Jefferson River ascending toward divide — John Ordway: August 3, 1805
The expedition pushed up a winding, island-filled river in present-day Madison County, Montana. Captain Clark walked ashore and killed a deer, while hunter R. Fields shot a reddish-brown panther on an island, the first of its kind taken by the party. Strong rapids forced the men to double-crew the canoes and wade much of the day. They passed burned-over prairies, a large cold spring feeding a beaver pond with a four-foot dam, and snow-capped mountains to the south. After 17½ miles in pleasant, warm weather, they camped in a cottonwood bottom.
and proceeded on. Cap* Clark walked on Shore a Short time and
killed a Deer, the River verry crooked and filled with Islands.
we proceeded on. Saw 2 deer on the edge of the River one of the
hunters R. Fields went after them and killed a panther on an
Island, it was 1 feet in length, it differs from those in the States,
it is of a redish brown, and the first we have killed, passed verry
rapid water we have to double man the canoes and drag them
over the Sholes and rapid places, we have to be in the water half
of our time, passed level praries on each Side the bottoms has
been burned over about 6 months past by the natives, as appears,
passed a large Spring on the Lard Side at a a low bottom of willows
and high grass. The beaver has made a dam at the mouth on the
bank of the River which causes a pond back Some distance and
they have lodges all through the pond, the water falls over the
dam in the River ab* 4 feet. I drunk of the water found it verry
cold, it appears that there is 3 or 4 Springs running from under
the mountains a Short distance to the South of us Some Spots
1 In Madison County, opposite the mouth of Boulder River.
2 The Tobacco Root Mountains.
8 In Madison County, about midway between White Tail Deer and Pipe-
stone creeks. Across the range from the headwaters of the latter lies Butte,
probably the greatest mining camp in the wrorld.
258 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Aug. 4
of Snow on it. about one oC. we passed over a bad rapid and
halted at a bottom covered with timber, to dine the day pleasant
and warm, proceeded on passed a large spring run which is
made by the Snow on the Mountains and runs from the foot of
the M° through a Smooth plain, the River gitting more rapid the
rapids longer passed beaver ponds, bottom prarie & bottoms
covred with timber &. C. Came 17| miles this day, and Camped
on the Lard side at a bottom of cotton timber. l the currents verry
thick, & rabit berrys &C.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
and proceeded on. Capt. Clark walked on shore a short time and killed a deer. The river was very crooked and filled with islands. We proceeded on. We saw 2 deer on the edge of the river. One of the hunters, R. Fields, went after them and killed a panther on an island. It was 7 feet in length. It differs from those in the States; it is of a reddish brown, and is the first we have killed. We passed very rapid water. We have to double-man the canoes and drag them over the shoals and rapid places. We have to be in the water half of our time. We passed level prairies on each side. The bottoms have been burned over about 6 months ago by the natives, as it appears. We passed a large spring on the larboard side at a low bottom of willows and high grass. The beaver have made a dam at the mouth on the bank of the river, which causes a pond back some distance, and they have lodges all through the pond. The water falls over the dam into the river about 4 feet. I drank of the water and found it very cold. It appears that there are 3 or 4 springs running from under the mountains a short distance to the south of us. Some spots of snow are on it.
About one o'clock we passed over a bad rapid and halted at a bottom covered with timber to dine. The day was pleasant and warm. We proceeded on and passed a large spring run, which is made by the snow on the mountains and runs from the foot of the mountains through a smooth plain. The river was getting more rapid, the rapids longer. We passed beaver ponds, bottom prairie, and bottoms covered with timber, etc. We came 17 1/2 miles this day, and camped on the larboard side at a bottom of cottonwood timber. The currants were very thick, and rabbit berries, etc.
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