Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-01-27
.LEW|S AND CLARK TRIP
New Summary of the Explorations Of
Lewis and Clark Has Been
Published in Book Form.
Condensation of the Observations of the
Old Explorers for Busy Mans
Reading.
Interesting Tales of the Explorers Pre-.
served, but Narrative Reduced
IN Shape.


able public service by condensing into.
single volume the memorable story
of the Lewis and Clark expedition Of
1SO4-O6. His book bears the title
First Across the Continent and it
ic at once fascinating tale of adven-
ture for boys and an authentic histor-
ical work for adults. The story is
told largely in the form of extended
extracts from the original journals of
Lewis and Clark. supplemented with
illuminating comment by the editor.
Thus all the essential parts of the
narrative are put within reach of the
general public for the first time in the
present generation. Dr.. McVikar's
edition, issued in 1S47, has long been
cut of print, and DR.. Coues' excellent
four-vo volume edition Of 1898 was linn
tied to LOCO copies, and is now obtain
able only with difficulty.
The story of the Lewis and Clark
expedition is one of the most interest
ing and memorable chapters in Amer
ican history, and it is especially appro-
pirate that his new recital of it should
| appear at time when the country is
about to celebrate the centennial ami
fersary of the Louisiana purchase.
President Jefferson sent out this expe~
| dition as soon as possible after the
purchase became certainty Lewis
| and Clark started from St. Louis in
May, 1904. and after they were fairly
CT their long journey they were not
heard of again for two years and four
| months. when they suddenly reap
peared from the wilderness in Septem-
Der. 1906, having traversed the contin-
cnt to the mouth of the Columbia river
and returned. 1T is curious to note
that they constantly referred to the
United States as distant country
curing their travels. though that vast
virgin wilderness was even then a part
IT the nations territory.
What healthy boy would not give
all his earthly possessions for the
privilege of making such a journey as
that of Captains Lewis and Clark and
their twenty-six men? Their life in
the wilderness began practically from
the time when they left the village of
st. Louis. Near the present site of
Omaha they summoned a council of
the Indian chiefs of that region, thus
creating the name of that thriving
nodern city of Council Bluffs. Their
plan was to follow the Missouri river
tc its source in the Stony Noun
tains, to cross the great divide and
descend the Columbia to tide water.
This project was carried out to the let
ter, though with endless adventures.
hardships, dangers and triumphs over
unexpected obstacles.
Winter overlook the voyagers in the
land Of the Mandan Indians, and their
winter camp was in what is now Nc
Lean county. North Dakota. These
Indians, and indeed almost every tribe
which the expedition came in contact
proved to be hospitable. honorable and
NJ lpful. The next spring the trav-
elers plunged into a region never be-
fore trodden by white men.
The reaches of the upper Missouri
were alive with game Vast herds of
buffaloes, elks, deer and antelope were
almost always III sight The waters
swarmed with geese, ducks and swans.
There were nights when myriads of
water fowl kept the tired men awake
with their cackling. The white
bear" which we now call the grizzly,
was scarcely less in evidence, and it's
aggressive ferocity was constant
surprise and peril to the hunters. In
some places the porcupines and other
animals were SO tame that they paid
nr attention to the presence of men,
but the grizzlies often rushed fercely
at the intruders without provocation.
The journal abounds in stories of mar
row escapes of this kind. The dis
covery of the great falls of the Mis-
souri, by Captain Lewis was accompan-
led by narrow escape from bear
that rushed at him with open mouth
when he had no charge in his gun, and
few moments later three buffalo bulls
charged him in like manner
After reaching the great divide the
game became extremely scarce. The
whole expedition was forced to live
for months on the flesh of dogs or on