Great Falls Portage — Patrick Gass: June 23, 1805
Above the Great Falls, the river was found to be wide and gentle, with three small islands and sparse cottonwood and willow along low banks. The surrounding country opened into plains, with snow-covered mountains visible in the distance. Gass and two other men stayed with Captain Lewis to assemble the iron boat frame, measuring 36 feet long, 4½ feet wide, and 2 feet 2 inches deep. The remaining men returned for another load of supplies. That afternoon, Lewis and a companion walked to Medicine River to check on three hunters seeking elk skins, finding one and camping overnight.
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION 103
this morning I found a material difference between the river
and country here and below the falls. Here the river is wide
and the current gentle. There are three small islands at this
place and some timber on the banks, but not much, and what
is there is cotton-wood and willow. The banks are very low,
and the country rising in plains a considerable distance on
both sides of the river; and far off mountains covered with
snow on both sides and ahead. Two of the men and myself
remained with Captain Lewis here to assist him in putting
together his iron boat, the rest went back for another load.
The iron boat-frame is to be covered with skins and requires
a quantity of thin shaved strips of wood for lining. In the
forenoon we put the frame together, which is 36 feet long,
4 1-2 wide, and 2 feet 2 inches deep. In the afternoon Capt.
Lewis and one of the men went down to Medicine river,
which is about two miles distant; to see whether the three
men sent there to hunt had procured any elk skins. In the
evening they found one of the hunters and encamped with
him all night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
This morning I found a major difference between the river and the country here compared to below the falls. Here the river is wide and the current is gentle. There are three small islands at this place and some timber on the banks, but not much, and what is there is cottonwood and willow. The banks are very low, and the country rises in plains a considerable distance on both sides of the river; and far off there are mountains covered with snow on both sides and ahead.
Two of the men and I remained with Captain Lewis here to help him put together his iron boat, while the rest went back for another load. The iron boat-frame is to be covered with skins and requires a quantity of thin shaved strips of wood for lining. In the forenoon we put the frame together, which is 36 feet long, 4 1/2 feet wide, and 2 feet 2 inches deep.
In the afternoon Capt. Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and one of the men went down to Medicine river, which is about two miles distant, to see whether the three men sent there to hunt had obtained any elk skins. In the evening they found one of the hunters and camped with him for the night.
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