Patrick Gass: November 12, 1806
The party discovered ten horses missing and sent men to search; one man recovered three horses seven miles up the Medicine river. The rest crossed the river in their newly built craft, which worked well. Later, a searcher returned reporting fresh Indian signs, suggesting the missing horses had been stolen and taken back over the dividing ridge. Captain Lewis therefore decided to take fewer men and horses on his planned excursion up Maria's river. Another man sent to check a periogue was thrown by his horse when a white bear charged, but escaped by striking the bear with his gun. Weather was pleasant.
ae out, to colleet our horses and found that ten of them
“were missing. I then set out. to look for them, went
seven miles up Medicine. river, where I found three
‘of them and returned to camp. Two more went. to
hunt for them, and the rest ofus crossed the. river in –
our new craft whic ich we find answer the el Ga wey ‘
Tees
OP th
~~
“a rn
WANES tt Matt not a a. eer ter: surprize eng snow. i shila
| : fall. here in the middleof summer, w ‘hen the elevation of this
a petot: the country, which divides the eastern from the wes-
‘ter mn waters, is taken i into view. Every person will be able to
comprehend, that no small degree of elevation, above its
» . ©mouth,’ will be sufficient to give so rapid a course to the —
eee “Missouri for upwards of 3000 miles, eyen SupPORIR: thers re
Patines ok were, no, great ik fil or cataracts. a eames
ober ss OS
of y
away. We deposited the.
re = and ‘stores ona la large
4 Se, ies
rable part. of our ie : :
at that if the.
| wbtade tth “We had ‘pleasant wWeathien On ue
“of. our ‘men 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 a the horses returned unsuccessful ;
but as he saw some fresh Indian signs | hectare
| “they | were stolen and taken back over the dividing =
‘ridge. Capt. Lewis the refore 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 bein there. A white bear
met him at Willow creek, that so frightened his
that he. threw him off a nong the fect of the
nim: (being too near to shoot) |
nad sufficient. presence ‘of mind to hit the bear on the ©
é ad mab, his pls. and the stroke SO ees aes sa that 2
rs
si
ee
: owns caught his horse: shout twe) )
: will attack a man every opportunity.
oo
informed us, that should his life and hea th
served he would meet us at the mouth of fa
-enthe d5thof August. ae og
_ Thursday 7th. We had a pleasant any – y tieh :
wind; which drives away the musquitoes, and aelioves |
240 SN JOURNAL, ce be a
He ‘distant’ and
returned te camp. These bears are very 2) ameror
this part of the cowntry and very danger nis: as
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We went out to collect our horses and found that ten of them were missing. I then set out to look for them, went seven miles up Medicine river, where I found three of them and returned to camp. Two more men went to hunt for them, and the rest of us crossed the river in our new craft, which we find answers the purpose very well.
It may not appear strange that snow should fall here in the middle of summer, when the elevation of this part of the country, which divides the eastern from the western waters, is taken into view. Every person will be able to comprehend that no small degree of elevation above its mouth will be sufficient to give so rapid a course to the Missouri for upwards of 3000 miles, even supposing there were no great falls or cataracts.
We deposited the baggage and stores on a large island, so that if the Indians should come they could not easily carry away a considerable part of our goods. We had pleasant weather. One of our men started to go down to the other end of the portage, to see if the pirogue 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 supposed they were stolen and taken back over the dividing ridge. Capt. Lewis (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 the bear, being too near to shoot, he 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 the bear could seize him. After the bear left him 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 at every opportunity.
He informed us that, should his life and health be preserved, he would meet us at the mouth of Maria's river on the 5th of August.
Thursday 7th. We had a pleasant day with a high wind, which drives away the mosquitoes and relieves us.
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