Clark’s party to see beached whale at Tillamook Head — John Ordway: January 10, 1806
Two hunters returned with an elk, and twelve Native visitors arrived at the fort to trade wapato roots and two dogs. By evening, Captain Clark and most of his party returned from a roughly 25-mile journey south along the sea coast, crossing steep, rocky mountains to reach a beached whale measuring 105 feet long. They brought back whale meat, oil, and bones. Clark recounted how Hugh McNeal was nearly killed for his blanket near a coastal village, prompting Clark to name the site McNeal's Folly and a nearby headland Clark's View. Several men remained at the salt camp.
the 2 hunters returned had killed one Elk. towards evening 12
Savages came to the fort with wapatoes roots to trade, we
bought some from them and 2 dogs, also, in the evening Cap*
Clark and the most of his party returnd to the fort and informed
us that they had been ab* 25 miles along the sea coast about
a South course.1 they passed over verry Steep high rough
rockey mountains to git to the whail. the natives Shewed
them the fraim of a verry [large] whail which had been some time
dead it was 100.5 [105] feet in length, and proportined accord-
ingly, they brought some of the jaw bones and some other
black bones which are handsome, their was Several villages
along the coast of different tribes which lived mostly on whail
meat, and fish, Some Seals &C. they had a large quantity by
them they Saw a great many bones of whails along the Shore,
one night our men were Camped near a Small village on a Small
River, one of our men Hugh Mcneal went to the village by him-
self witho* any arms, an Indian which belonged to some other
nation came to Mcneal and took him out with a design to kill
him for his blanket. Some of the other Indians who wishd
us well called across the creek to our men. Several went with
arms to his assistance the indian hearing the alarm ran from
him with his long knife without injury, this Creek was named
by Cap* Clark Mcneals folley2 and the Mountain which they
crossed made out in the ocean he called Cap4 Clarks view.3
they bought and brought in considerable of whail meat, and
the oil Several of the men Stayed at the Salt Camps.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The two hunters returned, having killed one elk. Toward evening, 12 Savages came to the fort with wapato roots to trade. We bought some from them, along with two dogs. Also in the evening, Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) and most of his party returned to the fort and informed us that they had been about 25 miles along the sea coast on roughly a south course. They passed over very steep, high, rough, rocky mountains to get to the whale. The natives showed them the frame of a very large whale which had been dead for some time. It was 105 feet in length and proportioned accordingly. They brought back some of the jaw bones and some other black bones, which are handsome.
There were several villages along the coast of different tribes who lived mostly on whale meat and fish, with some seals, etc. They had a large quantity on hand. The men saw a great many whale bones along the shore.
One night our men were camped near a small village on a small river. One of our men, Hugh McNeal, went to the village by himself without any arms. An Indian who belonged to some other nation came to McNeal and took him out with a design to kill him for his blanket. Some of the other Indians, who wished us well, called across the creek to our men. Several went with arms to his assistance, and the Indian, hearing the alarm, ran from him with his long knife without injuring McNeal. This creek was named by Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) McNeal's Folly, and the mountain which they crossed, which juts out into the ocean, he called Capt Clark's View (Capt. Clark's View).
They bought and brought in a considerable amount of whale meat and the oil. Several of the men stayed at the salt camps.
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