Clark: November 12, 1805

November 12th Tuesday 1805 a tremendious thunder Storm abt. 3 oClock this
morning accompanied by wind from the S W. and Hail, this Storm of hard
Clap’s thunder Lighting and hail untill about 6 oClock at intervals it
then became light for a Short time when the heavens became darkined by a
black Cloud from the S, W, & a hard rain Suckceeded which lasted
untill 12 oClock with a hard wind which raised the Seas tremendiously high
braking with great force and fury against the rocks & trees on which
we lie, as our Situation became Seriously dangerous, we took the advantage
of a low tide & moved our Camp around a point a Short distance to a
Small wet bottom at the mouth of a Small Creek, which we had not observed
when we first Came to this Cove, from its being very thick and obscured by
drift trees & thick bushes, Send out men to hunt they found the woods
So thick with Pine & timber and under Broth that they could not get
through, Saw Some Elk tracks, I walked up this creek & killed 2 Salmon
trout, the men killd. 13 of the Salmon Species, The Pine of fur Specs, or
Spruc Pine grow here to an emense Size & hight maney of them 7 & 8
feet through and upwards of 200 feet high. It would be distressing to a
feeling person to See our Situation at this time all wet and cold with our
bedding &c. also wet, in a Cove Scercely large nough to Contain us,
our Baggage in a Small holler about 1/2 a mile from us, and Canoes at the
mercy of the waves & drift wood, we have Scured them as well as it is
possible by Sinking and wateing them down with Stones to prevent the
emence waves dashing them to pices against the rocksone got loose
last night & was left on a rock by the tide Some distance below
without recving much damage. fortunately for us our Men are helthy. It was
clear at 12 for a Short time. I observed the Mountains on the opposit Side
was covered with Snowour party has been wet for 8 days and is truly
disagreeable, their robes & leather Clothes are rotten from being
Continually wet, and they are not in a Situation to get others, and we are
not in a Situation to restore themI observe great numbers of Sea
guls, flying in every derectionThree men Gibson Bratten &
Willard attempted to decend in a Canoe built in the Indian fashion and
abt. the Size of the one the Indians visited us in yesterday, they Could
not proceed, as the waves tossed them about at will, they returned after
proceeding about 1 milewe got our Selves tolerable Comfortable by
drying our Selves & bedding Cought 3 salmon this evining in a Small
branch above about 1 mile

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November 12th Tuesday 1805 A Tremendious wind from the S. W. about 3
oClock this morning with Lightineng and hard claps of Thunder, and Hail
which Continued untill 6 oClock a.m. when it became light for a Short
time, then the heavens became Sudenly darkened by a black Cloud from the
S. W. and rained with great violence untill 12 oClock, the waves
tremendious brakeing with great fury against the rocks and trees on which
we were encamped. our Situation is dangerous. we took the advantage of a
low tide and moved our camp around a point to a Small wet bottom at the
mouth of a Brook, which we had not observed when we Came to this cove;
from it being verry thick and obscured by drift trees and thick bushes It
would be distressing to See our Situation, all wet and Colde our bedding
also wet, (and the robes of the party which Compose half the bedding is
rotten and we are not in a Situation to supply their places) in a wet
bottom Scercely large enough to contain us, our baggage half a mile from
us and Canoes at the mercy of the waves, altho Secured as well as
possible, Sunk with emence parcels of Stone to wate them down to prevent
their dashing to pieces against the rocks; one got loose last night and
was left on a rock a Short distance below, without rciving more daminage
than a Split in her bottomFortunately for us our men are healthy. 3
men Gibson Bratten & Willard attempted to go aroud the point below in
our Indian Canoe, much Such a canoe as the Indians visited us in
yesterday, they proceeded to the point from which they were oblige to
return, the waves tossing them about at will I walked up the branch and
giged 3 Salmon trout. the party killed 13 Salmon to day in a branch about
2 miles above. rain Continued