Clark: July 2, 1804
The expedition set out early, passing the Isles des Parques and the mouths of Parques and Turkey Creeks. The river was suddenly choked with drift wood, likely from a collapsing island upstream. Struggling against a strong current with 20 oars and poles, they passed Bear Medicine Island, where they stopped at noon for four hours to install a new cottonwood mast. The day was extremely hot with southeast winds. George Drouillard reported fine lands and freshwater springs to the south. They camped after dark opposite the first old Kansas village, site of a former French fort.
July the 2nd 1804 Set out verry early this morning passd on the Left of
the Isles des parques High butifull Situationon the L S. the land
indifferent lands a Creek coms in on the S. S. Called parques, all at once
the river became Crowded with drift that it was dangerous to cross this I
Suppose was from the caveing in of the banks at the head of Some Island
above, (3) passed a Creek on the L. S. called Turquie or Turkey Creek
passed a verry bad Sand bar on the L. S. the 20 Oars & Poals could
with much dificuelty Stem the Current, passed a large Island on the S. S.
Called by the Inds. Wau-car-ba war-con-da or the Bear Medison Island, at
12 oClock came to on the Island and put in a mast, detained four hours,
exceedingly hot, wind in forepart of the day from the S. E, George Drewyer
informs that the Lands he pass through yesterday & to day on the S. S.
was generally Verry fine he Saw two Springs of fresh water near the
Island, Deer Sign has become So Common it is hardly necessary to mention
them, we Camped after dark on the S. S. opposit the 1st old Village of the
Kanzas which was Situated in a Valley between two points of high land, on
the river back of their village commenced an extensive Prarie a large
Island in front which appears to have made on that Side and thrown the
Current of the river against the place the Village formerly Stood, and
washes away the bank in that part. The french formerly had a Fort at this
place, to protect the trade of this nation, the Situation appears to be a
verry elligable one for a Town, the valley rich & extensive, with a
Small Brook Meanding through it and one part of the bank affording yet a
good Landing for Boats The High Lands above the Fere river on each Side of
the Missouries appear to approach each other much nearer than below that
plaice, being from 3 to 6 miles between them, to the Kansas, above that
place from 3 to 5 Ms. apart and higher Some places being 160 or 180 feet
the river not So wide We made a Mast of Cotton wood, to day in the Course
of the evening & night it turned of a butifull red Colour
—
July 2nd, 1804 Set out early and proceeed on the left of the islands, two
of which are large a high bottom Situated on the L. S. passed the mouth of
a Creek on the S. S. Called Turquie Creike, at this place I observed that
the river was Crouded with Drift wood, and dangerous to pass as this dead
timber Continued only about half an our, I concluded that Some Island of
Drift had given way (3) passed a Creek on the L. S. called Turky Creek, a
bad Sand bar on the L. S. we could with dificuelty Stem the Current with
our 20 oars & and all the poles we had, passed a large Island on the
S. S. Called by the Indians Wau-car-ba war-cand-da or the Bear Medesin
Island, at 12 oClock landed on the Island & put up a mast which
detained us four hoursa verry hot day winds from the S. E.George
Drewyer inform’s that the Lands he passed through yesterday and to day on
the S. S. was verry fine, few Springs, we Camped after dark on the S. S.
above the Island & opposit the 1st old village of the Kanzes which was
Situated in a valley, between two points of high Land, and imediatly on
the river bank, back of the village and on a riseing ground at about one
mile The French had a garrison for Some time and made use of water out of
a Spring running into Turkey Creek. an extensive Prarie, as the Current of
the river Sets against the banke and washes it away the landing place for
Boats is indifferentThe high lands above the Fire river, approaches
nearer each than below, being from 3 to 6 miles distant and above Kansas
from 3 to 5 miles distant and the Hills at Some places are from 160 to 180
feet above the bottom
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
July 2nd, 1804. Set out very early this morning. Passed on the left of the Isles des Parques. A high, beautiful situation on the L. S. (larboard side); the land is indifferent. A creek comes in on the S. S. (starboard side) called Parques. All at once the river became so crowded with drift that it was dangerous to cross. I suppose this was from the caving in of the banks at the head of some island above. (3) Passed a creek on the L. S. called Turquie or Turkey Creek. Passed a very bad sandbar on the L. S.; the 20 oars and poles could with much difficulty stem the current. Passed a large island on the S. S. called by the Indians Wau-car-ba war-con-da, or the Bear Medicine Island. At 12 o'clock came to on the island and put in a mast, detained four hours. Exceedingly hot; wind in the forepart of the day from the S. E. George Drewyer (Drouillard) informs that the lands he passed through yesterday and today on the S. S. were generally very fine. He saw two springs of fresh water near the island. Deer signs have become so common it is hardly necessary to mention them. We camped after dark on the S. S. opposite the first old village of the Kanzas (Kansas), which was situated in a valley between two points of high land on the river. Back of their village commenced an extensive prairie. A large island in front appears to have formed on that side and thrown the current of the river against the place the village formerly stood, and washes away the bank in that part. The French formerly had a fort at this place to protect the trade of this nation. The situation appears to be a very eligible one for a town: the valley is rich and extensive, with a small brook meandering through it, and one part of the bank still affords a good landing for boats. The highlands above the Fere (Fire) River, on each side of the Missouri, appear to approach each other much nearer than below that place, being from 3 to 6 miles between them, down to the Kansas; above that place, from 3 to 5 miles apart and higher, some places being 160 or 180 feet, and the river not so wide. We made a mast of cottonwood today; in the course of the evening and night, it turned a beautiful red color.
July 2nd, 1804. Set out early and proceeded on the left of the islands, two of which are large. A high bottom situated on the L. S. Passed the mouth of a creek on the S. S. called Turquie Creek. At this place I observed that the river was crowded with driftwood and dangerous to pass. As this dead timber continued only about half an hour, I concluded that some island of drift had given way. (3) Passed a creek on the L. S. called Turkey Creek; a bad sandbar on the L. S. We could with difficulty stem the current with our 20 oars and all the poles we had. Passed a large island on the S. S. called by the Indians Wau-car-ba war-cand-da, or the Bear Medicine Island. At 12 o'clock landed on the island and put up a mast, which detained us four hours. A very hot day; winds from the S. E. George Drewyer (Drouillard) informs that the lands he passed through yesterday and today on the S. S. were very fine, with few springs. We camped after dark on the S. S. above the island and opposite the first old village of the Kanzes (Kansas), which was situated in a valley between two points of high land, and immediately on the river bank. Back of the village, on rising ground at about one mile, the French had a garrison for some time and made use of water out of a spring running into Turkey Creek. An extensive prairie. As the current of the river sets against the bank and washes it away, the landing place for boats is indifferent. The highlands above the Fire River approach nearer each other than below, being from 3 to 6 miles distant; and above the Kansas, from 3 to 5 miles distant. The hills in some places are from 160 to 180 feet above the bottom.
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