The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1905-06-16


When Thomas Jefferson was elected
president, this country included only
the territory east of the Mississippi
river. During the second year Of his
term, France was preparing for war
with England and we knew that, in case
of war, an English feet would be sent
to the Gulf to take possession of Louis
iana. Napoleon Bonaparte determined
that it should not fall into the hands
of the English.
While the United STATES commission
ers were considering the purchase of
New Orleans. Napoleon came forward
with proposition to sell not only
what they wanted but all Louisiana
He asked $2o,00O,0O0 for the whole
country. 1t was agreed that France
should make over to the United States
all the territory which she had lately
received from Spain for the sum OF
Sl5,000,0O0. Napoleon was delighted
with the sale. The United States took
possession December 90 1903. The peo-
pie of this country did not really know
how much the Lo lisiana purchase in
cluded.
To find out the resources of this un-
known country, Jefferson planned an
expedition. He chose Meriwether
Lewis, his private secretary, as leader
Of the exploring party which the gov
ernment was about to send to the ''Far
West" II could have no hesitation in
confiding the enterprise to him." said
the president, "because he was man
of firmness and courage, because he
was liberal, honest, exact, and truth
full jefferson appointed as assistant
leader, William Clark, who was then
living at Louisville, Kentucky. Both
of these men were born near Charlots-
vile, Virginia. 1t was at Captain Lew
is invitation that Clark consented to
join the expedition. Late in the fall
of 1903, these two men met at Lewis
vile and journeyed to ST. Louis, select
ing the men Of their little company on
the way.
In those days news travelled very
slowly, and the people Of St. Louis had
not heard of the sale of the country to
the United States. AS winter was set
ting in, the two captains with their
party camped on the east side of the
Mississippi river and waited until
spring The winter was spent in drill
ing the men and making ready for the
start. They we're Obliged to wait until
the ice melted in the river.
On Monday, May IA, 1904, at O'Clock
they made their start. Their vessel
was queer craft, so feet long, pro
PEELED by % oars. They ascended the
Missouri river to Fort Mandan, point
about so miles above Bismarck, N. D.,
remaining there during the winter Of
lSO4-5, among the Mandan and Gros-
ventre Indians. They then followed the
Missouri river and its western prolong
alton, the Jefferson river, to what they
naturally enough but uncertainty con
sldered its source, crossed the Rock
les to the head waters of the Salmon in
Idaho, recrossed the range iuto the
Bitter Root valley, Montana, followed
the valley nearly to Aissoula, again
crossed the Bitter Root range to the
west by the Lolo, or Travellers Rest
name of creek aud pass, reached the
Kooskooskia or Clearwater river near
rho fln ,f fc y
cended- that stream, the Snake, and
thence into the large river which Cap
tain Gray had named Columbia, after
his ship, in 1872. They spent the win
ter of 1906 at Fort Clatsop, near AS
toria. During this winter they ex-
plored the country and made an ac-
COUNT of all they saw, making pictures
of the various animals and birds. AT
this time the western part of Oregon
was covered with large timber, which
was used to make their huts and Ca
noes. 1t was necessary for them to
make vessels while near good timber,
for in the eastern part of Idaho and
surrounding country timber could not
be found.
On their march to the ocean they
we're oftentimes in want of a guide.
For awhile squaw with her child
Joined the expedition aud she was of
great worth to the captains, guiding
them through the country with which
she was perfectly familiar, and acting
as interpreter between the white men
and the Indians. Her name was SAGA
jawea. If you visit the Lewis and