Clark: June 9, 1804
The expedition set out early on a swift, rising river and quickly got stuck on a snag for about fifteen minutes. They passed the Prairie of the Arrows, Arrow Creek, and Blackbird Creek, with the river narrowing to about 300 yards wide. Near a second island, the boat's stern struck a hidden log and swung broadside against drifting snags, a dangerous moment with large trees floating downstream. Crew members swam ashore with a rope and freed the boat within minutes. They camped on the island as rain returned. One French hand was found ill and treatment began.
9th of June Satterday Set out early, water verry Swift got fast on a log,
detained us 1/4 hour Hard rain last night. N 39° W 31/2 Ms. to a pt. on
the S. S. opposit the Commencement of the 1st Prarie, Called Prarie of the
Arrows,1 the river at this place about 300 yds. Wide passed a Small Creek,
Arrow Creek 8 yds. wide L. Sd. the Current exceedingly Strong
N 34° E 2 ms. to the Belg of a Small Island Situated on the L. Sd. Passed
the mo. of Arrow Creek N 83°W 11/2 ms. to a pt on L. S. opposit Black bird
C Small passed the head of the Isd. & a small Willow one to the L. S.
(Os merdn. altd. back obsvn. 37 00′ 00) N. 39° W 2 Ms. to a pt. of High
Land on the L. Side opst. a pt. on St. S. River about 350 yds. wide at
this pt. a Wind from the S at 4 oClock (Handson Sutn) on the High pt. a
prarie & Small Lake below N 32° E 31/2 Ms. to a pt. on L. S. passed an
Isld. in the mid Rin passing up on the S. S. opsd. the Isd. the
Sturn of the boat Struck a log which was not proceiveable the Curt. Struck
her bow and turn the boat against Some drift & Snags which below with
great force; This was a disagreeable and Dangerous Situation, particularly
as immense large trees were Drifting down and we lay imediately in their
Course,Some of our men being prepared for all Situations leaped
into the water Swam ashore with a roap, and fixed themselves in Such
Situations, that the boat was off in a fiew minits, I can Say with
Confidence that our party is not inferior to any that was ever on the
waters of the Missoppie we Crossed to the Island and Camped, our hunters
lay on the S. S. the wind from the S. W. the river continue to rise Slowly
Current excessive rapidThe Countrey on the S. S. high bottom &
Delghtfull land that on the L. S. is up land or hills of from 50 to 100
foot higher than the bottom & a thinly wooded, Countrey, Lands
tolerably Good; Comminced raining at 5 oClock and continued by intervales
the greater part of the night. We discovered that one of our French hands
had a Conpt.We Commsd Doctering, I hope the Success in this case,
usial to
—
9th of June 1804 Satturday a fair morning, the River rise a little we got
fast on a Snag Soon after we Set out which detained us a Short time passed
the upper Point of the Island Several Small Chanels running out of the
River below a Bluff & Prarie (Called the Prariee of Arrows) where the
river is confined within the width of 300 yds. Passed a Creek of 8 yds.
wide Called Creek of Arrows, this Creek is Short and heads in the Praries
on the L. S. passed a Small Creek Called Blackbird Creek S. S. and One
Islands below & a Prarie above on the L. S. a Small Lake above the
Prarieopposit the Lower point of the 2d. Island on the S. S. we had
like to have Stove our boat, in going round a Snag her Stern Struck a log
under Water & She Swung round on the Snag, with her broad Side to the
Current expd. to the Drifting timber, by the active exertions of our party
we got her off in a fiew Mints. without engerey and Crossed to the Island
where we Campd. our hunters lay on the S. S. the Perogue Crossed without
Seeing them & the banks too uncertain to Send her over- Some wind from
the S accompanied with rain this eveningThe Lands on the S. S. is a
high rich bottom the L. S. appears oven and of a good quallity runing
gradually to from fifty to 100 foot.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
9th of June, Saturday. Set out early. The water was very swift; we got stuck on a log, which detained us a quarter of an hour. Hard rain last night. N 39° W 3½ miles to a point on the south side opposite the commencement of the 1st prairie, called Prairie of the Arrows. The river at this place is about 300 yards wide. Passed a small creek, Arrow Creek, 8 yards wide on the larboard side. The current was exceedingly strong.
N 34° E 2 miles to the bulge of a small island situated on the larboard side. Passed the mouth of Arrow Creek. N 83° W 1½ miles to a point on the larboard side opposite Black Bird Creek (small). Passed the head of the island and a small willow one to the larboard side. (Sun's meridian altitude back observation 37° 00' 00".) N 39° W 2 miles to a point of high land on the larboard side opposite a point on the starboard side. The river is about 350 yards wide at this point. A wind from the south at 4 o'clock (handsome situation) on the high point, a prairie and small lake below.
N 32° E 3½ miles to a point on the larboard side. Passed an island in the middle of the river. In passing up on the starboard side opposite the island, the stern of the boat struck a log which was not perceivable. The current struck her bow and turned the boat against some drift and snags which lay below, with great force. This was a disagreeable and dangerous situation, particularly as immense large trees were drifting down and we lay immediately in their course. Some of our men, being prepared for all situations, leaped into the water, swam ashore with a rope, and fixed themselves in such positions that the boat was off in a few minutes. I can say with confidence that our party is not inferior to any that was ever on the waters of the Mississippi.
We crossed to the island and camped. Our hunters lay on the starboard side. The wind was from the southwest. The river continued to rise slowly; the current was excessively rapid. The country on the starboard side is high bottom and delightful land; that on the larboard side is upland, or hills, from 50 to 100 feet higher than the bottom, and thinly wooded country. Lands are tolerably good. It commenced raining at 5 o'clock and continued by intervals the greater part of the night. We discovered that one of our French hands had a complaint. We commenced doctoring; I hope the success in this case will be the usual.
9th of June 1804, Saturday. A fair morning. The river rose a little. We got stuck on a snag soon after we set out, which detained us a short time. Passed the upper point of the island. Several small channels run out of the river below a bluff and prairie (called the Prairie of Arrows), where the river is confined within the width of 300 yards. Passed a creek 8 yards wide called Creek of Arrows; this creek is short and heads in the prairies on the larboard side. Passed a small creek called Blackbird Creek on the starboard side, and one island below, with a prairie above on the larboard side, and a small lake above the prairie.
Opposite the lower point of the 2nd island on the starboard side, we nearly stove in our boat. In going round a snag, her stern struck a log under water and she swung round on the snag, with her broadside to the current, exposed to the drifting timber. By the active exertions of our party, we got her off in a few minutes without injury and crossed to the island, where we camped. Our hunters lay on the starboard side. The pirogue crossed without seeing them, and the banks were too uncertain to send her over. Some wind from the south, accompanied with rain this evening.
The lands on the starboard side are a high rich bottom; the larboard side appears even and of a good quality, running gradually up to from fifty to 100 feet.
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