Fort Mandan (winter) — Patrick Gass: February 2, 1805
The party killed a very large brown bear, recording detailed measurements of its head, neck, breast, length, leg, and talons. The sick man improved. Over the following days they traveled by canoe in mostly fair weather, passing a river on the south side whose water sank into the Missouri's sand. One canoe overturned in high winds but was recovered near shore. They passed Warner's Creek, killed deer, buffalo, and another large brown bear, trapped beaver, and noted the first pine and cedar-covered hills seen in some time.
white fros £. Dae this roe the country 4
d ent
Been age Ya ond theampel, ou ie Ronh ae. “Th Hie |
Sick man bas | become better. Here we ‘Kill ed a very 2
darge brown bear, which measured three feet five ie
—4duches rotind the head; three feet eleven inches.
ana the’ neck + round the breast five feet. Ce
~Gnches; the lenst th veight (feet. 72 inches; round
the piiddle of the fore lee 23 jaches ; > and his talons oe
foe inches. and pale eights ofan inch. ee:
ae Monday. 6th. We-set sail with a fair wind. eh ;
pleasant weather. At 12 a few drops of rain fell, but –
“ait soon cleared up. We passed a river on the South y 2
| wide. about 200 yards wide; bat the water of this
ne —ytver sinks in the sand on the. side of the Missouri. eg
ee ANG went’ Slaten miles and enc camped on 1 the |
‘ Use : South side. |
ee Puesday tth. Wi e again’ set out eatly arid went |
ob very well till 12 whew it began to blow hard, and _
) ” acing all wnder sail one of our canoes turned | over. “4
cf ¢ Fortunately the acgbletihappencd: near the ehore’s 7
» ‘sand after baltine three hours we ‘were-able to goon.
ae –agein. Having. this day made sixteen miles Wwe a=
camped on the South sides «© y= ks | ie
Aa eae day 8th. eg were again very early under. ee
ee
~ ore. solbeny naa er river more spam Be :
a8 = a rereck on the South side, and halvir
ce OURNAL. ae
i me a Ms a North side, ealled by the name of Warner’s
: ereek.
oS Briday Louk. We set out early in a fair morning ; ie
~ “but having gene five miles were obliged to halt and
s dye by diving ‘the day, on account of hard: wind. ,
Some small showers of rain occasionally fell. Here
» _ ‘we killed. some deer and bufraloe and took SOC. ° 20
A ‘beaver. 7 meee
~ Saturday 11za. The morning was fine, we started ©
| Py the usual hour: at 1 passed a small creek on the
South side. This day we saw several great ranges of |
buffaloe, and ether game in plenty. Oneéof the igs Woes te
killed another large bwown bear, about the size of
the one lately killed. We came seventeen aniles and phe pis
~~ *encamped on the South side. | eae
‘ Sunday 12th, We early renewed our voyage and
had a pleasant morning ; passed some hills on the.
. North side, covered with pine and cedar, the first
_. “timber of any kind we have seen on the hills for a
‘jong time. At 1 we halted for dinner anda violent
“storm.of wind then arose, which continued unt®
-snight when some rain fell. Our. distance this day >.
«nly 184 miles. ee Pati.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
White frost. Today this morning the country [text unclear]. Been [unclear] and the [unclear], on the North side. The sick man has become better. Here we killed a very large brown bear, which measured three feet five inches around the head; three feet eleven inches around the neck; round the breast five feet ten inches; the length seven feet ten inches; round the middle of the foreleg twenty-three inches; and his talons four and three-eighths of an inch.
Monday, 6th. We set sail with a fair wind and pleasant weather. At 12 a few drops of rain fell, but it soon cleared up. We passed a river on the South side, about 200 yards wide; but the water of this river sinks in the sand on the side of the Missouri. We went sixteen miles and camped on the South side.
Tuesday 7th. We again set out early and went very well till 12, when it began to blow hard, and being all under sail one of our canoes turned over. Fortunately the accident happened near the shore, and after bailing three hours we were able to go on again. Having this day made sixteen miles, we camped on the South side.
Wednesday 8th. We were again very early under way. [Text unclear] river more [unclear], a creek on the South side, and [unclear] on the North side, called by the name of Warner's Creek.
Friday 10th. We set out early in a fair morning; but having gone five miles were obliged to halt and lie by during the day, on account of hard wind. Some small showers of rain occasionally fell. Here we killed some deer and buffalo and took some beaver.
Saturday 11th. The morning was fine; we started at the usual hour. At 1 we passed a small creek on the South side. This day we saw several great ranges of buffalo, and other game in plenty. One of the men killed another large brown bear, about the size of the one lately killed. We came seventeen miles and camped on the South side.
Sunday 12th. We early renewed our voyage and had a pleasant morning; passed some hills on the North side, covered with pine and cedar, the first timber of any kind we have seen on the hills for a long time. At 1 we halted for dinner, and a violent storm of wind then arose, which continued until night, when some rain fell. Our distance this day only 18½ miles.
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