New-York tribune., 1905-02-24
LEWIS AND CLARK.
THE Defmtiue Edition of Their
Famous Journals.

Original gogESALs OF THE tE%5s Tyy1sa rom 14SH
the ts original manuscripts in the Library q
the American Philosophical Society ana 3y c a
ments together with manuscript material inrd,ns o
note books. letters. maps. etc, and the jou[nall
OF Charles Floyd and Joseph WhtehouSe NOV
s s9r 1nten snf aTs' 'f Rdta WitS ntroducOn IN
and index by Ken5en COLO rre svo Vols
II. III, pp &civ. s74; X 1885, X S6S (Doao' Meao
OF the many books called forth by the CEN
fenary OF the Louisiana Purchase. by far the
most important is this first publication of the
.originaI journals of the Lewis and Clark expedi-
tion 1t is almost impossible to realize that
ninety-eight years could have elapsed before
the fruits of President Jeffersons pet enterprise
were given TO the public; and the reasons. as
stated IN the introduction to the first volume.
while an accurate review OF the facts. seem
fetrangely inadequate to account for the delay:
The chief difficulty seems TO have been that the
results OF the exploration were at once seen TO
be so momentous thats its two heroes were
almost Immediately appointed to offices OF the
sweghtiest responsibility in relation to the gov
ernnent Of the newly acquired territory which
only they and their devoted band had pene-
trated.
Lewis was made Governor of Louisiana Clark
ATS Superintendent Of Indian Affairs and brlga-
oier general of militia Their new duties AFFORDED
them little leisure for literary labors. and the
death Of Lewis. in 1909, removed the one member
of the party qualified TO prepare the account OF
the trip for publication. While Clark was
conscientious recorder of his experiences, and
his journals comprise, indeed the larger part Of
the published material. it must be quite obvious
20 the most casual reader that the putting Of
his entries into literary form would have been
entirely beyond his power. OF course, we recog-
nize to-day that the putting Of the records OF
the expedition into literary form was one OF the
least desirable ends to be accomplished and
the chief interest OF the present publication lies
IN the fact that through the scrupulously pains
taking editing Of Dr. Thwaites. we are at last
1ble TO follow the progress Of the explorers from
dav 10 day. and to note their impressions as
they were freshly received the spot
The value Of source publications was not
recognized in those early days Of the Republic
however and besides, President Jefferson was
animated by a laudable desire TO have the lead
ers Of the expedition reap some financial reward
from their arduous labors through the sale OF
q popular though authoritative account of their
Journey The scientific data gathered on the trip
iTvere 10 be made the subject Of another and
more technical publication.
Jefferson had taken every possible precaution
90 secure an accurate and complete record of
the exploration. The two leaders were instruct
ed not only TO keep each detailed account Of
his observations. but also TO supplement his own
journal with transcript from that of his asso-
ciate In addition, each Of the four sergeants
1vas TO keep a diary, and even the privates were
encouraged 10 follow their example. It is be-
aieved that three of them did That Jeffer-
son allowed not too large margin of safety is
obvious from the fact that the only
plete record Of the adventure now available
ds the one written by Clark. Four hundred
and forty-one days missing from what has
been found OF Lewis's journals. Sergeant
Floyd's journal is extant and complete to the
time of his death. August IS. 1904; and that
kept by Private Joseph Whitehouse but cover
sng only the dates May Il, 1904 November 6.
1865. has lately come 10 light The notes made
by Sergeant Patrick Gass, and afterward ex-
panded into narrative form by David McKeehan
an Irish schoolInaster. and published here and
in England and, IN a French translation. in
Paris, are not known TO exist in their original
form.
II is supposed that the rest Of Lewis's journals
syere in his possession when he died October IL
1909, while travelling through Tennessee on his
way to Washington. and were lost or destroyed
at the time. For many years it was believed
that Lewis committed suicide owing to GER
tain criticisms of his administration, but later
research, conducted by Oln D. Wheeler author
of The Trail of Lewis and Clark" tends to dis
credit this theory and TO establish at least a
strong probability that he was killed Dr
9Ihwaites prefers to accept this explanation Of
a1eWiss death and the loss Of much of his rec
Ord What has become of the journals of the
other members known or believed to have
written them is and is likely to remain. shro,d-
ed in mystery
On Lewiss death Jefferson impressed rnon
Clark the obligation he was under to pranara .,,o
story of the exploration for the nrese CO...
nhereupon, in March. 1910 secured the se-,,,oaa
of Nicholas Biddle Of Philadelphia. for +bis nv
pose furnishing him all the material in bic o,,-,
hahds and purchasing in addition the io,r,oi
kept by Sergeant Ordway. He also sent 70 rtd
foie 10 assist MIN in his work George Shannon
one OF the most intelligent Of the privates OF the
Pi'io4, VINO atterward became a circuit
sudge IN Kentucky and a State Senator go
0,li'eu olates District Attorney in Missouri
Bidole spent over two years in trapvot,,
SINS material INTO narrative FORM and the res,1,
was eventually published by the firm ne D.
ford & Inskeep IN February. 1914 R,dd1a
the mean time having been eIecte5 - -4
lature' turned over the actual labor y, rro-af,-
his manuscript for publication TO PAM h,Io-
Phiiadelphia journalist The worl, ,rss - u,-,,s,'
paIaPhrase or the original journals arpltead
anu explained by the oral statements NJ c-,o,,
Ahd shannon 1t was. however. greatly oor
Nehseo' ana much OF the important soi.,.,a-
PHauoer OF the Lewis and Clark noteboo,,. -
DHlIlteo' IN accordance with the plan. never oor
a1eu OUT Tor its separate publication under +ho
euluorship or DR.. Benjamin Smith Barton rrb,,
"''e 'ie DIdoie narrative gives popular and
.D49S-4S DISKS AND OFFICE FURNITURE