Lewis: September 19, 1805

Thursday September 19th 1805. Set out this morning a little after sun rise
and continued our rout about the same course of yesterday or S. 20 W. for
6 miles when the ridge terminated and we to our inexpressable joy
discovered a large tract of Prairie country lying to the S. W. and
widening as it appeared to extend to the W. through that plain the Indian
informed us that the Columbia river, in which we were in surch run. this
plain appeared to be about 60 Miles distant, but our guide assured us that
we should reach it’s borders tomorrow the appearance of this country, our
only hope for subsistance greately revived the sperits of the party
already reduced and much weakened for the want of food. the country is
thickly covered with a very heavy growth of pine of which I have
ennumerated 8 distinct species. after leaving the ridge we asscended and
decended several steep mountains in the distance of 6 miles further when
we struck a Creek about 15 yards wide our course being S. 35 W. we
continued our rout 6 miles along the side of this creek upwards passing 2
of it’s branches which flowed in from the N. 1st at the place we struck
the creek and the other 3 miles further. the road was excessively
dangerous along this creek being a narrow rockey path generally on the
side of steep precipice, from which in many places if ether man or horse
were precipitated they would inevitably be dashed in pieces. Fraziers
horse fell from this road in the evening, and roled with his load near a
hundred yards into the Creek. we all expected that the horse was killed
but to our astonishment when the load was taken off him he arose to his
feet & appeared to be but little injured, in 20 minutes he proceeded
with his load. this was the most wonderfull escape I ever witnessed, the
hill down which he roled was almost perpendicular and broken by large
irregular and broken rocks. the course of this Creek upwards due W. we
encamped on the Stard. side of it in a little raviene, having traveled 18
miles over a very bad road. we took a small quantity of portable soup, and
retired to rest much fatiegued. several of the men are unwell of the
disentary. brakings out, or irruptions of the Skin, have also been common
with us for some time.