East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-03-08
LEWIS AND CLARK
CAMP LOCATED
RELICS OF WINTER QUAR-
TIERS ON CLEARWATER.
Charles Adams, Nez Perce Indian,
Discovers Partly Finished Canoes
and Felled Trees Where the Ex-
plOrers Camped--An ADJ Given to
an Indian Is Still I'm Existence on
the Clearwater.

| pis aI"uttEs
| Discoveries made Sunday by Frank
e. Parkyn, of this city, assisted by
Charles Adams, Nez Perce Indian,
of Ahsahka. point'almost conclusIvely
to the spot occupied by Lewis and
Clark on their memorable journey
down the Clearwater river 101 years
ago, says the Lewiston Tribune.
The subject of the Lewis and Clark
stumps, which were known to exist
in the vicinity of Ahsahka, has been
many times before the public, but no
one was ever able to locate the place.
Mr.. Parkyn yesterday brought to the
city several pieces of wood from an
old dugout canoe found at Ahsahka,
and states that there is ample evil
dence that the explorers made the
| spot across the river from that town
their winter quarters and that they
felled trees and followed them out to
make canoes. Charles Adams in
| formed Mr.. Parkyn that several years
ago there were remains of dugouts
where the members of the party lived,
but these were later plowed up.
One tree about SO rods from the
river was cut down and parts of 1t
still remain, though badly decayed.
The first section of tree was felled
about 20 feet in length is missing
and was presumably used by the party
to make a canoe to transport a part
OF their equipment down the river.
The next section, also about 20 feet
in. length, is shaped like a canoe and
the stern is shaped into a seat. The
section was followed out about half
the length when the work was dis
| continued for some reason known
only to the builders.
The third section was faced up with
an ADJ, preparatory to digging out
the Interior but beyond that had not
been touched. The stumps of two
trees are about 100 yards distant
from the camp before they were cut
down several years ago. Adams said
he had dug leaden slugs out of the
trees, upon which the explorers had
spent the winter in practice. Lead
can still be found in the stumps,
Adams told Mr.. Parkyn that his
grandmother had many times taken
him to the spot where the white men
had camped, and told him the story.
He said his grandfather told him that
| upon the appearance of the explorers
the Indians ran and hid in the brush
and would not come out for a long
| time. The friendly attitude of Lewis
and Clark, however, prevailed upon
them and they soon had a conference
at which presents were given the In
dians. Adams said that the story
that the explorers were guided to the
Nez Perce county is untrue, for the
Bannocks and the Nez Perce fought
on sight and had there been any of
their enemies with the party they
would have been killed.
| Adams declares that his grandfath-
er contracted to take care of the
horses and packsaddles of the party
when they departed for the coast in
boats the next spring and that upon
were found in excellent condition by
Lewis and Clark. In return for the
services the captains gave the old
Indian a small ak and an adj. The
AK has since been lost, but Adams de-
clares that he can produce the adj,
which is in the family of another In
dian.
Another thing to substantiate the
fact that the camp of the explorers
has been definitely located was the
finding several years ago by Ed Bre-
mer of an old cap and ball pistol
undoubtedly the property of one Of
the members of the party. Mr.. Bre-
mer's farm is near the site of the old
camp.
1t was especially desired by Idaho
people that the stumps be exhibited
at the Lewis and Clark exposition
and although Adams then knew the
exact spot where they could be found
he would not divulge it because the
parties who had the matter in charge
were not his friends. Mr.. Parkyn
and Mr.. Adams will make an effort to
have the relics preserved and they
may be exhibited at some of the fairs
this fall. The old tree and the half
, finished canoe are greatly decayed
but 1t is thought by building a frame
around them they might be trans
, ported.