Jefferson/Beaverhead River near present-day Dillon — John Ordway: August 7, 1805

one of the Small canoes and hailed it out in the bushes in a grove
of cotton timber on L. Side of the forks and left their, we put
1 In this accident to the canoes Whitehouse narrowly escaped death. Thrown
out of one of the canoes as it swung in the rapid current, the boat passed over
him, pressing him to the bottom. Had the water been two inches shallower.
in Lewis’ opinion, he must inevitably have been crushed to death. White-
house himself gives a modest account of his danger and escape.
2 Shannon’s habit of getting lost has already been noted, .but his present
predicament was due to no fault on his part. Wheeler is disposed (II, 8) to
condemn Lewis and Clark for not making a more determined effort to find him.
“Almost a mere boy,” they “sent him out to hunt, then absolutely reversed
their program and route, of which he was entirely ignorant, and went on up
another river, leaving him finally ‘to get out of his scrape’ the best way he
could.” By this time, however, Shannon was learning to take care of himself
in the wilderness. After a vain search up the Big Hole for his companions,
on the supposition that they had gone on in advance, he returned to the forks
and from there followed up the Jefferson until he rejoined the expedition on
August 9.
3 While encamped here the captains gave names to the branches of the river
which come together at this point. They decided that the “middle fork,”
which Lewis advised ascending, was the continuation of the main stream which
they had already named the Jefferson. The right-hand fork (the modern
Big Hole) they named Wisdom River, and the left-hand fork, Philanthropy
River, “in commemoration of two of those cardinal virtues which have so
eminently marked that deservedly selibrated character [Jefferson] through
life.” Lewis, AugusI .”>. The name Wisdom is still sometimes used to desig-
nate the Big Hole, but Philanthropy has given place to modern Stinking Water.
1805] SERGEANT ORD WAY’S JOURNAL 261
the goods &. C. not dry out in the Sun Cap1 Lewis took an
observation & Shoot the air gun. the man G. Shannon not re-
turned yet. the morning cool, but the day warm, the large
flys troublesome & C. about one oClock we packed up all the
baggage and Set out and proceeded on up the middle fork we
find the current not so rapid nor the rapids So bad as the N. fork,
we had Thunder Showers this afternoon, attended with high
winds, passed Smooth prarie on each side the River verry
crooked &. C. Came 7 miles and Camped at a bottom on L. S.
this bottom is covered with bushes & a little timber bryry & C.
our hunter G. Drewyer joined us had killed one deer which we
stood in great need off.