Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-01-21
FROM DIARY Of
LEWIS & CLARK
Continued from Sixth Page).

AabSlH
and troublesome than those we pass
ed yesterday. The water is very rap.
i'd round these points, and we are
sometimes Obliged to steer the ca
noes between the points Of sharp
rocks rising a few inches above the
surface of the water. and so zeal to
each other that, If our ropes give way,
the force of the current drives the
sides of the canoes against them and
must inevitably upset them or dash
them to pieces. These cords are
very slender, being almost all made
of elk skin, and much worn and rot.
ted by exposure to the weather.
Several times they have given way,
but fortunately, always places where
there was room for the canoes to
turn without striking the rock, yet,
with all our precautions, 1t was with
infinite risk and labor that we passed
these points. An Indian pole for
building foated down the river, and
was worn at one end as if dragged
along the ground in travelling,
al other articles were also brought
down by the current, which indicate
that the Indians are probaly at no
great distance from us; and judging
from a foot bell, which resembles
those used by the Mlnnetasees lear
the Manders, we conjecture that they
must be a band of . ) --.Lnetasees
Of Fort de Prairie. The appearance
of the river and surrounding country
continued as usual, till, towards
ing at about Is miles, we reached a
large creek on the north. 80 yards
wide, discharging some water, and
which We named after one of our men
Thompson's creek.
Here the country assumed a total
ly different aspect; the hills retire
on both sides of the river, which
spreads to more than three times its
former size, and Is filled with a num-
Der of small, handsome islands COW
cred with cottonwood. The low
grounds on it's banks are again wide,
fertile and enriched with trees, those
on the north are particularly wide,
the hills being comparatively low and
and opening into three large valleys,
which extend themselves for a con-
siderable distance toward the north.
These appearances of vegetation are
delightful after the dreary hills
among which we have passed, and
we now have to congratulate our
selves at having escaped from the
last ridges of the Black mountains.
On leaving ~Thompson's Creek we
passed two small islands and at 20
miles distance encamped among some
timber on the north, opposite to a
small creek, which We named Bull
Creek. The big horn are In great
quantities and must bring forth their
young at a very early season, as they
are now half grown. One of the par
ty saw a large bear also but, being
at a distance from the river and hav-
ing no timber to conceal him, he
could not venture to fire.
May29.-Last night We were al
armed by a new enemy. A buffalo
swan over from the opposite side,
and to the spot where lay u four
canoes, over which he clambered to
the shore; then, taking fright, he ran
full speed up the bank towards u
fires, and passing within Is inches Of
the heads of some Of our men before
the sentinel could make him change
his course. Still more alarmed. he
ran down between four fires, and
within a few inches of the heads Of
a second row of men, and would have
broken into our lodge II the barking
of the dog had not stopped him. He
suddenly turned to the right and was
out of sight in a moment, leaving us
all in confusion. everyone selling his
GAL THREE LEWIS AND CLARK.
rife and inquiring the cause of the
alarm. On hearing what had hap
pened we had to rejoice at suffering
no more injury than some damage to
the guns that were in the canoe when
the buffalo crossed.
We passed an island and two sand
bars, and at the distance of two and
one-half miles came to a handsome
river which discharges itself on the
south, and which we assembled to a
distance of a mile and a half; we
called 1t the Judith's river. 1t rises
in the Rocky mountains in about the
same place with the Musselshell and
near the Yellowstone river. Its en-
trance is 100 yards wide from n
bank to the other, the water occu.
plying about rs yards, and being in
greater quantity than that of the
Musselshell river. There were great
numbers Of the argalec. or big horned
animals in the high country through
which 1t passes. and OF beaver in its
waters. Just above the entrance OF
1t we saw the ashes OF the fires of