Clark: July 14, 1804

July 14th, Saturday. Some hard showers of rain accompanied with some wind detained us until about 7 o'clock. We then set out and proceeded on about a mile when the atmosphere became suddenly darkened by a black and dismal looking cloud. We were in a situation near the upper point of a sand island, with the opposite shore falling in. In this situation a violent storm of wind from the N.E. (passing over an open plain) struck the boat nearly starboard, quartering, and blowing down the current. The exertions of all our men, who were out in an instant, added to a strong cable and anchor, were scarcely sufficient to keep the boat from being thrown up on the sand island and dashed to pieces. The waves dashed over the side next to the wind; the lockers, which were covered with tarpaulin, prevented the water from coming into the boat until the boat was careened on the side away from the wind.

In this situation we continued about 40 minutes. The two pirogues were about a quarter of a mile above, one of them in a similar situation with the boat, the other under the charge of George Gibson in a much better position, with her stern facing the wind. This storm suddenly ceased, and in one minute the river was as smooth as glass. The wind shifted to the S.E. and we set sail, and proceeded on, passing (1) a small island on the S.S., and dined.

R. Fields, who has charge of the horses, etc., on shore, did not join us last night. We passed an old fort where Mr. Bennet of St. Louis wintered 2 years and traded with the Otteaus (Otoes) and Parties on the S.S., 1 mile above the little island. I went out on the L.S. and observed two elk on a piece of land in the river. In attempting to get near those elk, I observed one near us and I shot one. I continued on shore and through the bottom, which was extensive, with some small prairies, and a portion of high, rich, and well-timbered bottom. In the glades I saw wild timothy, lamb's quarter, cockleburs, and rich weed; on the edges, plums of different kinds, grapes, and gooseberries. We camped on the L.S. Reuben Fields and Gulrich joined the party. Two men unwell, one with a felon on his finger. River falling.

July 14th, Saturday 1804. Some hard showers of rain this morning prevented our setting out until 7 o'clock. At half past seven, the atmosphere became suddenly darkened by a black and dismal looking cloud. At the time, we were in a situation (not to be bettered) near the upper point of the sand island on which we lay, and on the opposite shore the bank was falling in and lined with snags as far as we could see down. In this situation, the storm, which passed over an open plain from the N.E., struck our boat on the starboard quarter, and would have thrown her up on the sand island and dashed her to pieces in an instant, had not the party leaped out on the leeward side and kept her off with the assistance of the anchor and cable until the storm was over. The waves dashed over her windward side, and she must have filled with water if the lockers, which are covered with tarpaulin, had not thrown off the water and prevented any quantity from getting into the bilge of the boat.

In this situation we continued about 40 minutes, when the storm suddenly ceased and the river became instantaneously as smooth as glass.

The two pirogues during this storm were in a similar situation with the boat, about half a mile above. The wind shifted to the S.E. and we sailed up, passing a small (1) island situated on the S.S., and dined and continued two hours while the men examined their arms. About a mile above this island, we passed a small trading fort on the S.S. where Mr. Bennet of St. Louis traded with the Otteaus (Otoes) and Panies (Pawnees) for two years. I went on shore to shoot some elk on a sandbar to the L.S. I fired at one but did not get him. I went out into a large extensive bottom, the greater part of which overflows; the part that does not overflow is rich and well timbered, with some small open prairies near the hills. The boat passed the lower part of a large island situated on the S.S. Above the lower point of this island on the S.S., a (2) large creek comes into the river, called by the Maha's (Omaha) Indians Neesh-nah-ba-to-na, 50 yards. This is a considerable creek, nearly as large as the Mine River, and it runs parallel with the Missouri the greater part of its course. In those small prairies or glades I saw wild timothy, lamb's quarter, cockleburs, and rich weed. On the edges grow summer grapes, plums, and gooseberries. I joined the boat, which had come to and camped in a bend opposite the large island before mentioned, on the L.S. Several men unwell with boils, felons, etc. The river falls a little.