Clark: October 14, 1805

October 14th Monday 1805 a verry Cool morning wind from the West Set out
at 8 oClock proceeded on

at this rapid the Canoe a Stern Steared by drewyer Struck a rock turned
the men got out on a rock the Stern of the Canoe took in water and She
Sunk the men on the rock hel her, a number of articles floated all that
Could be Cought were taken by 2 of the othr Canoes, Great many articles
lost among other things 2 of the mens beding Shot pouches Tomahaws &c.
&c. and every article wet of which we have great Cause to lament as
all our loose Powder two Canisters, all our roots prepared in the Indian
way, and one half of our goods, fortunately the lead canisters which was
in the canoe was tied down, otherwise they must have been lost as the
Canoe turned over we got off the men from the rock toed our canoe on Shore
after takeing out all the Stores &c. we Could & put them out to
dry on the Island on which we found Some wood which was covered with
Stones, this is the Parts of an Indian house, which we used for fire wood,
by the wish of our two ChiefsThose Chees, one of them was in the
Canoe, Swam in & Saved Some property, The Inds. have buried fish on
this Isld. which we are Cautious not to touch. our Small Canoe & three
Indians in another was out of Sight at the time our missfortune hapined,
and did not join us. wind hard S W.

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October 14th Monday 1805 a Verry Cold morning wind from the West and Cool
untill about 12 oClock When it Shifted to the S. W. at 21/2 miles passed a
remarkable rock verry large and resembling the hull of a Ship Situated on
a Lard point at Some distance from the assending Countrey passed rapids at
6 and 9 miles. at 12 miles we Came too at the head of a rapid which the
Indians told me was verry bad, we viewed the rapid found it bad in
decending three Stern Canoes Stuk fast for Some time on the head of the
rapid and one Struk a rock in the worst part, fortunately all landed Safe
below the rapid which was nearly 3 miles in length. here we dined, and for
the first time for three weeks past I had a good dinner of Blue wing Teel,
after dinner we Set out and had not proceded on two miles before our Stern
Canoe in passing thro a Short rapid opposit the head of an Island, run on
a Smoth rock and turned broad Side, the men got out on the rock all except
one of our Indian Chiefs who Swam on Shore, The Canoe filed and Sunk a
number of articles floated out, Such as the mens bedding clothes &
Skins, the Lodge &c. &c. the greater part of which were cought by
2 of the Canoes, whilst a 3rd was unloading & Steming the Swift
Current to the relief of the men on the rock who could with much
dificuelty hold the Canoe. however in about an hour we got the men an
Canoe to Shore with the Loss of Some bedding Tomahaws Shot pouches Skins
Clothes &c &c. all wet we had every articles exposed to the Sun to
dry on the Island, our loss in provisions is verry Considerable all our
roots was in the Canoe that Sunk, and Cannot be dried Sufficint to Save,
our loose powder was also in the Canoe and is all wett This I think, we
Shall saved.In this Island we found some Split timber the parts of
a house which the Indians had verry Securely covered with Stone, we also
observed a place where the Indians had buried there fish, we have made it
a point at all times not to take any thing belonging to the Indians even
their wood. but at this time we are Compelled to violate that rule and
take a part of the Split timber we find here bured for fire wood, as no
other is to be found in any direction. our Small Canoe which was a head
returned at night with 2 ores which they found floating below. The wind
this after noon from the S. W. as usial and hard way of the forks to the
Indian Camps at the first were not one mouthfull to eate untill night as
our hunters could kill nothing and I could See & catch no fish except
a few Small ones. The Indians gave us 2 Sammon boiled which I gave to the
men, one of my men Shot a Sammon in the river about Sunset those fish gave
us a Supper. all the Camp flocked about me untill I went to Sleepand
I beleve if they had a Sufficency to eate themselves and any to Spare they
would be liberal of it I detected the men to mend their Mockessons to
night and turn out in the morning early to hunt Deer fish birds &c.
&c. Saw great numbers of the large Black grass hopper. Some bars which
were verry wild, but few Birds. a number of ground Lizards; Some fiew
Pigions plainly See a rainge of mountains which bore S. E. & N. W. the
nearest point south about 60 miles, and becoms high toward the N. W. The
plaines on each Side is wavering. Labiesh killed 2 gees & 2 Ducks of
the large kind. at two oClock we loaded & Set out, our Powder &
Provisions of roots not Sufficently dry. we Shall put them out at the
forks or mouth of this river which is at no great distance, and at which
place we Shall delay to make Some Selestial observations &c. passed
Eleven Island and Seven rapids to day. Several of the rapids verry bad and
dificuelt to pass. The Islands of different Sizes and all of round Stone
and Sand, no timber of any kind in Sight of the river, a fiew Small
willows excepted; in the evening the countrey becomes lower not exceding
90 or 100 feet above the water and back is a wavering Plain on each Side,
passed thro narrows for 3 miles where the Clifts of rocks juted to the
river on each Side compressing the water of the river through a narrow
chanel; below which it widens into a kind of bason nearly round without
any proceptiable current, at the lower part of this bason is a bad
dificuelt and dangerous rapid to pass, at the upper part of this rapid we
over took the three Indians who had Polited us thro the rapids from the
forks. those people with our 2 Chiefs had proceeded on to this place where
they thought proper to delay for us to warn us of the difficulties of this
rapid. we landed at a parcel of Split timber, the timber of a house of
Indians out hunting the Antilope in the plains; and raised on Scaffolds to
Save them from the Spring floods. here we were obliged for the first time
to take the property of the Indians without the consent or approbation of
the owner. the night was cold & we made use of a part of those boards
and Split logs for fire wood. Killed two teel this evening. Examined the
rapids which we found more dificuelt to pass than we expected from the
Indians information. a Suckcession of Sholes, appears to reach from bank
to bank for 3 miles which was also intersepted with large rocks Sticking
up in every direction, and the chanel through which we must pass crooked
and narrow. we only made 20 miles today, owing to the detention in passing
rapids &c.