 which is 72° below the freesing point,
we had one man out last night, who returned about 8 oClock this morning
The Indians of the lower Villages turned out to hunt for a man & a boy
who had not returnd from the hunt of yesterday, and borrowd a Slay to
bring them in expecting to find them frosed to death about 10 oclock the
boy about 13 years of age Came to the fort with his feet frosed and had
layen out last night without fire with only a Buffalow Robe to Cover him,
the Dress which he wore was a pr of Cabra Legins, which is verry thin and
mockersonswe had his feet put in Cold water and they are Comeing
too- Soon after the arrival of the Boy, a man Came in who had also Stayed
out without fire, and verry thinly Clothed, this man was not the least
injured Customs & the habits of those people has ancered to bare more
Cold than I thought it possible for man to indure
Send out 3 men to hunt Elk below about 7 miles
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
10th of January 1805. This morning a boy of 13 years of age came to the fort with his feet frozen, having stayed out all night without fire, with no other covering than a small robe, goat skin leggings, and a pair of buffalo skin moccasins. The mercury stood at 72° below the freezing point. Several others stayed out all night not in the least hurt. This boy lost his toes only—
10th of January Thursday 1805. Last night was excessively cold; the mercury this morning stood at 40° below 0, which is 72° below the freezing point. We had one man out last night, who returned about 8 o'clock this morning. The Indians of the lower villages turned out to hunt for a man and a boy who had not returned from the hunt of yesterday, and borrowed a sleigh to bring them in, expecting to find them frozen to death. About 10 o'clock the boy, about 13 years of age, came to the fort with his feet frozen, and had lain out last night without fire with only a buffalo robe to cover him. The dress which he wore was a pair of cabra (antelope) leggings, which is very thin, and moccasins. We had his feet put in cold water and they are coming to. Soon after the arrival of the boy, a man came in who had also stayed out without fire, and very thinly clothed; this man was not the least injured. The customs and habits of these people have enabled them to bear more cold than I thought it possible for man to endure.
Sent out 3 men to hunt elk about 7 miles below.
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