Great Falls Portage — Patrick Gass: June 26, 1805
Members of the party crossed the river to gather bark and encountered a large herd of buffalo, killing seven. Other men returned across the plains in the evening with two additional canoes and baggage. One man became seriously ill, and Captain Lewis bled him using a penknife, the only instrument available at camp. Captain Clark carefully measured the portage at 18 miles and calculated the total drop of the falls over 17 miles at 362 feet 9 inches, including major pitches of 98, 19, 47, and 26 feet.
the river, and myself and another went over the river to collect
bark; where a great gang of buffaloe came near us, and we
killed 7 of them. In the evening the men returned over the
plains with two more canoes and baggage. One man fell very
sick and Captain Lewis had to bleed him with a penknife,
having no other instrument at this camp. Captain Clarke
LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION ios
measured the length of this portage accurately and found it
to be 18 miles. He also measured the height of the falls,
and found them in a distance of 17 miles 362 feet 9 inches.
The first great pitch 98 feet, the second 19 feet, the third 47
feet 8 inches, the fourth 26 feet; and a number of small
pitches, amounting altogether to 362 feet g inches.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
The river, and myself and another went over the river to collect bark; while there a great herd of buffalo came near us, and we killed 7 of them. In the evening the men returned over the plains with two more canoes and baggage. One man fell very sick and Captain Lewis had to bleed him with a penknife, having no other instrument at this camp. Captain Clarke (Clark) measured the length of this portage accurately and found it to be 18 miles. He also measured the height of the falls, and found them in a distance of 17 miles to be 362 feet 9 inches.
The first great pitch 98 feet, the second 19 feet, the third 47 feet 8 inches, the fourth 26 feet; and a number of small pitches, amounting altogether to 362 feet 9 inches.
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