Marias River decision camp — John Ordway: June 8, 1805
The weather cleared pleasantly by mid-morning after a cold spell that had blanketed camp in snow, and the Indian goods were aired out. Around 3 p.m., Captain Lewis and his party returned from a 60-mile scout up the north fork, reporting abundant game and killing buffalo, deer, elk, and a badger. Believing the north fork bent too far north toward the Columbia route, the captains decided to ascend the south fork, cache some supplies, and leave the largest pirogue behind. They named the north fork Maria's River and the middle stream Tansy River. Hunters brought in more game; light rain fell that evening.
from the N. W. Several men went out from camp to hunt, about
9 oClock A. M. cleared off pleasant, the Indian goods &.C. put
out to air. we Saw the high Mountains to the West, our Camp
covered with Snow, the greater part of which has fell within a
fiew days, the South fork of the Missourie is high & of a yallow
coulour. the N. fork is more white than common owing as we
expect to the late rain which has melted the Snow on the moun-
tains, about 3 oClock P. M. Cap* Lewis & his party returned to
Camp, & Informed us that they had walked through high plains
for about 60 miles up the north fork, they found that it holds its
bigness, & depth of water [and has] bottoms of timber which is
covered with game, they killed a nomber of buff alow. 16 Deer
6 Elk & a brarow. they Saw a range of Mountains to the South
of them. Cap* Lewis thinks that the N. fork bears too far north
for our course for if we Should take the wrong fork we should have
much further to go by land & more mountains to cross to go over
to the Columbia River which descends to the western ocean. So
our Captains conclude to assend the South South fork and burry
some articles which we can do without & leave the largest perogue.
they named the North fork River Mariah and the middle or little
River named Tanzey River.1 The water & bottoms in everry re-
spect of each resimbles the Missourie below the forks, only
Smaller, we put a brand on a tree which Stood on the point, the
men generally in camp has been employed dressing Skins &.C.
towards evening the hunters all came in had killed 13 M. mule
shall I do?” Turning to look, Lewis found the unfortunate man had slipped
and fallen about the middle of the narrow pass, and was lying face down, his
right arm and leg extending over the edge of the precipice, while with his left
he clung desperately to the ground to prevent being dashed into eternity. Lewis
spoke to him “very calmly,” assuring him he was in “no kind of danger,” and
directed him to draw his knife from his belt with his free hand and dig a hole
in the bank to receive his right foot. Following this and the further directions
Of Lewis the alarmed Windsor succeeded in effecting his escape from his peril-
ous situation.
I Lewis named Marias River in honor of Ins cousin. Miss Maria Wood, al-
though he deemed the honor thus bestowed aot entirely equal to her merits,
“it is true.” he observes, “that the hue of the waters of this turbulent and
troubled stream hut illy comport with the pare celestial virtues and amiable
qualifications of that lovely fair one; but on the other hand it is a noble river.”
Lewis gave the river the possessive form of the name, which modern Usage
retains, shorn of the apostrophe. The Tanzey, called by (iass. Hose Liver, is.
of course, the modern Teton.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 229
& common Deer & one beaver. The wind blew from the East a
light Shower of rain this evening.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The wind came from the northwest. Several men went out from camp to hunt. About 9 o'clock A.M. it cleared off pleasant, and the Indian goods, etc., were put out to air. We saw the high mountains to the west. Our camp was covered with snow, the greater part of which has fallen within a few days. The south fork of the Missouri is high and of a yellow color. The north fork is more white than common, owing, as we expect, to the late rain which has melted the snow on the mountains.
About 3 o'clock P.M. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and his party returned to camp and informed us that they had walked through high plains for about 60 miles up the north fork. They found that it holds its size and depth of water, and has bottoms of timber which are covered with game. They killed a number of buffalo, 16 deer, 6 elk, and a badger. They saw a range of mountains to the south of them. Capt Lewis thinks that the north fork bears too far north for our course, for if we should take the wrong fork we should have much further to go by land and more mountains to cross to get over to the Columbia River, which descends to the western ocean. So our captains conclude to ascend the south fork and bury some articles which we can do without, and leave the largest pirogue.
They named the north fork River Mariah, and the middle or little river they named Tanzey River. The water and bottoms in every respect of each resemble the Missouri below the forks, only smaller. We put a brand on a tree which stood on the point. The men generally in camp have been employed dressing skins, etc. Toward evening the hunters all came in, having killed 13 mule and common deer and one beaver. The wind blew from the east. A light shower of rain this evening.
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