Clark: June 29, 1805

June 29th, Saturday 1805. A little rain very early this morning, then clear. Finding that the prairie was so wet as to make it impossible to pass on to the end of the portage, I decided to send back to the top of the hill at the creek for the remaining part of the baggage left at that place yesterday, leaving one man to take care of the baggage at this place. I determined to proceed on myself to the falls and take the river. Accordingly, we all set out. I took my servant and one man, Chabono (Charbonneau) our interpreter, and his squaw accompanied us.

Soon after I arrived at the falls, I noticed a cloud which appeared black and threatened immediate rain. I looked out for a shelter but could see no place without being in great danger of being blown into the river if the wind should prove as turbulent as it is at some times. About 1/4 of a mile above the falls I observed a deep ravine in which there were shelving rocks. Under these we took shelter near the river and placed our guns, the compass, etc., etc., under a shelving rock on the upper side of the creek, in a place which was very secure from rain.

The first shower was moderate, accompanied by a violent wind, the effects of which we did not feel. Soon after, a torrent of rain and hail fell more violent than I ever saw before. The rain fell like one volley of water falling from the heavens and gave us time only to get out of the way of a torrent of water which was pouring down the hill in the ravine with immense force, tearing everything before it, taking with it large rocks and mud. I took my gun and shot pouch in my left hand, and with the right scrambled up the hill, pushing the interpreter's wife (who had her child in her arms) before me. The interpreter himself made attempts to pull up his wife by the hand, much scared and nearly without motion. We at length reached the top of the hill safely, where I found my servant in search of us, greatly agitated for our welfare.

Before I got out of the bottom of the ravine, which was a flat dry rock when I entered it, the water was up to my waist and wet my watch. I scarcely got out before it raised 10 feet deep with a torrent that was terrible to behold, and by the time I reached the top of the hill, there was at least 15 feet of water. I directed the party to return to the camp at the run as fast as possible to get to our lodging, where clothes could be got to cover the child, whose clothes were all lost, and the woman, who was just recovering from a severe indisposition, and was wet and cold. I was fearful of a relapse. I had her, as also the others of the party, take a little spirits, which my servant had in a canteen, which revived them very much.

On arrival at the camp on the willow run, I met the party who had returned in great confusion to the run, leaving their loads in the plain. The hail and wind being so large and violent in the plains, and they being naked, they were much bruised, and some nearly killed—one knocked down three times, and others without hats or anything on their heads, bloody and complaining very much. I refreshed them with a little grog. Soon after, the run began to rise and rose 6 feet in a few minutes.

I lost at the river in the torrent the large compass, an elegant fusee, tomahawk, umbrella, shot pouch, and horn with powder and ball, moccasins, and the woman lost her child's bear (cradleboard cover) and clothes, bedding, etc. The compass is a serious loss, as we have no other large one. The plains are so wet that we can do nothing this evening, particularly as two deep ravines are between ourselves and the load.