Clearwater to Snake River — John Ordway: October 8, 1805
The expedition reorganized canoes and cached a canister of powder near a broken tree before setting out around 9 a.m. They navigated several dangerous rapids, taking on water from the waves, and passed rocky cliffs and barren hills. Around noon they stopped at an Indian camp of about six lodges, where they bought salmon and two dogs. Further on, one canoe struck rocks mid-rapid and cracked, stranding non-swimming men until rescuers unloaded another canoe and two Indians assisted. Most baggage was saved, though a tomahawk and light items were lost. They camped on the starboard side after about 18 miles.
Sometime changing the officers canoes &C. hid a canister of
Powder by a broken top tree, about 9 oClock we Set out and
proceeded on Saw Some Indians horses on the Side of the hills
on Stard Side, passed over Several bad rapids took in Some
water by the waves, passed Some clifts of rocks and barron hills
on each Side, about 12 OClock we halted at Some Indian Camps
about 6 lodges of well looking Savages who had Several Small
canoes and catch considerable of Sammon. we bought some from
them. 2 dogs also, we proceeded on a Short distance and halted
at Some more Camps at the foot of an Island where was Several
Indian Camps, one of the canoes Struck a rock in the middle of
the rapid and Swang round and Struck another rock and cracked
hir So that it filled with water, the waves roared over the rocks
and Some of the men could not Swim, their they Stayed in this
doleful Situation untill we unloaded one of the other canoes and
went and released them. 2 Indians went in a canoe to their
assistance also, we got the men and the most of the baggage Safe
to Shore, a fiew articles lost one tommahawk and a fiew light
things, we put the baggage out and Camped on the Stard Side
1 Coues locates the camp at the mouth of Bed Rock Creek, Nez Perce County,
Idaho.
295
296 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Oct. 9
at high plains, a number of Savages visited us this evening —
had Come about 18 miles to day1
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
After spending some time changing the officers' canoes, etc., we hid a canister of powder by a broken-topped tree. About 9 o'clock we set out and proceeded on. We saw some Indian horses on the side of the hills on the starboard side, and passed over several bad rapids, taking in some water from the waves. We passed some cliffs of rocks and barren hills on each side.
About 12 o'clock we halted at some Indian camps, about 6 lodges of good-looking natives who had several small canoes and caught a considerable amount of salmon. We bought some from them, along with 2 dogs. We proceeded on a short distance and halted at some more camps at the foot of an island, where there were several Indian camps.
One of the canoes struck a rock in the middle of the rapid and swung around and struck another rock, cracking it so that it filled with water. The waves roared over the rocks, and some of the men could not swim. There they stayed in this dreadful situation until we unloaded one of the other canoes and went and rescued them. 2 Indians also went in a canoe to their assistance. We got the men and most of the baggage safely to shore. A few articles were lost—one tomahawk and a few light things.
We took the baggage out and camped on the starboard side at high plains. A number of natives visited us this evening. We had come about 18 miles today.
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