Missouri River Breaks area — Joseph Whitehouse: May 14, 1805
After a frosty night that froze the men's moccasins, the party set off at sunrise under clear skies, passing several large creeks and a willow island while observing huge buffalo herds and rugged black hills lined with pitch pine. Captain Clark killed a buffalo at midday. Late afternoon, six men attempted to kill a large brown bear, which took nine balls before dying and chased men into the river. A sudden northwest squall nearly capsized the white pirogue under sail, soaking medicine, papers, and books. The men dried the cargo, camped in a timbered bottom, received a dram of spirits, and made 18.5 miles.
a hard white frost last night. our mocasons froze near the
fire. a clear and pleasant morning. we Set off at Sun‘rise
and proceeded on passed the mouth of a large creek on N. S,
named [blank space in MS.]* and a Small willow Island ab’
the mouth of S* creek we Saw verry large gangs of buffaloe,
on N.S. high rough black hills on each Side of the River.
Some Spots of pitch pine on the hills on each Side of the
River. about 1 oC. we halted to dine at [a]timbred bottom
on the SS. Cap! Clark killed a buffaloe about 2 oC. we
proceeded. we had passed the mouth of a large creek this
fore noon on S. S. Serg! Gass Saw Some banks of Snow on
the N. Side of Some hills. about 4 oClock P.M. we passed
the mouth of a large creek on S.S. 100 yards wide at high
water mark. we proceeded on at 5 oC. we Saw a verry large
brown bear on the hills on S.S. Six men went from the
cannoes to kill him they fired at him and only wounded
him he took after them and chased 2 men in to a cannoe,
they Shoved off in the River and fired at him Some of the
men on Shore wounded him worse he then chased one man
down a Steep bank in to the River and was near gitting hold
of him, but he kept up Stream So that the bear could not git
up to him. one of the men on Shore Shot the bear in the
head, which killed him dead after having nine balls Shot in
him. we got him to Shore and butchered him, his feet was
nine Inches across the ball, and 13 in length, nearly of the
Same discription of the first we killed only much larger his
nales was Seven Inches Jong &c. the two captains ware out on
Shore after a verry large gang of buffaloe the white perogue
of the captains hoisted Sail as the wind blew fair. a violent
Storm of wind arose from a black cloud in the N. W. the
1 Lewis calls this Gibson’s Creek. — Ep.
[ 82 ]
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
wind shifted in[to] N. W. and took the Sail of a Sudden and
had it not been for the eairning [awning] and mast She would
have turned up side down. She filled ful of water with
much trouble they got her to Shore and unloaded hir found
that the most of the loading was wet the Medicine Spoiled
or damaged very much Some of the paper and nearly all the
books got wet, but not altogether Spoiled. we opened all the
loading, on the bank and Camped at a bottom covred with
timber on the N.S. our officers gave each man a draghm of
ardent Spirits, Came 181% miles this day. (1 man wounded
another bear). ;
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
A hard white frost last night. Our moccasins froze near the fire. A clear and pleasant morning. We set off at sunrise and proceeded on, passed the mouth of a large creek on the north side, named [blank space in MS.], and a small willow island above the mouth of said creek. We saw very large herds of buffalo on the north side. High rough black hills on each side of the river. Some spots of pitch pine on the hills on each side of the river. About 1 o'clock we halted to dine at a timbered bottom on the south side. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) killed a buffalo. About 2 o'clock we proceeded on. We had passed the mouth of a large creek this forenoon on the south side. Serg' Gass (Sergeant Gass) saw some banks of snow on the north side of some hills. About 4 o'clock P.M. we passed the mouth of a large creek on the south side, 100 yards wide at high water mark. We proceeded on. At 5 o'clock we saw a very large brown bear on the hills on the south side.
Six men went from the canoes to kill him. They fired at him and only wounded him. He took after them and chased two men into a canoe. They shoved off into the river and fired at him. Some of the men on shore wounded him worse. He then chased one man down a steep bank into the river and was near getting hold of him, but the man kept up stream so that the bear could not get up to him. One of the men on shore shot the bear in the head, which killed him dead, after having nine balls shot into him. We got him to shore and butchered him. His feet were nine inches across the ball, and 13 inches in length, nearly of the same description as the first we killed, only much larger. His nails were seven inches long, etc.
The two captains were out on shore after a very large herd of buffalo. The white pirogue of the captains hoisted sail as the wind blew fair. A violent storm of wind arose from a black cloud in the N.W. The wind shifted into the N.W. and took the sail of a sudden, and had it not been for the awning and mast, she would have turned upside down. She filled full of water. With much trouble they got her to shore and unloaded her, and found that most of the loading was wet, the medicine spoiled or damaged very much, some of the paper and nearly all the books got wet, but not altogether spoiled. We opened all the loading on the bank and camped at a bottom covered with timber on the north side. Our officers gave each man a dram of ardent spirits. Came 18½ miles this day. (One man wounded another bear.)
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