Clark: May 5, 1805
The expedition departed early but was briefly delayed when a pirogue's rudder irons broke. Lewis and Clark each walked on shore and killed deer, observing abundant buffalo, elk, wolves, and brant along the fertile Missouri country. The river was rising with a strong current. In the evening, Clark and George Drouillard killed a massive grizzly bear, requiring ten shots; they measured the animal in detail and rendered its oil. The men also killed three elk and a buffalo, and their dog caught a pregnant antelope. They camped on the starboard side.
5th of May Sunday 1805 We Set out verry early and had not proceeded far
before the rudder Irons of one of the Perogus broke which detained us a
Short time Capt Lewis walked on Shore this morning and killed a Deer,
after brackfast I walked on Shore Saw great numbers of Buffalow & Elk
Saw also a Den of young wolves, and a number of (frown wolves in every
direction, the white & Grey Brant is in this part of the Missouri I
shot at the white brant but at So great a distance I did not kill, The
Countrey on both sides is as yesterday, handsom & fertileThe
river rising & Current Strong & in the evening we Saw a Brown or
Grisley beare on a Sand beech, I went out with one man Geo. Drewyer &
Killed the bear, which was verry large and a turrible looking animal,
which we found verry hard to kill we Shot ten Balls into him before we
killed him, & 5 of those Balls through his lights This animal is the
largest of the Carnivorous kind I ever Saw we had nothing that could way
him, I think his weight may be Stated at 500 pounds, he measured 8 feet
71/2 In. from his nose to the extremity of the Toe, 5 feet 101/2 in.
arround the breast, 1 feet 11 Ins. around the middle of the arm, 3 feet 11
Ins. arround the neck his tallents was 4 Inches &3/8 long, he was good
order, and appeared verry different from the Common black bear in as much
as his tallents were blunt, his tail Short, his liver & lights much
larger, his maw ten times as large and Contained meat or flesh & fish
onlywe had him Skined and divided, the oile tried up & put in
Kegs for use. we Camped on the Stard Side, our men killed three Elk and a
Buffalow to day, and our Dog Cought an antilope a fair race, this animal
appeared verry pore & with young.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
5th of May, Sunday, 1805. We set out very early and had not proceeded far before the rudder irons of one of the pirogues broke, which detained us a short time. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) walked on shore this morning and killed a deer. After breakfast I walked on shore and saw great numbers of buffalo and elk. I also saw a den of young wolves, and a number of grown wolves in every direction. The white and grey brant are in this part of the Missouri. I shot at the white brant, but at so great a distance I did not kill it. The country on both sides is as yesterday, handsome and fertile. The river is rising and the current is strong.
In the evening we saw a brown or grizzly bear on a sand beach. I went out with one man, Geo. Drewyer (George Drouillard), and killed the bear, which was very large and a terrible looking animal. We found it very hard to kill—we shot ten balls into him before we killed him, and five of those balls passed through his lungs. This animal is the largest of the carnivorous kind I ever saw. We had nothing that could weigh him; I think his weight may be stated at 500 pounds. He measured 8 feet 7½ inches from his nose to the extremity of the toe, 5 feet 10½ inches around the breast, 1 foot 11 inches around the middle of the arm, and 3 feet 11 inches around the neck. His talons were 4⅜ inches long. He was in good condition, and appeared very different from the common black bear, inasmuch as his talons were blunt, his tail short, his liver and lungs much larger, and his maw ten times as large and contained meat or flesh and fish only. We had him skinned and divided, and the oil rendered and put in kegs for use.
We camped on the starboard side. Our men killed three elk and a buffalo today, and our dog caught an antelope in a fair race. This animal appeared very poor and was with young.
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