The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-23

Among these were two Interpreters George
Drewyer ana I0usaint thabeneau. whose
wife was Of the Snake Indians. and would.
on that account. De useful when the coun-
try OF that waflike nation should b, Preached.
ine entire party and the baggage were en-
parked in six small canoes and two larger
boats with sails. known as "pori0gues.n
on the same day that Lewis left his winter
home, he sent barge with seven soldiers.
two frcnchmen. under a special pilot. down
the Missouri. with dispatches 10 the United
states Government and trophies Of his eXpe-
dltlOn 10 the President. The latter had been
prepared during the winter. and consisted
OF stuffed animals and skins, furs. Indian
relics, and drawings on buffalo hides. horns
Of the Rocky Mountain ram. called ~the
big horn, elk-hOrn. Ac.. hence the we'll
known names Of certain streams
made notorious by the events OF late
years. Among the animals represented
were the antelope, wolf white and gray
hare black deer. white bear. yellow bear.
and others: in addition were tobacco seed.
bows, arrows, and "a variety Of plants, with
living specimens Of the prairie hen and
maybe. This was the first effort to com
municate with the Government since his
departure from the limits of civilization on
the 18th May. 1904; nor had Lewis. mean
time. received "a word Of news either from
Washington or his home in Albcmarle
county, Virginia; nor had his friends got
ten any iidings of him and his party since
they had entered the great Western wilder
ness.
THE INDIAN TRIBES.
In their late iourneyings the explorers
bad found abundant opportunities Of OBJ
serving the characteristics of the numerous
tribes of Indians living ON the Missouri and
It's tributaries. They were surprised 10 lind
how soon their approach became known at
the most remote distances from their line Of
march. Chiefs and sachems Of many
tribes, and in various costumes. came TO
gaze at the pale faces, beg for presents. and
offer their assistance. Lewis under TODD
the Indian character. and was never de-
ceiYed by their professions Of friendship.
From the accounts many OF them gave Of
lhe country they occupied, tho distance they
had come. and the rivers they had nayi-
gated. bee derived information that sub
scquently was OF great importance
to him. Time and space will not
allow any detailed account of these peo-
pie. Probably the most important Of these
nations were the Sioux. They were spread
over vast eXpan-e OF territory, under yari-
Gus tribal names, keepinguu constant COM
municatiOns with each other. but dOminat-
ed over by a special tribe, who seemed 10
bear the relation % the others. "a, did Judah
Oi old % the l-raeiies. u was from
knowledge Of these savage. that in mere
modern days Cooper the novelist is said 20
have produced bis attractive stories. From
among ihe Pawnee chief. he derives his
heroes. while he got his robbers and villains
from the numerous aud warike Sioux. The
habit no close observation in the native In
dian has become uroscrbial: hence when
ever Doe undertook Oh furnish iniOrma-
20 Lewis, The accuracy 0f his statement was
generally verified by some sort of voucher.
which would appear simultaneously with
the knowledge acquired. This voucher was
always presented iu The form of an object
Of nature, or artificial suggestion Of the In
dian mind. In an their experiences with
the sayages. Lewis and Clarke Invariably
found that these evidences on signs were
always present to verify the statements
made by their iniormers.
MINUTE GUIDE POSTS.
\ striking instance Of this occurred while /
Lewis was trying 10 learn the most direct
way and distance 90 the sources Of The great /
river along whose banks he bad so long
been struggling. and how be should know
when he was approaching that still remote /
object of his ambition. An old chief soon /
relieved his mind on this subject. The ex-
plOrcr was informed that he would have 10 |
pass many falls and cataracts before reach /
Ing that spot. He told him how after he /
bad gotten through most Of these he would /
lt last arrive at one more beautiful /
than any be- had seen, near which /
be would notice if De observed, tall /
cottonwood tree in the top Of which was /
AM eagles nest. This Information. with /
much OF the same sort. adbeen given many /
weeks before, and at "a great distance from /
The falls described by the chief. When. ar /
forwards, Lewis had the pleasure Of dis /
covering IN person the great water-gate Of |
ihe Rocky Mountains through which the /
Missouri made lbs way eastward. be- did not /
fail t0 observe the tall tree with the nest, /
from ont Of which be soon had occasion 10 |
recognize the bold Hight of an eagle.
MOUTH OF THE YELLOWSTONE.
ON Friday. the 2jth OF April, 1900, Lewis /
discovered the mouth of the Yellowstone. |
river made famous in modern times by the |
late wars with the same fierce and Willy I
Sioux tribes. and during which the nited /
States forces. under General Custer. were /
iecOyed into an ambush and totally annihi- /
lated. This great tributary was found now /
ing into tine Missouri from towards the /
southwest. After trayersing a country /
greater in extent than that watered by the /
James river in Virginia, the Indians gave
that its sources were in the Tar
distant Rocky mountains, and from the tact
that IL was wider at lis mouth than the
the explorers were for time m
doubt whether il was not the main stream. |
This was. however, finally settled by the
sayagos. who insisted that the north fork |
was the real and true river. Their account
was subsequently, found 90 be true. Lewis |
and Clarke explored the Yellowstone and |
discovered the wonders OF that remarka-
bic region now known rs the National Park. /
A small tributary. several hundred miles
lp, and beyond the mouth Of the "Bis
ll0rn,n is now called Clarke's Fork.
PROTCslON OF GAME.
Game i'm prufusi0n sb0unded in this re-
gion. and even the sava.es themselves were
kent in terror Of the numbers and size OF the /
bears OF several kinds infrstng the banks /
IF the streams. Ai,cr killing some Of these,
the party were ast0ni-hed az their enormous /
size and great tenaclty Of life. These iea- /
lures in the fauna OF the great West were /
novelties at that time. but 80 much Is now /
known Of these terrible hrutes that 10 is not /
necessary 10 say more Of them. The ex- !
DlOrers were often seriously threatened by /
.hese animals. Lewis himself barely es- /
,aDed destruction hy one Of them. lie had /
gone ouf alone % kill 4 buffalo, and had /
Oll0wed a small herd along the river, until /
st last be brought down one with bis /
-ile. lie was watching his game. and had /
neglected % reload his gun. At this mo-
nent he suddenly saw large bear rapidly |
advancing upon him with open mouth. Re- /
G lad not loaded his rifle, lac was
Orced % retreat before his lerOclou> enemy. 4
The bear continuing 10 advance. Lewis
iad TO run for his life. IL was
ipon an open plain, consequently /
here was neither tree nor clin nor hiding
llace. he had run about eighty yards when
seeing the animal was fast 0yertaking him,
BE- plunged into the river 10 such q depth as
% leave his arms Free and turned % meet
he attack Of the bear, at the same time,
his gun and shouting az the 4
animal. The latter taken by surprise at /
he sudden "change OF base" halted, hesl-
ated and then rctrested. Captain Lewis /
,ould not hold his watery fort longer. As
'oon a. bis adversary began his retreat, he /
rushed cut yelling aud shouting az him.
Hhile the latter, panic-stricken, soon dis
appeared in the tall grass Of the prairie.
THREATENED WITH WINTER.
About the middle Of the following May a |
serious disaster threatened the exploring
larty. They had lett the Yellowstone and
m. vonlnr. aud Ver. still following the |