Clark: July 8, 1805
On a warm, partly cloudy morning, Clark organized the men into hunting parties to procure buffalo skins and meat, then set out to measure the widths of the Missouri River at various points around the falls and at the mouth of the Medicine (Sun) River. He recorded measurements ranging from 93 to 1440 yards at different locations before returning across the plains to camp. The day grew very hot with evening rain. Snow covered distant mountains to the south and northwest. Hunters killed three buffalo, two antelopes, and a deer, though the great herds had moved on downriver.
July 8th Monday 1805 A worm morning flying Clouds I deturmin take the
width of the river at the falls & the Medison river and to take the
greater part of the men which Can be Speared to Kill Buffalow for their
Skins as well as meat, devided the party & Sent them in different
directions to hunt & proceeded my Self to the mouth of Medison river
measured it and found it to be 137 yards wide, in the narrowest part of
the Missouri imediately above Medison river the Missouri is 300 yards
wide, below and a little above the falls 1440 yards wide with the
direction of the upper great fall 580 yards wide, at the great Spring 270
yards wide, at the handsom falls of 47 ft. 8 I. the river is 473 yards
wide, at the lower great falls the river is confined within 280 yards,
below the falls the water occupies 93 yards onlyafter takeing the
wedth of the river at those Sundery placies I returned thro the plains in
a direct line to Camp. Some rain this evening after a verry hot day.the
mountains which are in view to the South & N W. are Covered with Snow.
those nearer us and forma 3/4 Circle around us is not Covered with Snow at
this time. The hunters killed 3 buffalow, two antelopes, & a Deer to
daythe emence herds of buffalow which was near us a fiew days ago,
has proceeded on down the river, we Can See but a fiew Bulls in the plains
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
July 8th, Monday 1805. A warm morning with flying clouds. I determined to take the width of the river at the falls and the Medison (Medicine) river, and to take the greater part of the men who could be spared to kill buffalo for their skins as well as meat. I divided the party and sent them in different directions to hunt, and proceeded myself to the mouth of the Medison river. I measured it and found it to be 137 yards wide. In the narrowest part of the Missouri, immediately above the Medison river, the Missouri is 300 yards wide; below and a little above the falls, 1440 yards wide; within the direction of the upper great fall, 580 yards wide; at the great spring, 270 yards wide; at the handsome falls of 47 feet 8 inches, the river is 473 yards wide; at the lower great falls, the river is confined within 280 yards; below the falls, the water occupies only 93 yards.
After taking the width of the river at those several places, I returned through the plains in a direct line to camp. Some rain this evening after a very hot day. The mountains which are in view to the south and northwest are covered with snow. Those nearer to us, which form a 3/4 circle around us, are not covered with snow at this time. The hunters killed 3 buffalo, two antelopes, and a deer today. The immense herds of buffalo which were near us a few days ago have proceeded on down the river; we can see but a few bulls in the plains.
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