The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1903-12-12
ssAoAs4wzAs GREAT rErESDsHrr
Friendly Indian woman Leads Lewis
Clark Party.

Pocahontas is not the only Indian
woman who merits recognition,
according to the Louisville Courier
Journal. Thoss who have read the
thrilling story OF Lewis and C1ark's
expedition to the Pacific In 1s04-06
can not but have been struck with
the wonderful service rendered the
party OF exploration by the young
Indian wife of Chabonnsan, the half
breed interpreter. II was not. a.
that of Pocahontas, single act I'M
attended with personal danger and
hardship and heightened in interest
by the beauty of the heroine, but the
exhibition of fortitude and fidelity
extending for more than a year,
under circumstances unparalleled In
history.
In the spring of 1904 Lewis and
Clark started up the Missouri river
with a small body of men in light
boats propelled by oars and sails, and
proceeded as far as the Mandan
nation, about 1900 miles, where they
went into winter quarters on friendly
terms with the Indians. Here they
met several Indian traders from the
Hudson's Bay company in the far
north and hardy adyentnrers, among
whom was Toussaint Chabonneau, a
French halfbreed, who had been
higher up the river and whom they
engaged as an interpreter. His wife,
Sacajawea. belonged to an Indian
tribe of Shoshones, or Snake Indians,
who lived on the western slope of the
Rocky mountains She had been
captured when a child by the Mime
tarees, from whom Chabonneau had
purchased her, and at Is had become
his wife.
When IN the following spring she
and her husband strated up the river
vita the expedition she had boy
baby bat two months old. The leaders
Of the expedition feared she would be
an incumbrance, but took her along,
hoping that she might be Of service
when they reached the mountains
from which she came. From the
start, however, the Bird Woman as
she was called. demonstrated that she
was an invaluable acquisition. With
her papooss strapped on her back she
labOred with the men with paddle
and tow rope, cheered the company
with her vivacity, and in many ways
rendered valuable assistance. Once
when a canoe containing the most
valuable effects Of the captain Of the
expedition, their journals, scientific
instruments and medicines, was filled
with water in midstream Chabonneau
abandoned 1t in cowardly alarm, bat
the Bird Woman saved not only her
self and baby bat rescued the valuable
cargo and landed 1t safely on shore.
After four months - hard labor uI
stream for 1900 miles, the expedition
reached the sheadWateFs OF tbs
Missouri and the leaders were filled
with apprehension at the difficulties
which confronted them in the un
known land which lay between then
and the Pacific. II was then thai
the Bird Woman proved their pro
tector and deliverer She recognized
with girlish gles scenes familiar ir
her childhood and the spot where shd
had been captured by the Mime
tarees. Soon Indians made theii
appearance, creating alarm, bal
Sacajawea fearlessly went forward Il
meet them and found they were hei
own tribe and that its chief WIS hel
brother. There ensued the mos
friendly relations between the mem
bers of the expedition and th'
Indians, who furnished them horses
and enabled them to make their VA
over the mountains and to the moutl
Of Lewis river, whence, befor'
winter, after many thrilling adven
lures, they descended the Columbia In
canoes and safely reached thu
Pacific. The Indians everywhere
through the influence Of the Birc
Woman, who proved a mascot to tn,
expedition, received them with ever
demonstration OF friendship.
After spending the winter Of $685.
on the Pacific coast nsar the moatl
Of the Columbia, Lewis and Clsrl
began their long homsward journey
over the same route by which they hAG
gone, and, as before, the Bird Woman
vas the same good angel. At on'
critical juncture, when struggling
through heavy snow in the mount
aims Of the western slope of thu
Rockies, they lost their way and deatl
stared them In the face, and the]
we're only saved by the intelligence
Of SacajaWea, who pilotSd then
safely into the lost trail through be
instructive knowledge Of woodcraft
After many critical adventures, IL
which she rendered similar 'ervice
the party Of 80 arrived safely In st
Louis after q six months journs,
A