Missouri River through Kansas-Missouri area — John Ordway: September 17, 1806
On a fair morning, the party set out early and made good progress, passing Riffle Island and navigating a dangerous stretch near Petzaw Island choked with logs and sawyers. Around 2 p.m. they encountered a large trading boat under Captain John McClallen, bound for Spanish territory via the Platte River and Pawnee country to acquire horses and trade for silver and gold. McClallen told them they had been nearly given up for lost back home. He shared whiskey and biscuits with the men, who aired their baggage and camped for the night.
fish last night which is judfg]ed to weigh a hundred weight, a
fair morning, we Set out eairly and proceeded on verry well
soon passd riffle Isld and a short distance below at the petzaw
Island we passd through a verry bad part of the river which was
filled so thick with logs Standing on end & Sawyers that we only
found room to pass through, about 2 oClock P. M. we met a
large Boat Commanded by one Cap* McLanen2 loaded down with
Marchandize about 15 hands & an Intrepter & Clark [clerk].
they are bound for the Spanish country by way of River platte
to the panies [Pawnee] Indians & purchase horses and cross the
Mountains leaving their goods on this Side and git the Spaniards
to come and bring their silver & gold and trade it for goods as
they are full of money and no goods among them of any account,
and if Mr McLanen has Success this voiage no doubt but that trade
1 This was Joseph Robidoux Jr., first permanent settler of St. Joseph, Mo.,
where he founded a post as early as 1800 and died in 1868. Thwaites, V, 386.
Clark was suspicious about his trading license, which lacked the territorial
seal, and the privileges which it granted seemed to him extraordinary to be
accorded so young a man.
2 John McClallen, formerly a captain of artillery in the U. S. army. He
was “Somewhat astonished” at sight of the explorers, and informed them they
had long since been given up by the people of the United States, and “almost
forgotton,” although President Jefferson still had hopes of them.
THE CONCLUSION OF A NOBLE RECORD
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 401
will be advantageous to the United States hereafter, we aired
our baggage &C. Several of our hunters Sent a head with 2 Small
canoes to hunt, in the evening Mr McLanen gave our party as
much whiskey as they would drink and we Camped.1 Mr
McLanen gave us a bag of Buiscuit &C.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
...fish last night which is judged to weigh a hundred pounds. A fair morning. We set out early and proceeded on very well. We soon passed Riffle Island, and a short distance below at the Petzaw Island we passed through a very bad part of the river, which was filled so thick with logs standing on end and sawyers that we only found room to pass through. About 2 o'clock P.M. we met a large boat commanded by one Capt. McLanen (McClallen), loaded down with merchandise, with about 15 hands, an interpreter, and a clerk. They are bound for the Spanish country by way of the River Platte to the Panies (Pawnee) Indians, to purchase horses and cross the mountains, leaving their goods on this side and getting the Spaniards to come and bring their silver and gold to trade it for goods, as they are full of money and have no goods of any account among them. If Mr. McLanen has success this voyage, no doubt this trade will be advantageous to the United States hereafter.
We aired our baggage, etc. Several of our hunters were sent ahead with 2 small canoes to hunt. In the evening Mr. McLanen gave our party as much whiskey as they would drink, and we camped. Mr. McLanen gave us a bag of biscuits, etc.
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