Clark: November 9, 1805
Camped at a stormy point near the Pacific, the expedition endured a miserable day as high tides, heavy swells, and strong southerly winds swamped their canoes and forced them to unload everything. Massive drifting trees, some 200 feet long and up to 7 feet thick, threatened to crush the canoes, requiring constant effort to protect them. Rain fell all day, soaking the men, and their camp was flooded. The river water was too salty to drink, so they relied on rainwater. Labiche killed four ducks. Despite the hardship, the party remained cheerful and eager to see the ocean.
Novr. 9th Saturday 1805 The tide of last night obliged us to unload all
the Canoes one of which Sunk before She was unloaded by the high waves or
Swells which accompanied the returning tide, The others we unloaded, and 3
others was filled with water Soon after by the Swells or high Sees which
broke against the Shore imediately where we lay, rained hard all the fore
part of the day, the tide which rose untill 2 oClock P M to day brought
with it Such emence Swells or waves, added to a hard wind from the South
which Loosened the Drift trees which is verry thick on the Shores, and
tossed them about in Such a manner, as to endanger our Canoes very much,
with every exertion and the Strictest attention by the party was Scercely
Suffient to defend our Canoes from being Crushed to pieces between those
emensely large trees maney of them 200 feet long and 4 feet through. The
tide of this day rose about ____ feet & 15 Inches higher than
yesterday this is owing to the wind which Sets in from the ocian, we are
Compelled to move our Camp from the water, as also the loading every man
as wet all the last night and this day as the rain Could make them which
Contind. all day. at 4 oClock the wind Shifted about to the S. W
imediately from the ocian and blew a Storm for about 2 hours, raised the
tide verry high all wet & cold Labiech killed 4 Ducks very fat &
R. Fields Saw Elk Sign.
not withstanding the disagreeable time of the party for Several days past
they are all Chearfull and full of anxiety to See further into the ocian.
the water is too Salt to Drink, we use rain water. The Salt water has
acted on some of the party already as a Pergitive. rain continus.
—
November 9th Saturday 1805 The tide of last night did not rise Sufficintly
high to come into our camp, but the Canoes which was exposed to the mercy
of the waves &c. which accompanied the returning tide, they all
filled, and with great attention we Saved them untill the tide left them
drywind Hard from the South and rained hard all the fore part of
the day, at 2 oClock P M the flood tide came in accompanied with emence
waves and heavy winds, floated the trees and Drift which was on the point
on which we Camped and tosed them about in Such a manner as to endanger
the Canoes verry much, with every exertion and the Strictest attention by
every individual of the party was Scercely Sufficient to Save our Canoes
from being crushed by those monsterous trees maney of them nearly 200 feet
long and from 4 to 7 feet through. our camp entirely under water dureing
the hight of the tide, every man as wet as water could make them all the
last night and to day all day as the rain Continued all day, at 4 oClock P
M the wind Shifted about to the S. W. and blew with great violence
imediately from the Ocian for about two hours, notwithstanding the
disagreeable Situation of our party all wet and Cold (and one which they
have experienced for Several days past) they are chearfull and anxious to
See further into the Ocian, The water of the river being too Salt to use
we are obliged to make use of rain waterSome of the party not
accustomed to Salt water has made too free a use of it on them it acts as
a pergitive.
at this dismal point we must Spend another night as the wind & waves
are too high to proceed.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
November 9th, Saturday 1805. The tide last night forced us to unload all the canoes, one of which sank before she was unloaded because of the high waves or swells that came with the returning tide. We unloaded the others, and three of them were soon filled with water by the swells or high seas that broke against the shore right where we lay. It rained hard all the early part of the day. The tide, which rose until 2 o'clock P.M. today, brought with it such immense swells or waves, added to a hard wind from the south, that it loosened the drift trees (which are very thick on the shores) and tossed them about in such a manner as to endanger our canoes very much. With every exertion and the strictest attention, the party was scarcely able to keep our canoes from being crushed to pieces between those immensely large trees, many of them 200 feet long and 4 feet through. The tide today rose about ____ feet and 15 inches higher than yesterday; this is owing to the wind, which sets in from the ocean. We are compelled to move our camp away from the water, as well as the loading. Every man was as wet all last night and today as the rain could make them, and the rain continued all day. At 4 o'clock the wind shifted around to the S.W., directly from the ocean, and blew a storm for about 2 hours, raising the tide very high. All wet and cold. Labiche killed 4 ducks, very fat, and R. Fields saw elk sign.
Notwithstanding the disagreeable time the party has had for several days past, they are all cheerful and full of eagerness to see further into the ocean. The water is too salty to drink, so we use rainwater. The salt water has already acted as a purgative on some of the party. Rain continues.
November 9th, Saturday 1805. The tide last night did not rise high enough to come into our camp, but the canoes, which were exposed to the mercy of the waves, etc., that came with the returning tide, all filled. With great attention we saved them until the tide left them dry. The wind blew hard from the south and it rained hard all the early part of the day. At 2 o'clock P.M. the flood tide came in accompanied by immense waves and heavy winds, floating the trees and driftwood that were on the point where we camped and tossing them about in such a manner as to endanger the canoes very much. With every exertion and the strictest attention by every individual of the party, we were scarcely able to save our canoes from being crushed by those monstrous trees, many of them nearly 200 feet long and from 4 to 7 feet through. Our camp was entirely under water during the height of the tide. Every man was as wet as water could make him all last night and all day today, as the rain continued all day. At 4 o'clock P.M. the wind shifted around to the S.W. and blew with great violence directly from the ocean for about two hours. Notwithstanding the disagreeable situation of our party — all wet and cold (a situation they have experienced for several days past) — they are cheerful and anxious to see further into the ocean. The water of the river being too salty to use, we are obliged to make use of rainwater. Some of the party, not accustomed to salt water, have made too free a use of it; on them it acts as a purgative.
At this dismal point we must spend another night, as the wind and waves are too high to proceed.
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