THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE LEWIS & CLARK TRAIL HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC. VOL. I, NO. 4 FALL ISSUE, 1975

Iowa's Lewis & Clark designed to illustrate dramatic dif­ President Werner was the keynote Assoc. Co-sponsors ferences between the river today and speaker in addition to providing a slide what was seen by the Lewis and Clark presentation related to the expedi­ Conference Expedition. While on the river trip, tion's "Camp Disappointment" and the " Fight Site", "New Visions of Lewis & Clark" was those who attended the conference heard remarks from: Howard Chris­ in Pondera County, near Cut Bank, the title of a conference sponsored by tian, Channel Stabilization, Hydro­ . Iowa's Lewis and Clark Historical logy Division, U.S. Corps of Engi­ Association and the Iowa Board for neers; Donald Meisner, Director of Mrs. Vivian Paladin, editor of Mon­ Public Programs in the Humanities. SIMPCO; Dr. Webster Sill, University tana, the Magazine of Western Histo­ The September 26-27, 1975, event was of South Dakota, Environmentalist; ry, presented a paper entitled: "Will held at the Eppley Fine Arts Bldg., Dr. V. Strode Hinds, President, Lewis the Real Sacajawea Please Stand Morningside College, in Sioux City. & Clark Historical Association; and Up?". Dr. John Lawrence, Professor of Phi­ Dr. Michael Husband, Associate Pro­ losophy, Morningside College. "Boo" MacGilvra, who has served on fessor of History at Morningside Col­ the Board of Trustees of the Montana lege delivered the keynote address en­ David Van Engelenhoven, Assistant Historical Society under five gover­ titled "In the Footsteps of Lewis and Professor of History, Morningside nors, was the final speaker, and his Clark: The New Exploration". College, acted as Conference Director. subject was: : "One Man's Love Affair Eighty-nine individuals were regis­ with the Lewis and Clark Adventure". The Maximillian-Bodmer Collection tered for, and attended the event. of 19th Century Art, depicting the Art works relating incidents involving midlands and western America, part Montana Members Take the expedition by Russell, Seltzer, of a permanent collection loaned for Morgan, Scriver, and Ralston, to­ the conference through the sponsor­ Part in Lewis & Clark gether with other displays from the ship of the Northern Natural Gas Co., Montana Historical Society, were ex­ was on display during the event. The Seminar hibited during the event. Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan On October 18, 1975, Foundation Planning Council also provided an in­ President Wilbur Werner, Director The seminar sessions and displays teresting display which included aerial "Boo" MacGilvra, and member Vivian were held in the Providence Forum at photographs, slides and information Paladin were speakers at Great Falls, the College of Great Falls. More than on the development of the Missouri Montana, for the "Lewis and Clark 100 interested persons attended the River. and Sacajawea - Rediscovered" Bi­ Seminar. centennial Seminar. The event was The conference included a 10:00 AM sponsored by the Montana Big Sky to 1:00 PM tour on the Chapter of American Women in 90 passenger simulated paddle­ Radio and Television in cooperation "News Notes" detailing Lewis and Clark wheeler River Bell. With interpreta­ with the Educational Foundation of activities in other states will be found on tion by experts, the river tour was AWRT. pages 3, 4, 5, and 9 in this issue.

WE PROCEEDED ON derives from the phrase which appears repeatedly in the collective journals of the Expedition: - "this morning we set out early and proceeded on . . . " Capt. , July 19, 1805. " ... wind from the S. W. we proceeded on ... until 6 oClock ... " Capt. William Clark, May 14, 1805. " ... the fog rose thick from the hollars we proceeded on .. . " Sgt. John Ordway, June 29, 1806. "We proceeded on with four men in front to cut some bushes . . . " Sgt. Patrick Gass, June 18, 1806. "We set out early proceeded on past a Island on the S. Side... " Sgt. Charles Floyd, June 26, 1804. " ... clouded up ... We proceeded on under a fine breeze .. ." Pvt. Joseph Whitehouse, October 10, 1805. President Werner's Message

It was not until I became President of the Foundation that I truly appre­ ciated the depth of interest that peo­ ple from all walks of life have in the Expedition. I receive frequent com­ munications from persons interested THE LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL in the Expedition as it may pertain HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC. to their locale, the equipment of the Expedition, or the work and accom­ Incorporated 1969 under Missouri Not-For-Profit Corporation Act. plishments of our Foundation. There is a mystique about the Expedition OFFICERS W ilbur P. Werner, President Clarence H. Decker, 1st Vice President that continues to spread - and de­ Box 1244 Box 128 servedly so! This is evidenced by the Cut Bank, Mt. 59427 East Alton, II. 62024 Gail Stensland, 2nd Vice President Irving W . Anderson, Secretary well prepared and attended Lewis and Box 734 1097 Chandler Rd . Clark Conference "New Visions of Inverness, Mt. 59530 Lake Oswego. Or. 97034 Lewis and Clark", at Sioux City, Clarence H. Decker, Treasurer Box 128 Iowa; the Seminar on "Lewis and East Alton, II. 62024 Clark and Sacajawea Rediscovered", DIRECTORS at Great Falls, Montana; the Third Wm. Clark Adreon V·. Strode Hinds, D.D.S. E. E. MacGilvra Annual Oregon-Washington Lewis St. Louis, Missouri Sioux City, Iowa Butte, Montana and Clark Symposium, at The Dalles, Dayton W . Canaday Donald Jackson, Sheila Robinson Pierre, S. Dakota Charlottesville, Va. Coleharbor. N. Dakota Oregon; the Washington State Lewis E. G. Chuinard, M .D . Robert Killen George H. Tweney and Clark Trnil Committee's Quarter­ Portland, Oregon Lincoln. Nebraska Seattle, Washington ly Meeting, at Colfax, Washington; Clarence H . Decker Gary Leppart Marcus J . Ware East Alton, Illinois Bismarck, N. Dakota Lewiston, Idaho and the Missouri State Lewis and PAST PRESIDENTS Clark Trail Committee's Quarterly Edwynne P. Murphy, 1g70 John Greenslit, 1972 Robert E. Lange, 1973-1974 Meeting at Kansas City and Weston, St. Louis, Missouri Lansing, Michigan Portland, Oregon Missouri. E. G. Chuinard, M.D .. 1971 Lynn Burris, Jr.. 1972-1973 Gary Leppart, 1974-1975 Portland, Oregon Topeka, Kansas Bismarck, North Dakota Particularly do I note the growth of (Mailing addresses for Directors and Past Presidents may be obtained by writing the Secretary) interest in the Expedition in Idaho, which has been stimulated by our ABOUT THE FOUNDATION Director Marcus J. Ware of Lewiston, The purpose of the Lewis end Clerk Trail Heritage Foundetion, Inc.. is to stimulate nationally: public interest in maners relating to the Lewis and Clark Expedition; the contributions to American history made by the Past Director John Caylor of Boise, expedition members; and events of time and place concerning and following the expedition which are of historical import to our nation. The Foundation recognizes the value of tourist-oriented programs, and supports and Ralph S. Space of Orofino. The activities which enhance the enjoyment and understanding of the Lewis and Clark story. The scope of the Idaho Historical Society's interest in activities of the Foundation are broad and diverse, and include involvement in pursuits which, in the judgement of the Directors are, of historical wo..-th or contemporary social values, and commensurate with the heritage the development of a Lewis and Clark of Lewis and Clark. The activities of the National Found1tion are intended to compliment and supplement Foundation entity in Idaho is also those c;>f ~t~te and local Lawis and Clark interest groups. The Foundation may appropriately recognize and honor ind1v1duals or groups for: an works of distinction; achievement in the broad field of Lewis and Clark noted. We look forward to an Annual historical research; writing; or deeds which promote the general purpose and scope of activities of the Foundation. Membership in the organization comprises a broad s~trum of Lewis and Clark enthusiasts Meeting activity in Idaho, and on the including Federal, State, and local govet"nment officials, hi storians. scholars, and others of wide ranging l ewis Lolo Trail in the not too distant fu­ and Clark interests. Officets of the Foundation are elected from the membership. The Annual Meeting of the Foundation is traditionally held during August, the birth month of both Me..-iwether Lewis and William ture. Clark. The meeting place is rotated among the States. and tours generally are arranged to visit sites in the area of the Annual Meeting which have historic association with the Lewis and Clark Ex pedition. Here in Montana the Great Falls Tri­ WE PROCEEDED ON bune publishes the pertinent daily is the official quarterly publication of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc. journal entries of the Captains in EDITOR BUSINESS MANAGER Robert E. Lange E.G. Chuinard. M.D. each daily issue, and this has created 5054 SW 26th Place 3025 North Vancouver Ave. enormous interest, particularly in Portland, Oregon 97201 Portland, Oregon 97227 people, who at best, prior to this had only a hazy idea of the Expedition. Hopefully, other newspapers will fo l­ low the fine example set by the

THE FOUNDATION NEEDS THE CONTINUED INTEREST AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF LEWIS AND CLARK ENTHUSIASTS ON A NATION-WIDE BASIS. WE HOPE, IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY A MEMBER, THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER LENDING YOUR SUPPORT TO THE FOUNDATION. IF YOU REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, A PROSPECTUS DESCRIBING THE FOUNDATION, TOGETHER WITH A MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION, WILL BE FORWARDED PROMPTLY. ADDRESS YOUR REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY.

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL HERITAGE FOUNDATION, INC. HERITAGE INN AUGUST 16-18. 1976 GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

-2- Tribune as a contribution to our Bi­ centennial. While visiting in Portland, Oregon in Members To Receive Bonus For October, my wife and I had the privi­ lege of visiting with Robert E. Lange, 1976 Membership Renewal the editor of We Proceeded On. To be in the lovely home of Bob and Ruth Lange, and to see his library of Recently mailed to all 1975 Foundation members was an end of the year some 400 current and rare books, peri­ "Secretary's Message", together with a Membership Renewal Application odicals, pamphlets, etc., and other for 1976. As indicated in the message, prompt remittance of 1976 dues to memorabilia related to the Expedi­ the Foundation Secretary will bring renewing members by return mail, a tion, is indeed a privilege. Bob edits fine 14" X 30" unfolded reproduction of William Clark's "Map of Lewis our quarterly publication as a "labor and Clark's Track Across the Western Portion of North America". Originals of love". There is no possible way that of this, the engraved map published with the 1814 Biddle/ Allen History any of us, alone or collectively, can of the Expedition Under the Command of Lewis and Clark, are very rare. sufficiently thank him for the count­ Both Coues and Thwaites indicate that only 1417 perfect copies left the less how·s that he puts in on each printer and bindery, and it is possible that only part of these contained issue of the publication. While most the map. ably assisted by Ruth, Dr. "Frenchy" Chuinai·d, and Secretary Irving An­ Printed on fine paper stock, the reproduction is a precise facsimile of the derson, t he main burden falls upon original, and when appropriately framed for home or office, becomes a him. Not only does he write copy and unique conversation piece. The map will be forwarded promptly to all edit all of the stories and feature ar­ members renewing by December 31, 1975. ticles submitted for publication in his home and library, but it is also from a basement room that all the mailing is handled for WPO, and for the up­ coming distribution of the map bonus Progress at Cape Disappointment Interpretive Center due 1975 members who renew their membership for 1976. (See story this page.) We are deeply indebted to him. This activity is all over and above his own full time responsibilities with the business firm he has been associated with for nearly 40 years. If you see him, tell him how much you appreciate the publication and his labors, or better yet, write and tell him. Lastly, I call your attention to Secre­ tary Anderson's, November seventh message, which was mailed to all members of record for 1975, with his emphasis on membership renewal and securing new members. If you have not renewed your membership, please send in your Renewal Application and check today, and have your friends join with you. Wilbur P. Werner, President

Washington Group Holds Meet in Whitman County

Dr. Roy M. Chatters, member of the Wash­ ington State Lewis and Clark Trail Com­ mittee has submitted a report of the com­ mittee's September 6, 1975, quarterly meeting.

The Washington State Lewis and ~t: - ..;:_. -:::.- _ ... _ -.-· - · ,:. - - • ~.._... - ~:: ~ Clark Trail Committee held its Sep­ Construction is progressing excellently on the Washington State Parks & tember 6, 1975, meeting in Whitman Recreation Commission's new L ewis and Clark Interpretive Center atop Cape County, Washington, for the primary Disappointment (Fort Canby State Park) at the mouth of the Columbia River. purpose of dedicating a new historical Since this photograph was taken, the large plate glass panorama windows have marker near a campsite of the expedi­ been put in place. The building is now heated, and will be ready for the tion. The marker relates to the loca­ installation of the interpretive displays early in 1976. The dedication ceremonies tion where the expedition camped on and opening date are yet to be announced. (Photograph by Washington State (Continued Page 4) Parks & Recreation Commission, Interpretive Services Department.)

-3- Washington (Can't from P. 3) Dr. Allen Accepts gins, Innovations, Human Resources, the night of October 11, 1805, about Invitation To Be Annual Sports, Pe1forming Arts, Fine Arts, and Conflict and Resolution. one mile upstream from t he con­ Banquet Speaker fluence of Almota Creek with the Lewis and Clark students and enthu­ Snake River. Because the campsite is John Logan Allen, associate professor siasts will be interested in knowing now under water, it was decided to in­ of geography at the University of t hat a Journal of the Lewis and Clark stall t he marker at the community of Connecticut, has responded to Foun­ Expedition, is displayed among the Boyer, Washington, which overlooks dation President Werner's invitation memorabilia in Car Number Two, the the Almota Creek outlet. The marker to address members and guests at the Exploration and Expansion exhibit was fabricated by the Whitman Foundation's Eighth Annual Ban­ car. County Parks and Recreation quet, August 18, 1975, at Great Falls, Department, and funding came from Montana. Dr. Allen writes: "I can't Lewis & Clark in the Department and the Whitman tell you how delighted I am that you Current Periodical County Historical Society. At the for­ have asked me to speak at the con­ mal dedication, Ralph H. Rudeen rep­ cluding banquet of t he Foundation's Foundation Director E. G. Chuinard, resented t h e Washington State 1976 meeting. Naturally, I accept the M.D., of Portland, Oregon, has con­ Lewis and Clark Trail Committee, invitation with enthusiasm." tributed the "lead-story" in the West­ Di.rector Michael Werner was in at­ ern History Association's publication tendance from the County Parks and Dr. Allen's new 412 page volume, Pas­ The American West for November Recreation Department, and Roy M. sage Through the Garden: Lewis and 1975 (Volume XII, No. 6). "Frenchy's" Chatters represented the County His­ Clark and the Image of the A merican article is titled: "Thomas Jefferson torical Society. Northwest was published this summer and t he Corps of Discovery: Could He by the University of Illinois Press. (See Have Done More?". Regarding the Prior to the dedication, the commit­ George H. Tweney's book review in subject he says: "Jefferson was very tee members visited the site in Pa­ WPO, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 5). Lewis and aware of his own historical perspective louse where the Whitman County Clark students are also familiar with and acumen. He wrote frankly of 'the Historical Society is developing a preculiear part I have had in the de­ newspaper and printing museum. The his periodical writings: " Geographical Knowledge and American Images of signing and execution of the expedi­ letter press equipment from several tion.' To his friend William Dunbar county weeklies has been acquired as the Louisiana T erritory", in Western Historical Quarterly, II, April 1971; he wrote, 'We sha ll deliniate with cor­ a nucleus of the museum. From Pa­ rectness the great arteries of this louse, the party went to Colfax to "Lewis and Clark on the Upper Mis­ souri: Decision at the Marias", in country; those who come after us will tour the Perkins House and log cabin. extend the ramifications as they be­ The 1870 cabin and the 1884 Victorian Montana, the Magazine of Western History, XXI, Summer 1971; and "An come acquainted with them, and fill h ome are being restored b y the up the canvas we begin." And yet, even County Historical Societ y, and were Analysis of the E xploratory Process: The Lewis and Clark Expedition of with his great sense of history, his recently placed on the National Reg­ avidity for acquiring knowledge, and ister of Historic P laces. 1804-06", in Geographical Review, LXII, January 1972. his perseverance in filing and classify­ After a picnic luncheon, t he commit­ ing artifacts and papers, Jefferson fell tee and their guests returned to Col­ Certainly one of the high-lights of our short of expectations, in the view of fax fo r the business meeting at the 1976 Annual Meeting will be John some historians, in his handling of county library building. Marcus J. Logan Allen's banquet address. certain elements of the expedition." Ware, a Director of t he national Dr. Chuina1·d discusses six items in Foundation, a nd Mrs. Ware from detail which may be intriguing to stu­ Lewiston, Idaho, attended the dedica­ "Freedom Train" Cites dents of the famous exploring adven­ tion ceremonies, the tours, and the L. & C. Expedition ture. Copies of the publication may be business meeting. ordered from the American West Pub­ The American Freedom Train, now lishing Co., 599 College Avenue, Palo Idaho To Have State touring the country and being exhib­ Alto, Ca. 94306, postage paid upon L. & C. Committee ited daily at many stops along our your remittance of $3.00. national railroad system, is packed Editor's Note Good news from Idaho! The forma­ with sights, sounds, and treasures of om great American spirit. This im­ tion of a Lewis and Clark Trail Com­ Heretofore, the editor has attempted mense Bicentennial project is not a mittee in the State of Idaho has long to make use of the several spellings: museum - rather, the been the aspiration of John A. Caylor, American "Sacajawea", "Sakakawea", or "Saca­ Freedom Train represents an experi­ Boise, and Marcus J. Ware, Lewiston. gawea'', as these spellings related to ence in sight and sound which becomes Caylor is a past Director, and Ware the usage usually applied in the geo­ a reminder of what freedom means to is a present Director of the national graphical region involved with the the people of the United States. From Foundation. specific article making reference to the all corners of the country, American Indian woman. Henceforth, with a tip On August 22nd, at the meeting of the ingenuity has designed, shaped, weld­ Board of Trustees of the Idaho State ed, donated, collected and researched of the hat to Irving Anderson (see his Historical Society, the appointment the Freedom T rain into existence. article, page 10, Vol. 1, No. 3), and of such a committee was authorized. many others who have made a sincere Eleven persons have responded fa­ Comprising two "Showcase Cars" and effort to solve the dilemma the inten­ vorably to the invitation extended to ten "Exhibit Cars", the exhibits offer tion is for the editor to use the form them by Arthur A. H art, Director of a wide range of subjects covering the "Sacagawea", unless same appears the Society, to serve on the commit­ founding, expansion, development, otherwise within a quotation. This tee. and heritage of our nation. The may be difficult, since the editor is a themes of each of the ten cars relate westerner, and has for some forty According to Mr. Ware, plans have to: The Beginning, Exploration and years been an advocate of the western (Continued Page 11) Expansion, Growth of a Nation, Ori- spelling!

-4- Missouri Committee in the National Register of Historic News Note Reports Oct. 27th Meet Places, and that they be appropriately marked. The previously activated WPO has received a report detailing the "Lewis and Clark Keelboat Commis­ Charles G. Clarke, a Los Angeles, Cal­ October 27, 1975, meeting of the Missom; sion" was instructed to continue work ifornia, Foundation member, is the State Lewis and Clark Trail Committee on t heir project, so as to have the boat author of The Men of the Lewis and from Mayor C. M. Bassman, Hermann, constructed and to arrange for the Clark Expedition, a 377 page vo lume Missouri, Vice Chairman of the committee. vessel to visit cities, towns, and com­ Mayor Bassman represented the MissoUI; published by The Arthur H. Clark Co., munities along the Missouri River Glendale, Ca.. in 1970. A recent letter Committee at the Seventh Annual Meeting during the 1976 Bicentennial. of the Foundation at Bismarck, North Da­ and t ransmittal from Mr. Clarke in­ kota, last August. What follows is the report Director Wm. Clark Adreon2 reported forms us that he has also had pub­ of Missow; activities as reported by "Bur­ on the fine "Expedition Party" at St. lished a fine article titled: "Thirty­ ge1meister" C. M. Bassman. Charles, Missouri on May 21st. Mayor eight Horses and a Branding Iron", Bassman presented a detailed report which appeared in the June 1972, Branding Iron, t he quarterly The Missouri State Lewis and Clark on the national Foundation's Seventh Annual Meeting, which was held in publication of the Los Angeles West­ Committee held an interesting quar­ Bismarck, North Dakota, August 10- erners Corral. terly meeting in Kansas City and 13, 1975. He expressed his gratitude to Weston, Missouri, on October 27, 1975. the state committee for the honor and There has always been speculation Members assembled for a luncheon at privilege of attending the annual concerning Captain Meriwether the Marriot Hotel in Kansas City, and meeting as the Missouri repre­ Lewis's branding iron, which was then adjourned and reassembled at sentative, and spoke most highly of found among the rocks, either on the the McCormick Distillery at Weston, the fine program and of t he many north shore of the Columbia River, or Missouri, some thfrty miles nort hwest enthusiastic, erudite, and dedicated on one of the Indian burial islands, of Kansas City on the Missouri River. people that he met at the annual three and one-half miles above today's The distillery site is of great signifi ­ meeting. city of The Dalles, Oregon, in 1892 or cance to the Lewis and Clark story, 1894. * Clarke, in the absence of docu­ The Mayor also presented a strong since the exploring party is credited mented data related to the artifact, plea for more memberships for the with being the first white men to dis­ makes a plausible reconstr uction of national Foundation, and urged all in cover the huge limestone spring, which the possible history of this particular Missouri to become active and inter­ is still giving forth some 20,000 gallons branding iron. ested in Foundation activities. He of clear, cold water daily.' An early suggested that they begin now to Indian trading post was located here A similar question concerning the prepare for the Ninth Annual Meeting and became the site of the city of branding iron, is whether the instru­ Weston in 1837. In 1856, the spring which is to be held in St. Charles, ment was actua lly used to brand the Missouri, and other related expedi­ became the property of an early party's thirty-eight horses left in the tion sites along the Missouri River, whisky distiller, and later was taken care of the Nez Perce Indians after including East Alton (Wood River), over by the McCormick family, who the overland transit of the Lolo Trail Illinois.3 still use the waters from the spring in and the Bitterroot Mountains. In the manufacture of all of their famous early October 1805, after the con­ spirits. Governor Appoints struction of five dugout canoes near present Orofino, Idaho, the exploring The committee held its quarterly Foundation Member enterprise was an amphibious opera­ business meeting in one of the lime­ tion again on the Clearwater, Snake, stone caves on the McCormick prop­ Governor Daniel J . Evans, Washing­ ton, has recently appointed Founda­ and Columbia Rivers, headed for the erty. About 25 committee members Pacific Ocean. and guests were present, both State tion member, Mrs. Ray (Viola) Forrest Committee m embers and repre­ of Walla Walla, Walla Walla County, Washington, to the Washington State The branding iron may be seen today sentatives from county Lewis and at the Oregon Historical Society in Clark Trail Committees. State Com­ Lewis and Clark Trail Committee. Ray and Vi Forrest's friendly presence Portland, where, as Charles Clarke mittee Chairman Lt. Governor Wil­ says: "Many viewers have speculated will be remembered by all who attend­ liam C. Phelps introduced a discussion on its history and have probably ed the Seventh Annual Foundation concerning expedition's historic sites wished t hat this mute object could tell meeting at Bismarck, North Dakota, along the trail in Missouri. He recom­ its own story". mended that these sites be included last August. Vi reports that Clifford Imsland, Seattle member and fre­ Bibliophiles may be able to obtain the 1. The editor assumes that local Lewis and quent lecturer on the Lewis and Clark back issue of this publication. Make Clark historians and enthusiasts have au­ Expedition, was the speaker at a re­ thenticated the documentation that the ex­ inquiry to Thomas S. McNeill, 207 cent Bicentennial lecture (one of a Avenue G, Redondo Beach, CA. 91206, plore1-s discovered this spring. However, his series) at Walla Walla, and that she enclose $2.50, and specify publication search of the unabridged journals of the has had favorable response from sev­ Captains, Sergeant Floyd, and Private Number 106 (June 1972). Whitehouse (Thwaites), Ordway (Quaife), eral individuals in the area, concern­ and the paraphrastic version of Gass' jour­ ing the organization of a local entity *There is considerable confusion as to the nal (McKeehan), as well as the narratives as part of our national Foundation. place and date of Oregonian Lineaus based on the original journals (Biddle/ Winan's find. Olin D. Wheeler, in his The Allen, and Coues), provide no references to Trail of Lewis and Clark - 1804-1904. G. the subject either in the texts or annota­ 2. Instrumental in the founding of the na­ P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y., 1904, Vol. 2, p. 118, tions. A search of Thwaites Vol. 6 in the tional Foundation, and a Director since the indicates the place as one ·of the Indian sections titled: Lewis's Summary of Rive1-s Foundation's inception. A great, great burial islands, in 1892. In the Oregon His­ and Creeks, Etc.", and "Clark's Summary grandson of Captain /General William torical Quarterly, June 1942 (Vol. XLII, No. Statement of Rivers, Creeks, and Most Re­ Clark of the expedition. 2) issue, p. 199, the location of the find is markable Places", reveals that there are no said to be on the north shore of the Colum­ pertinent references. 3. See WPO, Vol. 1, No. 3, p. 5. bia, below Memaloose Island, in 1894. - 5- Editor's note: Looking forward to our eighth Annual Meeting, next August, at Great Falls, Montana, and vicinity, it is appropriate that WPO, in this and up-coming issues, should publish several feature stories related to the Expedition's activities in this area. The feature article that follows, by Larry Gill of Spokane, Washington, details the exploring party's accomplishments and the portage at the Great Falls of the Mis.souri River, in today's Montana. Larry Gill, a former resident of Great Falls, is a dedicated student of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and particularly of the trials and eventual victory over. the navigational barrier of the Great Falls, which required rlthe abandorunent of their amphibious travel on the Mis.souri for nearly a month in June and July 1805. The text is from a paper presented at the June 4, 1975, Quarterly Meeting of the Oregon Lewis & Clark Heritage Foundation. We are indebted to the author for permission to publish this as a featme ruticle in this issue of 1 We Proceeded On. •

THE GREAT PORTAGE - LEWIS AND CLARK'S OVERLAND JOURNEY AROUND THE GREAT FALLS OF THE MISSOURI RIVER By Larry Gill

Was Thomas Paine forecasting the infested prairies in the dark, and final­ Cown's Longspur, and also the Pack problems which were to be encoun­ ly found a rattlesnake sharing his Rat, Cutthroat Trout, Thirteen­ tered on the month long portage tree-top sheltered open air bedroom striped Ground Squirrel, and the Kit around these rapids when he pro­ the next morning. Fox. All these and the narrow-leafed nounced that "These are the times cottonwood. that try men's souls"? No, his refer­ Near this spot the Indian woman, Sa­ ence was to the Revolutionary War cagawea, came near death a couple of Additionally, they discovered for period, but indeed his words were times, and here life-saving "medicine" white men's eyes, five major falls on the river, a half dozen creeks and valid here. For here at the portage site was thought to be the waters of a con­ rivers, an enormous spring, and a were packed together more danger veniently located mineral spring. couple of mountains. The Lewis and and excitement, several narrow Here the entire party suffered from Clark Expedition was exploring - escapes from accident and fatal intense summer heat and were buffet­ mapping, describing - sketching - re­ sickness, more toil and sweat and ed by mountain gorge-like winds; here cording - and by-passing an especial­ swearing than perhaps any like sec­ too they were beaten by huge hail­ ly hazardous and irksome series of tion of the trail between St. Louis and stones, and Clark and a small party rapids which barred their waterway to Fort Clatsop on today's Oregon were nearly washed down a rock­ the West. Coast. walled ravine and into the Missouri just above the Great Falls. He saved So now let's turn to the map of the Conversely, it offered the explorers his own and their lives but lost a great beauty - some serene, some Great Falls, Montana, area as it looks "compas, elegant fusee, tomahawk wild, some spectacular. It gave them in contemporary times, and with the and Humbrallo". At the upper por­ a whole new galaxy of plants, animals 17% mile portage route imposed on it. tage site specifically, they were and bird life, a couple of new species harassed by huge white bears .. . but of fish, and, to a magnificent degree, (See map on facing page) saw "10,000 buffalo on the open plain" an esprit de corps to all members of the expedition, for each other and for ... and elk, deer, antelope and wolves Note the present city of Great Falls the common cause. Here, on his first in great numbers. (it has grown a great deal since this day at the site, Lewis rested at the Here, an estimated 2,598 miles up the 1953 map was published), which is now base of a great roaring cataract, roily Missouri, Lewis was embarrassed clustered on either side of the Sun yearning for the gift "to give to this and chagrined to have his iron boat, ("Medicine") River, and within a big enlightened world some just idea of sheaved with animal skins, sink with­ bend of the Missouri. Downriver this truly magnificent and sublimely out transporting a man or a pound of about 20 miles is the mouth of Belt grand object . . ." their accouterments on up the ever ("Portage") Creek ... and below that narrowing, increasingly faster flowing Just down the river, a member of the % of a mile is the lower portage camp. river. But it was also here, where a party reached for a bush on the bank small city would someday rise, that Students of the Lewis & Clark Expe­ to help him pull the boat along . . . the explorers added so materially to dition know that they surveyed as and found he had a rattlesnake in­ their collection of knowledge of pre­ they went along by shooting points, stead. Lewis made a long, long one viously unknown plant and animal or sighting and listing the compass day trip up the river and back during life. Dr. Paul Cutright made it easy heading of a turn in the river ahead. which he was presented "one of the for me to list them, from the "Appen­ When that point was reached, they most beautiful objects in nature" - 2 dices" in his fine 500 page volume : sighted again, estimating the distance Rainbow Falls. He was chased by an birds such as the Goldeye, Sage between points. One of Captain open-mouthed grizzly bear, almost Clark's first duties at the portage site charged by a trio of buffalo bulls, Grouse, Pacific Nighthawk, Brewer's Blackbird, White Rumped Shrike, was to explore, decide on a route, then faced a near attack from a cat-like an­ mark it out. Again he sighted in imal which disappeared down a bur­ Western Goldfinch, Western Mea­ dowlark, Western Morning Dove, Mc- compass headings, left flags at each row when he fired at it, was sore put "point" and chained the distance to return to camp over prickly pear 2. Lewis and C/,ark: Pi.oneering Natural­ overall. But, as you know, there is a 1. See also, Mr. Gill's feature article, same ists, by Paul R. Cutright, Univ. of Illinois difference between true North (the title, in the August 15, 1965, Great Falls Pres.s, Urbana, 1969, Appendices "A" and lines on the map are true north and Tribune (newspaper). "B". south) and the magnetic reading of a

- 6- " -

\; i I S'I . ..- "\ tJ.. ;r !"' - '; - ~. ~ ~ , I compass. This difference is called the naITow but flat bench between the easy incline (now the site of a county angle of declination and it varies by river and the bluffs to the Southeast. road, no doubt then the site of a buf­ geographic location and year. In 1953 And this is "Portage Creek" - even falo trail), or perhaps some packs were the angle of declination at Great Falls today, in summer and fall; clean, carried across the rough stretch of was 19 degrees, and Francis Mitchell, clear, and cold - in low water, 10-12 ground directly from lower portage who collaborated with me on this yards wide and a foot or more deep. camp to the Portage Creek egress and study, and I used that figure success­ Almost directly opposite, across the then up the incline just mentioned. fully in laying out the portage - that Missouri, a small stream of water cas­ Once up on top, and around the head is, correcting each of Clark's compass cades off a 25 foot rock wall to fall of the deep ravine, all trails became headings by 19 degrees, before mark­ into the Missouri - this the water one. The canoes were mounted on ing the map. After allowing for decli­ which gurgles out of the Sulphur axles and slices of cottonwood trees nation, we found it necessary to cor­ Spring not more than 150 yards back made to act as wheels, as soon as level rect Clark's figures only by a matter from the river. It was these waters ground was reached. of a fraction of a degree, or a few feet. which were given to Sacagawea in The land was gently rolling now for For example, if the directions called such quantities to save her from the rest of the way westward to the for a heading for a certain distance death by dehydration being brought upper portage camp at White Bear Is­ that led the trail up a steep hillside, about by infection, fever, and the lands. The soil, especially at the east­ common sense told us to turn at the blood loss doctoring of her day. ern end, is often a heavy clay, locally bottom of the swale and go up a long called gumbo, and it's sticky when wet easy slope. While we walked nearly This entire area is private land now; and can dry as hard as concrete. At every foot of the route, and eye-balled permission to visit it should be ob­ the time of Lewis & Clark, this area the rest (through residential districts tained, and a four-wheel drive, or was, and had been, heavily overgrazed or Malstrom Air Force Base), the con­ four-legged type of conveyance is best, for years by buffalo and other wild tour lines on this map and aerial Soil especially on the South side. Up a game, and cactus with long vicious Conservation maps were extremely very steep hiil, beginning almost at spines, called Prickly Pear, was every­ helpful. water's edge, and at almost the same where. Their inch-long spines, the compass heading for three miles or hardened clay, the rocks and brush, The lower portage camp site was more, takes you over some steep roll­ made the portage route become tor­ very close to and on the south bank ing hills and up on the level prairie, ture itself for the feet of the crew, of the Missouri, with a deep ravine a crossing one quite deep ravine at 21h even when they wore double thick, few yards further downstream, a bluff miles. But this route was probably dried bullhide moccasins. which would have helped protect only used when they were coming them from the wind to the West, and back to camp empty-handed; the "Willow Run" (present day Box a nearly flat camping area. Following boats and heavy packs either came up Elder) Creek, is a dry coulee most of Clark's first compass heading takes Portage Creek % of a mile, then up the year, and treeless in the middle you % of a mile up along a relatively on the prairie by way of a long, fairly of an immense plateau. Although the -7- journals mention a small stream in bottom, the largest (in free fall drop), her tribe continued to nest there each 1805, it must have had trees then, for and perhaps the most spectacular, year, the falls was eventually named it was here that Hugh McNeal was was the Great Falls. It was later sur­ Black Eagle Falls. Today it too is sur­ treed by a grizzly bear the following veyed by Clark and adjudged to be 87 mounted by concrete and steel, and summer. The map reveals that the feet, % inches in height. Cliffs 150 to is a "working" falls for the users of Milwaukee Raifroad crosses the cou­ 200 feet high walled in the river above electricity. For many decades, either lee just a few hundred yards below the and below. One of several Montana side of the river at this point was an portage route. It was here that part Power Co. hydroelectric dams has industrial complex - to refine basic of the exploring party was lashed and now changed the appearance and free metalic elements, mostly copper. One slashed by an enormous hail storm, flowing aspects of the falls. of the tallest smokestacks in the and down by the river, only a quarter Above the Great Falls five miles or so world (so big a raifroad freight car of a mile above the Great Falls, Clark is an irregular cataract, with a fall of could fit inside its brick throat) now and his small party consisting of Sa­ 19 feet. It's contemporary design iS rears its snout above the hill from cagawea and child, Charbonneau, and something on the order of an uneven which Lewis first looked out over the York, came near to being washed over horseshoe. In low water much of the "Medicine River Valley" to the south­ the cliff and into the churning waters shelf rock is dry. Gradually the gorge­ west. of the Missouri below.3 like cliffs have dropped away until at Just below, the little town of Black The portage route follows up a long this point they are rolling hills on the Eagle (they called it "Little Chicago" incline here, continues gradually north bank, and low cliffs on the for a while) is now located. Lewis shot uphill while crossing present day south. a buffalo cow ... and while he leaned Malmstrom Air Base, then tops out Just around the bend from Crooked on his gun t o watch her die .. . was and starts a gradual descent toward Falls - and as smooth and regular as attacked by a most uninhibited griz­ the islands, which you'll notice are Crooked is jagged, is the 47 foot zly bear. With an empty gun and no about three miles above the mouth of "Beautiful Cascade" now called Rain­ tree to climb, Lewis tried to bluff it the "Medicine" (Sun) River. bow Falls. Even today this is a most out - first he retreated at a slow walk, The last leg of the portage was the interesting and delightful cascade - then a fast walk, a trot, a gallop. The most difficult to spot because no the contour of a quarter moon, and bear stepped up the pace until Lewis compass headings were listed by Clark rainbows still form in late afternoon swerved to the side, ran into the river - only reference to a gradual turn to as the sun shines through the mist of (which is nearly level with the bank the camp site. So we again followed high water. at this spot), and turned to face the the lay of the land, the easy route, You can't find Colter Falls now; con­ bear. Thankfully, just at that mo­ and finally used aerial maps to indi­ crete added to the top of Rainbow to ment the bear turned and lumbered cate changes in the river banks, and form a reservoir, has backed water off up the valley toward the "Medi­ the most logical site of the camp itself over the top of the six foot step which cine" (Sun) River. Even after that, "opposite the upper tip of the White formed Colter Falls and it is lost to Lewis had the courage to follow in Bear Islands". sight. Just above that a half mile, and that same trail, to figure out the lay of the land more accurately. Now, just as Lewis and Clark and also somewhat changed by the Rain­ most of the men of the Expedition did bow backwater, is the "Giant Foun­ Following the fiasco of the iron boat,6 in 1805, let's take a few side trips to tain" of Lewis & Clark's Journal now by Van Kirke Nelson, M.D. and Cato K. see some remarkable sights of nature, called Giant Springs. At that time it Butler, Kalispell, Montana, 1966, pp. 6 and located, not on the portage route, but boiled out of the ground near the 7. The original painting is the property of along the river itself.• Let's take the water's edge on the south bank, and the Thomas Gilcrease Institute, Tulsa, Ok­ several specific falls themselves. dropped eight feet into the river. Now lahoma. There were five in all. Starting at the the drop is barely noticeable. But the 6. The iron frame for the vessel was con­ volume of water may be nearly the structed at the Harpers Ferry Military Ar­ 3. Montana artists Charles M. Russell and same; it is clear and cold (53 degrees) senal in 1803, and was dissembled so as to Olaf C. Seltzer have both contributed art and covers about 1,1.i acre - one of the be transported to the upper Missouri, there work depicting the near disaster as the re­ largest in America. Some geologists to be put together again, covered with hides, sult of the cloudburst and sudden run-off think that Giant Springs is the outlet and made ready for the continuing ascent ... in the ravine. Russell with a drawing titled of an underground river - that gla­ of the river. Paul R. Cutright tells the story "Captain Clark, Charbonneau, Sacagawea, of the iron boat in his volume (op. cit., pp. and Papoose in the Cloud-burst near the ciers filled the old Missouri River bed 20, 164-165). "The iron boat frame seems Great Falls, on June 29, 1805'', and Seltzer which cut across the elbow with grav­ to have been a product of Lewis's inventive .!. with a painting referred to as "The Deluge el, and that some of the river still mind and to oversee each step of its con­ at Colter Falls". The Russell work appears crosses under the city. struction, he stayed on in Harper's Ferry in much of the literature about the Expedi­ a full month instead of the week originally tion, while the Seltzer painting is less often Two and a half miles above the Spring intended .. . (above the Great Falls in 1805) reproduced. is the last of the falls. This one was "When the iron boat was finally completed, 26 feet, but was unnamed by the Ex­ it was 36 feet long, four and one-half feet 4. Students of the Expedition having access pedition. However, they did describe wide, and capable of carrying an estimated to the Thwaites work (The Original Jour­ in detail a little island just below the load of 8,000 pounds. To give it proper in­ nals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, falls, containing a single cottonwood tegument, Lewis had employed 28 elk and 5 Dodd Mead & Co., N.Y., 1904, reprint edi­ tree, and in this an eagle's nest. • Be­ four buffalo hides. Not having tar or pitch tions in 1959 and 1969, seven volumes and cause either that lady eagle, her with which 'to pay her seams', he impro­ atlas) will find William Clark's sketch map daughters, granddaughters or other of vised with a paste of charcoal, beeswax, and of "The Great Falls and Portage of the Mis­ tallow. When launched, 'she lay like a per­ souri River" reproduced in Volume three, 5. The Montana artist, Olaf C. Seltzer, has fect cork in the water . . .'.A few hours later facing page 176. Even though Thwaites in­ created a realistic miniature painting of this the seams opened, and it was all too obvious dicates that the map is found in Lewis's location showing the falls, the giant cotton­ that Lewis's cherished experiment had notebook, the cartography is unmistakably wood tree with the eagle's nest, the distant come a cropper. The failure was 'mortify­ the work of Clark. See also other sketch terrain, and members of the exploring ing' to him. The iron boat was to have taken maps by Clark relating to the Great Falls party. This work of Seltzer's is reproduced the place of two pirouges . . . now they faced of the Missouri in this same volume facing in Montana in Miniature ... , by Philip G. the necessity of further delay to construct pages 210, 218, and 228. Cole, illustrated by Olaf C. Seltzer, edited two new dugouts.''

-8- which sank dead in the water, the Ex­ 1. A narrated slide presen tation titled: 2. Rooster Rock State Park. Panora­ pedition went on up the river to "Farewell to Celilo", by Mr. Ray Mc­ ma of the Columbia River, including "Canoe Camp" - 22 miles by river, Guire, of The Dalles Camera Club. Lewis and Clark's Beacon Rock, only six to seven miles across country, This consisted of a marvelous collec­ Phoca Rock, and Cape Horn, all and found some mighty cottonwood tion of vintage color slides of Celilo names that have survived. Kenneth trees which they chopped down, hol­ Falls, showing traditional Indian Bw-kholder, speaker. lowed out, and made canoes for fur­ salmon fishing activities comparable ther progrnss up the Missouri. T hey to those described by Lewis and Clark. 3. Multnomah Falls. Lewis's "Cas­ had expected the iron boat to trans­ Celilo Falls is now inundated by back cades" of the Gorge. Richard G. Rust, port almost four ton of weigh t, and waters of The Dalles Dam, and tradi­ speaker. so the two new dugouts were expected tional Indian dip-netting scenes have to carry most of that total weight. passed into history. 4. Memaloose Island - Indian burial ground. Rodney K. Williams, speaker. In 1965, when Dr. Paul Cutright of 2. A paper by national Foundation Jenkintown, Pa., and his late brother Past President Robert E. Lange, ti­ All of the talks were excellent, the of Wooster, Ohio, Dr. C.R. Cutright, tled: "Lewis and Clark at Their 'Great weather was perfect, and the added visited us in Great Falls, we searched Falls' of the Columbia." This fine dimension of the bus tour was most out "Canoe Camp" once again and paper sketched the background and pleasing to the participants. found a large grove of giant cotton­ progress of the Expedition, with spe­ Local arrangements for the sympo­ wood trees in presumably the same cial focus on the incidents of greatest sium were handled by Mrs. Allen spot. Dr. Paul Cutright described hardship, hazard, and extreme physi­ "Nicky" Tom, Oregon Governor's them as "by far the largest cotton­ cal effort experienced, including nego- ·· Committee member who resides at wood stand (five in particular) that I tiating the "Great Falls" and the The Dalles. The bus tour was arranged have seen anywhere in my journey­ "Long and Short Narrows" of the by Malcolm Carter, President of the ings up and down the Missouri and mighty Columbia River. Bob accom­ Oregon Lewis and Clark Heritage Yellowstone Rivers". All five had cfr­ panied his paper with slides of maps, Foundation. Efforts by both were cumferences, four feet from the including those drawn by Captain highly productive, and these, together ground, of at least 17 feet, and one William Clark, which are amazingly with the fine program presentations giant had a girth of 20 feet, 2 inches accurate in portraying the falls, and great assistance by many others and a diameter of six and one-half rapids, and narrow constriction of the from each state committee made the feet. "Canoe Camp" is located on the Columbia River Gorge at this historic Third Annual Oregon-Washington present Larry Gannon Ranch and is place. Lewis and Clark Symposium another available for inspection only by per­ delightful "living history" experience. mission. 3. A paper by Dr. Chuinard, Titled: "The Expedition's Rock Fort Camp­ And so the Lewis & Clark Expedition site." "Frenchy's" paper recited the proceeded on! journal passages relating to Expedi­ tion events at this site, and then re­ South Dakota Flotilla Oregon-Washington viewed the background of the site in­ to Commemorate L. & C. 3rd Annual Symposium vestigations and verifications by members of the Governor's Oregon Irving W. Anden;on, Secretary of the na­ committee, and local The Dalles resi­ Director Dayton Canaday, South Dakota, tional Foundation, Past President of the dents, especially Mr. Ed Dick, who has furnished WPO with the following in­ Oregon Lewis and Cla1·k Heritage Founda­ suggested that the site be authenti­ fonnation. tion, and member of the Governor's Oregon cated. Lewis and Clark Trail Committee, served as Co-Chairman for the Third Annual Ore­ Upon completion of these outstanding A Legion-Auxiliary Flotilla up the gon- W ashington Lewis and Clark Sympo­ presentations, the symposium partici­ Missouri River to Commemorate the sium. His report on this splendid, well at­ pants toured the Expedition's "Rock Lewis and Clark Expedition is in the tended two-state activity follows: Fort Camp" for a fast hand view of planning stages, according to Soutfi Dakota State American Legion Com­ Sponsored jointly by the Oregon­ the area. Dr. Chuinard discussed mander, Woodrow Sinkular, and W ashington Governors' Lewis and briefly proposals for its protection, "Spirit of '76 Committee" Chairman, Clark Trail Committees, the Third preservation, and interpretation. The Jack Gerken of Hill City. Annual Symposium was held at Por­ group then walked over the site, ab­ tage Inn, The Dalles, Oregon, on Oc­ sorbing its great historical signifi­ Tentative plans call for leaving North tober 4, 1975. One hundred and fifteen cance, made even more enjoyable by Sioux City, South Dakota, on June Lewis and Clark enthusiasts were in the warm October sun of Indian Sum­ 30, 1976, with overnight stops at attendance, including national Foun­ mer. Yankton, Pickstown, Chamberlain, dation Directors from three states. Pierre, and arriving at Mobridge on Joining the Oregon Governor's Com­ These were the two Governors' com­ July 4th . Other s tops are being mittee for the occasion were members mittees' chairmen, Dr. "Frenchy" planned for fuel and noon meals. T he of the Oregon Lewis and Clark Heri­ Chuinard, Oregon, and George H. overnight stops will include dinners tage Foundation, who traveled from Tweney, Washingt on, together with and short historical-patriotic pro­ Por tland to The Dalles via chartered Marcus J . Ware, Idaho. Dr. John Cay­ grams recognizing the 1804-1806 bus. Retracing the Lewis and Clark lor, past national Director, Idaho, and Lewis and Clark Expedition, and ob­ Trail through the magnificent Colum­ Mrs. Caylor were also present. Co­ serving the nation's 200th birthday. Chairman for the Washington State bia River Gorge, the bus passengers were treated to excellent interpretive All Legion Posts within 50 miles of the committee was Roy D. Craft, who also Missouri River have been urged to be­ served as Master of Ceremonies. t alks at four Lewis and Clark sites enroute. The itinerary included stops come engaged in the activities, and Participants enjoyed a superb sympo­ and talks at the following: anyone interested in boating, whether sium program, which included the fol­ 1. Lewis and Clark State Park, Sandy members of the Legion or not, are in­ lowing: River. Roy J. Beadle, speaker. vited to participate in the flotilla. -9- "And right now, more than a century and a half later, we found that we were standing, incredibly, in the shade of three narrow-leaved cottonwood trees! ...

" ... It may be too much to conclude that these are the same identical trees that gave shelter to Lewis, though by coincidence - if it is a coincidence - is most remarkable. But everything else in this remote picturesque valley is remarkable."' Paul Russell Cutright

Two Medicine River Fight Site is Protected Scouts Rebuild Fencing and Construct Rock Dams to Raise Water Table

By Wilbur P. Werner2

Forty-seven Boy Scouts from six troops in Cut Bank, Valier, Shelby, Sunburst, and Galata-Devon, Mon­ tana, erected a permanent fence around the trees and made other im­ provements at the Two Medicine River Fight Site. The project was completed by late September, as a Boy Scout Bicentennial Project. The three ancient trees have been identi­ fied as the site of the first and only armed conflict between members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Indians. On July 26 and 27, 1806, Cap­ tain Meriwether Lewis and three other members of the exploring party skirmished with eight Piegan3 Indians at this place.

On the return from the Pacific, the ex­ pedition divided into two parties for the portion of the return journey through the country that is now known as Montana. Separating at their "Traveler's Rest" campsite, about eleven miles south of present Missoula, a portion of the party under Captain Clark proceeded southeaster­ Photo by Wilbur P. Wemer ly to the Yellowstone River. Captain Lewis and his party traveled directly to the vicinity of the Great Falls of the Missouri. After leaving some of his men to recover supplies cached here the previous summer, and to effect the portage of their canoes and sup­ plies around the falls, Lewis and three

1. Lewis and Clark: Pi,oneering Natural­ ists, Paul R. Cutright, Univ. of Illinois Press, Urbaba, 1969, p. 321. On August 3, 1965, in company with Helen B. West, Robert H. Anderson, of Cut Bank, Mon­ tana, and his brother, Dr. C. R. Cutright, Dr. Paul Cutright visited the bottomland and Captain Lewis's "three solitary trees" - the Two Medicine River Fight Site. 2. President of the Foundation, August 1975 to August 1976. See WPO, Vol. 1, No. 3, p.2. 3. Piegan or Pikuni, one of three Blackfeet Tribes, the other two being in Southern Alberta, Canada, known as the Blood or

Kainah and the Northern Blackfeet or .\t.p s•..-ri~ t k ,.m -r Cotp••'~ f,,.,,,,.· E~ i>Uili1"' ,-,., • .'~t .u... , -.,, c-~'r.", JNiy, 181J':l Siksika. From Grace Flandrau, "A Glance at the Lewis and Clark Expedition"

-10- of his best men, Drewyer', Joseph and the trees. The informational sign Glacier Electric Cooperative donated Reuben Field, made a side-explora­ prepared by the the use of needed equipment. tion to determine the most northern in 1968 was also permanently reset. sources of the . Their Barring major catastrophe or vandal­ "Camp Disappointment" was the A historical firnt during the project ism, the fencing should protect the most northern point reached by was a religious service under the three area for several decades. Efforts will members of the expedition, and is lo­ trees conducted by Monsignor Martin be continued to have the area desig­ cated on (a tributary E. Werner of Great Falls. Special re­ nated as a National Historic Land­ of the Marias) about 20 miles west of memberance was made of the late Pat mark, a designation already given to Cut Bank, Montana. After camping Sanderson, beloved camping chair­ "Camp Disappointment" in 1967. here for three days, they departed on man, at both the religious services and the morning of July 26th to rendez­ the campfire ceremonies on the eve­ vous with the balance of the party at ning of September 27, 1975.6 Idaho (Con't from P. 4) the confluence of the Marias and Mis­ been formulated to hold a meeting of souri Rivers. Adult Scouters helping on the project members of the committee at Orofino were: Donald and Robert Kiihn, early in Janua1·y to develop an organi­ That same afternoon they met a party James C. Nelson, Donald J. Topp, Leo zation, to consider work of the com­ of eight Piegan Indians on the south Bachmeier, Alan Lowry, LeRoy mittee, and to make recommen­ bank of the Two Medicine River. The Grosser, Wilbur P. Werner, and W. E. dations to the Idaho State Historical hostile encounter that took place at "Hoot" Evers, all of Cut Bank; and Society. In addition to Mr. Wru·e, daybreak at the site where they en­ Dan Kenney, District Scout Exeuc­ members of the committee are as fol­ camped with the Indians, in the vicin­ tive from Great Falls. Tony Mitch of lows: Mr. Ralph S. Space, Mr. Andrew ity of what Captain Lewis described Cut Bank hauled posts and corral J. Arvish, and Mr. and Mrs. Sam as "three solitary trees", on July 27, poles from Columbia Falls, and the Swayne (Orofino); Mr. and Mrs. Iver 1806, is historically noteworthy for Glacier County Commissioners and Longetieg (Craigmont); Mr. David G. several reasons, but principally be­ Ainsworth and Mr. James C. Herndon cause it was the first and only conflict 6. Editor's note: During the final evening (Salmon); Mr. Donovan Lindsley involving loss of life between expedi­ campfire after the project was completed, Foundation President Werner addressed (Grangeville); and Mr. Robert E. tion members and the many Indians the scouts and scouters concerning the Jones (Lewiston ). Ware, Space, Ains­ encountered along the approximately historical significance of the "Camp Dis­ worth, and Jones are members of the 8000 mile route of their journey. No appointment" and "Two Medicine River Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Founda­ other event in the two years, fom Fight" sites. tion, Inc. months, and nine days of the exploring enterprise so threatened its successful conclusion5 • A Special Item For You or For Your Gift Giving

The three trees at the site are narrow leaf cottonwood, and have many dead limbs and give evidence of great age. By secmely fencing the area and by placing seven dams of rock and flood debris in a nearby coulee, the Scouts and their leaders hope to raise the water table and prolong the lives of

4. George "Drewyer" is the most common spelling applied by the journalists when referring to this most valuable member of the exploring party, although there are a variety of other phonetic spellings. A Pawnee-French half-breed, George Drouillard was the correct spelling of his name. See: George Drouillard - Hunter and Interpreter for Lewis and Clark - and Fur Trader, 1807-1810, by M. 0. Skarsten, The Arthur H. Clark Co., Glen­ dale, Ca., 1964, 345 pages; and Breeds and Half-Breeds, by Gordon Speck, Charles N. Potter, Inc. - Crown Publish­ ing Co., N.Y., 1969, pp. 79-95. Foundation members will be happy to know that sales of the Foundation's Desk-Pen Set are well passed the seventy-five set mark, and additional sets 5. During the skirmish one of the Indians have been fabricated so as to be available to fi ll orders for Cru·istmas gift giving. was mortally stabbed by Reuben Field. The walnut-based pen set displays an enlarged facsimile of the 1954 Lewis and In the gunfire that was necessary to pre­ vent the Indians from driving off their Clark Commemorative United States Postal Issue reproduced on pewter. An horses, one of the Indians was wounded additional pewter plate mounted on the walnut base carries a miniature repro­ by Lewis, and the Indian returned the fire. duction of the masthead from the Foundation's publication, WE PROCEEDED The Captain's journal states: " . . .being ON. A fine quality matching metal-barreled ball-point pen is supplied with the bareheaded I felt the wind of the bullet base. very distinctly ..." For more complete details see the unabridged journals (Th­ This is an item you will want for your desk at home or at the office, and an waites) or other narratives based on the ideal Christmas or birthday gift for the Western Americana or Lewis and Clark journals (Biddle/Allen , Coues, Hosmer, enthusiast. Additional descriptive information together with an order form is DeVoto, Bakeles.s, Cutright, etc.) for the available. Make your inquiry to E.G. Chuinard, M.D., 7307 N.W. Penridge Road, dates July 26-28, 1806. Portland OR 97229.

-11- Lewis and Clark Historian volumes, but he has with all the enthusiasm 1895; "Yellowstone National Paxk" and pluck of the trained mountaineer actu­ 1901; and "Eastward Through th~ ally followed the long and hazardou's trail Storied Northwest", 1907. During his from end to end, a feat that probably no travels along the westward route of other writer on this subject has accom­ the raihoad, he became enraptured by plished except the late Dr. Coues. This was not done at one trial, but by·several sum­ the story and history of the famous mers' exploring jaunts. The trail in fact was Lewis and Clark Expedition, and taken by sections, and in t he sweltering wrote on the subject in the annual months of July, August and September .. . editions of Wonderland3. His descrip­ Mr. Wheeler with camera and pack train tions of the western lands and his was exploring some wild faraway mountain research and story telling about the canyon or shating the hospitality of some Lewis and Clark adventure attracted lndian lodge in the vast wilderness. Many the attention of the well-known east­ an ancient chief on these occasions was er.n publisher, G. P. Putnam's Sons, probed for traditionary lore concerning the two captains of a hundred years ago. with the result that Mr. Wheeler was invited to write the story of the Expe­ "Finally only one section of the trail re­ dition. Wheeler subtitled his work as mained unexplored, but that was the most "A Story of the Great Exploration difficult of all - the passage over the Rock­ Across the Continent in 1804-1806· ies. Undiscouraged by many obstacles, he With a Description of the Old Trail'. at last discovered a man after his own heart, Based upon Actual Travel Over It the veteran mountaineer, W. H. Wright, of Circa 1916 Minnesota Historical Society and the Changes Found a Centur; Spokane [Washington], who knew the trail Later". Olin D. Wheeler 1852-1925 of Idaho and Montana like a book. In the summer of 1902, with compass and sure­ footed cayuse ponies, they followed in the By Robert E. Lange footsteps of Lewis and Clark, crossing Lolo The two volume sets are rarely found today, except in reference libraries and Since 1904, much of the literature Pass, and identifying, from day to day, the landmarks noted in the journals .... private Lewis and Clark bibliophile's c~~cerning the Lewis and Clark Expe­ collections. The work is of great value d1t1on makes reference in footnotes "This work, which is now in press will be because of Wheeler's meticulous re­ and annotations to Olin Dunbar in two volumes, richly illustrated with many search, keen observations, and splen­ Wheeler's The Lewis and Clark Trail new designs, recently discovered relics and did descriptions of the landmarks and 1 - 1804-1904 • Wheeler's two volume photographs taken along the trail by the topography along the trail. Better de­ work provides students of the explor­ writer ... Among historical students ... Mr. scriptions than Wheeler's are hard to ing enterprise with a most complete Wheeler has acquired a reputation for un­ usual accuracy and painstaking care ..." find, especially of: the Great Falls of and comprehensive treatise on the the Missouri; the Gates of the Moun­ great adventure. Except for Dr. Elliot tains; Lemhi Pass; the Bitterroots and Coues, who traveled the trail of the Olin D. Wheeler was born May 1, 1852, the Lolo Trail; the Celilo Falls and the explorers prior to the publication of at Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio. Dalles of t he Columbia; and the scenic his four volume work, History of the He was educated at Baldwin Universi­ Pacific shoreline in Washington and Exp~dition under the Command of ty, Berea, Ohio; Allegheny College, Oregon, as they appeared at the turn Lewis and Clark•, Olin Wheeler was Meadville, Pa.; and Cornell Universi­ of the century. The volumes are pro­ one of the earliest to traverse the route ty, Ithaca, N.Y. Wheeler first tried a fusely illustrated. His biographical of the explorers and to write of his business career with the 1st National section entitled "Organization and first-hand observations. His two vol­ Bank of Chattanooga, Tennessee from Personnel", comprising 80 pages in ume work appeared in 1904 during the 1871 to 1873. From 1874 to 1879, how­ Volume I, is the first real attempt by Lewis and Clark Exposition (World's ever, he turned to a life out-of-doors, any writer to search out the back­ Fair) in Portland, Oregon, 1904-1905. and was employed as a topographer ground, duties during the exploration, In the May 1904 (Vol. 1, No. 5) issue with Major J. W. Powell's survey of and the post-expedition life and of the Lewis and Clark Journal the the Colorado River. This was followed whereabouts of the members of the official publication of the exposition, by employment with the Tenth Unit­ enterprise. Previous to WheeleT, only the editor commented upon his writ­ ed States Census in Virginia City, Ne­ the "Memoir of Meriwether Lewis" ing as follows: vada, 1881. He then became engaged written by Thomas Jefferson for th~ Biddle/ Allen work, and Coues elabo­ "Olin D. Wheeler, whose forthcoming vol­ in freelance advertising activities in St. Paul, Minnesota from 1882 to 1892. ration of this, together with his bio­ umes, "The Trail of Lewis and Clark" is graphical sections on William Clark being anticipated with such lively inter~t. In 1893, he joined the Northern Pacific has not only delved deep into historical lore Railway as editor of the company's and Patrick Gass, provided any bio­ through many years' research among dusty annual publication Wonderland. In graphical material of expedition addition to his magazine editing, he members. 1. Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y., authored several booklets published 1904, reprint edition 1926, two volumes by the raihoad company. These were If you are a student or enthusiast of (377 and 418 pages), illustrated. titled: "Indianland and Wonderland" 1894; "Sketches of Wonderland", the Lewis and Clark Expedition, you should not miss the journey across 2. Published by Francis P. Harper, N.Y., ' 1893, three volumes and atlas, 1965 re­ western North America with the Cap­ print edition, Dover Publications, N.Y., tains and their party with Olin D. three volume Paperback 1298 Wheeler as your guide in his Trail of ~ontinuously numbered pages, e~tensive Lewis and Clark - 1804-1904! mdex. Essentially the Coues Edition is a rewrite with minor revisions, additional material, and copious footnotes and an­ 3. Nearly the entire 300 page Wonderland notations of the 1814 Biddle/Allen Edi­ for the year 1900 was devoted to the Lewis tion of the same title. and Clark Expedition. -12-