Clark: September 21, 1804
In the early hours, the sandbar where the party was camped began collapsing into the river, forcing a hasty evacuation of men and pirogues just before the bank gave way; they made a second camp across the river. At daylight they proceeded to the Grand Bend, measuring its narrow neck at 2000 yards versus 30 miles around. They passed Tyler's River, observed abundant buffalo, elk, goats, plover, and brant, and camped at Mock Island. Old Sioux camps were spotted, and a Frenchman suffered from a painful abscess.
21st of September 1804 Friday 1804, last night or reather this morng at a
half past one oClock the Sand bar on which we Camped began to give way,
which allarmed the Serjt on guard & the noise waked me, I got up and
by the light of the moon observed that the Sand was giving away both above
& beloy and would Swallow our Perogues in a few minits, ordered all
hands on board and pushed off we had not got to the opposit Shore before
pt. of our Camp fel into the river. we proceeded on to the Gorge of the
bend & brackfast, the Distance of this bend around is 30 miles, and
11/4 miles thro, the high lands extinds to the gauge and is about 200 feet
the plain in the bend as also the two opposit Sides abov and below is
delightfull plains with graduel assents from the river in which there is
at this time Great number of Buffalow Elk & Goats feedg The Course
from the gauge on the L. S. is S. 70 W. 41/2 Miles to the pt. of Ceder
Timber on the L. S. pass Sands. worthy of remark the Cat fish not So
plenty abov white river & much Smaller than usial, Great nunbers of
Brant & plover, also goat and black tail Deer.
—
21st of September Friday 1804 at half past one oClock this morning the
Sand bar on which we Camped began to under mind and give way which
allarmed the Sergeant on Guard, the motion of the boat awakened me; I get
up & by the light of the moon observed that the land had given away
both above and below our Camp & was falling in fast. I ordered all
hands on as quick as possible & pushed off, we had pushed off but a
few minets before the bank under which the Boat & perogus lay give
way, which would Certainly have Sunk both Perogues, by the time we made
the opsd. Shore our Camp fell in, we made a 2d Camp for the remainder of
the night & at Daylight proceeded on to the Gouge of this Great bend
and Brackfast, we Sent a man to measure step off the Distance across the
gouge, he made it 2000 yds. The distance arround is 30 mes. The hills
extend thro the gouge and is about 200 foot above the waterin the
bend as also the opposite Sides both abov and below the bend is a butifull
inclined Plain in which there is great numbers of Buffalow, Elk &
Goats in view feeding & Scipping on those Plains Grouse, Larks &
the Prarie bird is Common in those Plains. we proceeded on passed a (1)
willow Island below the mouth of a Small river called Tylors R about 35
yds. wide which corns in on the L. S. 6 miles above the Gorge of the bend,
at the mouth of this river the two hunters a head left a Deer & its
Skin also the Skin of a white wolfwe observe an emence number of Plover of
Different kind Collecting and takeing their flight Southerly, also Brants
which appear to move in the same Direction. The Cat fish is Small and not
So plenty as below (2) The Shore on each Side is lined with hard rough
Gulley Stones of different Sides, which has roled from the hills & out
of Small brooks, Ceder is comon here, This day is worm, the wind which is
not hard blows from the S. E, we Camped at the lower point of the Mock
Island on the S. S. this now Connected with the main land, it has the
appearance of once being an Island detached from the main land Covered
with tall Cotton woodwe Saw Some Camps and tracks of the Seaux
which appears to be old three or four weeks agoone frenchman I fear
has got an abscess on his they, he complains verry much we are makeing
every exertion to releiv him The Praries in this quarter Contains Great
qts. of Prickley Pear.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
21st of September 1804, Friday. Last night, or rather this morning at half past one o'clock, the sandbar on which we camped began to give way, which alarmed the Sergeant on guard, and the noise woke me. I got up, and by the light of the moon I observed that the sand was giving way both above and below, and would swallow our pirogues in a few minutes. I ordered all hands on board and pushed off. We had not reached the opposite shore before part of our camp fell into the river. We proceeded on to the gorge of the bend and had breakfast. The distance of this bend around is 30 miles, and 1 1/4 miles through. The high lands extend to the gorge and are about 200 feet high. The plain in the bend, as also the two opposite sides above and below, are delightful plains with gradual ascents from the river, in which there are at this time great numbers of buffalo, elk, and goats feeding. The course from the gorge on the larboard side is S. 70 W., 4 1/2 miles to the point of cedar timber on the larboard side, passing sands. Worthy of remark: the catfish are not so plentiful above White River, and are much smaller than usual. There are great numbers of brant and plover, also goat and black-tailed deer.
21st of September, Friday 1804. At half past one o'clock this morning, the sandbar on which we camped began to undermine and give way, which alarmed the Sergeant on guard. The motion of the boat awakened me. I got up, and by the light of the moon I observed that the land had given way both above and below our camp, and was falling in fast. I ordered all hands on board as quickly as possible and pushed off. We had pushed off only a few minutes before the bank under which the boat and pirogues lay gave way, which would certainly have sunk both pirogues. By the time we made the opposite shore, our camp fell in. We made a second camp for the remainder of the night, and at daylight proceeded on to the gorge of this great bend and had breakfast. We sent a man to step off the distance across the gorge; he made it 2,000 yards. The distance around is 30 miles. The hills extend through the gorge and are about 200 feet above the water. In the bend, as also on the opposite sides both above and below the bend, is a beautiful inclined plain on which there are great numbers of buffalo, elk, and goats in view, feeding and skipping. On those plains, grouse, larks, and the prairie bird are common. We proceeded on, passing (1) a willow island below the mouth of a small river called Tylors R. (Tyler's River), about 35 yards wide, which comes in on the larboard side 6 miles above the gorge of the bend. At the mouth of this river, the two hunters ahead left a deer and its skin, also the skin of a white wolf. We observed an immense number of plover of different kinds collecting and taking their flight southerly, also brants, which appear to move in the same direction. The catfish are small and not so plentiful as below. (2) The shore on each side is lined with hard, rough gully stones of different sizes, which have rolled from the hills and out of small brooks. Cedar is common here. This day is warm; the wind, which is not hard, blows from the S.E. We camped at the lower point of the Mock Island on the starboard side; this is now connected with the main land. It has the appearance of once having been an island detached from the main land, covered with tall cottonwood. We saw some camps and tracks of the Sioux, which appear to be old, three or four weeks ago. One Frenchman, I fear, has gotten an abscess on his thigh; he complains very much. We are making every exertion to relieve him. The prairies in this quarter contain great quantities of prickly pear.
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