Lewis: July 9, 1805
A fair morning turned difficult when a violent windstorm struck just as the canoes were being loaded, forcing the party to unload and wetting some baggage. After launching the iron-framed experimental boat, Lewis discovered its sealing composition had separated from the elk skins, leaving it leaking beyond repair. Mortified, he abandoned the project, ordering the boat sunk to soften the skins for disassembly and the iron frame cached. He and Clark decided to build two replacement canoes from timber reportedly available about eight miles upriver, with Clark to lead ten men there the next morning.
Tuesday July 9th 1805. The morning was fair and pleant. the Islands seem
crouded with blackbirds; the young brude is now completely feathered and
flying in common with the others. we corked the canoes and put them in the
water and also launched the boat, she lay like a perfect cork on the
water. five men would carry her with the greatest ease. I now directed
seats to be fixed in her and oars to be fitted. the men loaded the canoes
in readiness to depart. just at this moment a violent wind commenced and
blew so hard that we were obliged to unload the canoes again; a part of
the baggage in several of them got wet before it could be taken out. the
wind continued violent untill late in the evening, by which time we
discovered that a greater part of the composition had seperated from the
skins and left the seams of the boat exposed to the water and she leaked
in such manner that she would not answer. I need not add that this
circumstance mortifyed me not a little; and to prevent her leaking without
pich was impossible with us, and to obtain this article was equally
impossible, therefore the evil was irraparable I now found that the
section formed of the buffaloe hides on which some hair had been left,
answered much the best purpose; this leaked but little and the parts which
were well covered with hair about 1/8th of an inch in length retained the
composition perfectly and remained sound and dry. from these circumstances
I am preswaided, that had I formed her with buffaloe skins singed not
quite as close as I had done those I employed, that she would have
answered even with this composition. but to make any further experiments
in our present situation seemed to me madness; the buffaloe had
principally dserted us, and the season was now advancing fast. I therefore
relinquished all further hope of my favorite boat and ordered her to be
sunk in the water, that the skins might become soft in order the better to
take her in peices tomorrow and deposite the iron fraim at this place as
it could probably be of no further service to us. had I only singed my Elk
skins in stead of shaving them I beleive the composition would have
remained and the boat have answered; at least untill we could have reached
the pine country which must be in advance of us from the pine which is
brought down by the water and which is probably at no great distance where
we might have supplyed ourselves with the necessary pich or gum. but it
was now too late to introduce a remidy and I bid a dieu to my boat, and
her expected services.The next difficulty which presented itself
was how we should convey the stores and baggage which we had purposed
carrying in the boat. both Capt. Clark and myself recollected having heard
the hunters mention that the bottoms of the river some few miles above us
were much better timbered than below and that some of the trees were
large. the idea therefore suggested itself of building two other canoes
sufficiently large to carry the surplus baggage. on enquiry of the hunters
it seemed to be the general opinion that trees sufficiently a large for
this purpose might be obtained in a bottom on the opposite side about 8
miles distant by land and reather more than double that distance by water;
accordingly Capt. Clark determined to set out early in the morning with
ten of the best workmen and proceede by land to that place while the
others would in the mean time be employed by myself in taking the Boat in
peices and depositing her, together with the articles which we had
previously determined to deposit at this place, and also in trasporting
all the baggage up the river to that point in the six small canoes. this
plan being settled between us orders were accordingly given to the party,
and the ten men who were to accompany Capt. Clark had ground and prepared
their axes and adds this evening in order to prepare for an early
departure in the morning. we have on this as well as on many former
occasions found a small grindstone which I brought with me from Harper’s
ferry extreemly convenient to us. if we find trees at the place mentioned
sufficiently large for our purposes it will be extreemly fortunate; for we
have not seen one for many miles below the entrance of musselshell River
to this place, which would have answered.-
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Tuesday, July 9th, 1805. The morning was fair and pleasant. The islands seemed crowded with blackbirds; the young brood is now completely feathered and flying along with the others. We caulked the canoes and put them in the water, and also launched the boat. She lay like a perfect cork on the water. Five men could carry her with the greatest ease. I now directed seats to be fixed in her and oars to be fitted. The men loaded the canoes, ready to depart. Just at this moment a violent wind started and blew so hard that we were obliged to unload the canoes again; part of the baggage in several of them got wet before it could be taken out. The wind continued violent until late in the evening, by which time we discovered that a great part of the composition had separated from the skins and left the seams of the boat exposed to the water, and she leaked in such a manner that she would not do. I need not add that this circumstance mortified me not a little; and to prevent her leaking without pitch was impossible for us, and to obtain that article was equally impossible, so the problem was irreparable. I now found that the section formed of the buffalo hides on which some hair had been left answered much the best purpose; this leaked but little, and the parts that were well covered with hair about 1/8th of an inch in length retained the composition perfectly and remained sound and dry. From these circumstances I am persuaded that had I formed her with buffalo skins singed not quite as close as those I had used, she would have answered even with this composition. But to make any further experiments in our present situation seemed to me madness; the buffalo had mostly deserted us, and the season was now advancing fast. I therefore gave up all further hope of my favorite boat and ordered her to be sunk in the water, so that the skins might become soft in order to better take her apart tomorrow and deposit the iron frame at this place, as it could probably be of no further service to us. Had I only singed my elk skins instead of shaving them, I believe the composition would have remained and the boat would have answered; at least until we could have reached the pine country, which must be ahead of us, judging from the pine that is brought down by the water and which is probably at no great distance, where we might have supplied ourselves with the necessary pitch or gum. But it was now too late to apply a remedy, and I bid adieu to my boat and her expected services.
The next difficulty that presented itself was how we should carry the stores and baggage which we had planned to carry in the boat. Both Capt. Clark and myself remembered having heard the hunters mention that the bottoms of the river some few miles above us were much better timbered than below, and that some of the trees were large. The idea therefore came to us of building two more canoes large enough to carry the surplus baggage. On asking the hunters, it seemed to be the general opinion that trees large enough for this purpose might be found in a bottom on the opposite side, about 8 miles distant by land and rather more than double that distance by water. Accordingly, Capt. Clark decided to set out early in the morning with ten of the best workmen and proceed by land to that place, while the others would meanwhile be employed by myself in taking the boat apart and depositing her, together with the articles which we had previously decided to deposit at this place, and also in transporting all the baggage up the river to that point in the six small canoes. This plan being settled between us, orders were accordingly given to the party, and the ten men who were to accompany Capt. Clark sharpened and prepared their axes and adzes this evening to be ready for an early departure in the morning. We have on this, as well as on many former occasions, found a small grindstone, which I brought with me from Harper's Ferry, extremely convenient. If we find trees at the place mentioned large enough for our purposes, it will be extremely fortunate; for we have not seen one for many miles below the entrance of Musselshell River up to this place that would have answered.
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