Lewis: Great Falls / Clark: crossing to Yellowstone — Patrick Gass: July 15, 1806
At the portage camp, a man set out to check on a pirogue left at the other end of the portage, while another returned from searching for missing horses. Fresh Indian signs suggested the horses had been stolen and taken back over the dividing ridge, prompting Captain Lewis to scale down the party and horses for his planned excursion up Maria's River. The man heading to the pirogue was thrown from his horse by a white bear at Willow Creek, stunned it with his gun, and escaped up a tree before returning to camp. Such bears were noted as numerous and dangerous.
started to go down to the other end of the portage, to see if
the periogue was safe, which we had left there; and in the
afternoon the man who had gone after the horses returned
unsuccessful; but as he saw some fresh Indian signs he sup-
poses they were stolen and taken back over the dividing
ridge. Capt. Lewis therefore concluded to take fewer men
and horses with him than he had intended on his excursion up
Maria’s river. In the evening the man who had started to go
to the other end of the portage, returned without being there.
A white bear met him at Willow creek, that so frightened
his horse, that he threw him off among the feet of the animal;
but he fortunately (being too near to shoot) had sufficient
presence of mind to hit the bear on the head with his gun;
and the stroke so stunned it, that it gave him time to get up
a tree close by before it could seize him. The blow, however,
broke the gun and rendered it useless; and the bear watched
him about three hours and went away; when he came down,
caught his horse about two miles distant and returned to
camp. These bears are very numerous in this part of the
country and very dangerous, as they will attack a man every
opportunity.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION — 261
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Started to go down to the other end of the portage to see if the pirogue we had left there was safe; and in the afternoon the man who had gone after the horses returned unsuccessful. But as he saw some fresh Indian signs, he supposes they were stolen and taken back over the dividing ridge. Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis) therefore decided to take fewer men and horses with him than he had intended on his excursion up Maria's River.
In the evening the man who had started to go to the other end of the portage returned without having reached it. A white bear met him at Willow Creek, and so frightened his horse that it threw him off among the feet of the animal. But fortunately (being too close to shoot) he had enough presence of mind to hit the bear on the head with his gun, and the blow so stunned it that it gave him time to climb a tree close by before it could seize him. The blow, however, broke the gun and made it useless. The bear watched him for about three hours and then went away. When he came down, he caught his horse about two miles away and returned to camp. These bears are very numerous in this part of the country and very dangerous, as they will attack a man at every opportunity.
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