Lewis: to Great Falls / Clark: to Three Forks — John Ordway: July 8, 1806
The party rode south across large plains, crossing several creeks and spotting elk, deer, and antelope. After about twelve miles they reached a boiling hot spring, where they found a piece of venison left by the main party already cooked in the water and ate it. The water was well-tasted but too hot to touch. They continued over the dividing ridge, descended along a creek thought to be a branch of Jefferson's River, crossed another ridge, and camped at dark after roughly forty miles, with only a discarded antelope head to eat.
set out eairly with our horses and proceed on over this large ex-
tensive plains, crossed Several large creeks Saw elk & deers,
and goats or antelopes, our course ab* South Struck the trail
of the party at about 12 miles we come to a boiling hot Spring at
the edge of this plains which is large and handsom we halted a
fiew minutes at this Spring found a peace of vinison in it well
boiled which we expect the party left for us. we eat it. I drank
Some of the water found it well tasted, but so hot that I cannot
hold my hand in [it] a Second of time, it fairly boils out of the
ground in Sundry places &C. we proceeded on crossd a creek
near sd Springs and kept our course ab* South up a creek on
which saw many beaver dams &C. about noon we dined at the
head of the creek near the dividing ridge, then crossd the ridge
about one mile and came on a creek2 running South, which we
expect is a branch of jeffersons river followed down it 10 or 12
ml8 and crossed an other ridge and came in the valley & on the
east fork3 of jeffersons river, followed down on the trail of the
party a short distance and Camped at dark on the branch of the
creek, hobbled the unruley horses and lay down to Sleep fa-
tigued rideing upwards of 40 miles this day. and nothing to eat
this evening but the head of a goat or antelope which the party
had droped on the road.
1 The junction of Horse Prairie Creek with Beaver Head River, where the
canoes had been left on Aug. 17, 1805. To reach the latter point the parly
journeyed to Wisdom River and then up this stream to the western slope of
Bald Mountain. In this vicinity they crossed the divide to the headwaters
of Grasshopper Creek and followed down that stream to the site of the town
of Bannack. Here they veered to the south in the direction of their destination.
the mouth of Horse Prairie Creek.
2 Grasshopper Creek.
3 Horse Prairie Creek, to the mouth of which they are to descend the follow-
ing forenoon.
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 375
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Set out early with our horses and proceeded on over these large extensive plains. Crossed several large creeks. Saw elk and deer, and goats or antelopes. Our course was about south. Struck the trail of the party at about 12 miles. We came to a boiling hot spring at the edge of this plain, which is large and handsome. We halted a few minutes at this spring and found a piece of venison in it well boiled, which we expect the party left for us. We ate it. I drank some of the water and found it well tasted, but so hot that I cannot hold my hand in it for a second of time. It fairly boils out of the ground in sundry places, etc.
We proceeded on, crossed a creek near said springs, and kept our course about south up a creek on which we saw many beaver dams, etc. About noon we dined at the head of the creek near the dividing ridge, then crossed the ridge about one mile and came on a creek running south, which we expect is a branch of Jefferson's River. Followed down it 10 or 12 miles and crossed another ridge and came into the valley and onto the east fork of Jefferson's River. Followed down on the trail of the party a short distance and camped at dark on the branch of the creek. Hobbled the unruly horses and lay down to sleep, fatigued from riding upwards of 40 miles this day, and with nothing to eat this evening but the head of a goat or antelope which the party had dropped on the road.
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