Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-25
Lewis and Clark


In the year 1909, Nebraska was sold by
Napoleon Bonaparte, emperor Of France,
to Thomas jefferson, president Of the
United states Il was sold as part OF
the great country between the Misss-
sippi river and the Rocky mountains. all
OF which was then called Louisiana and
owned by France. The price paid was
100000 which was about 3 cents an
acre.
As soon as the United States had
bought this country President jefferson
scnt Captain Meriwether Lewis and Cap
tain William Clark with forty-five other
men TO explore g. They were going to go
up tho Missouri river as far as they
could then cross the Rocky mountains
and reach the Pacific ocean. They were
to make maps. bring back reports OF the
land and make friends with the tribes
with which they came In contact. IL was
a wild land OF which white men knew
very little Indians and wild animals had
their homes there. No one knew the way
across the mountains TO the Pacific
Lewis and CLARK started from me
mouth Of the Missouri May II. 1904 They
had one large boat with sail and
twenty oars and two smaller boats with
oars only. They had powder. lead, tools
and trinkets 20 trade with the Indians.
| They had two horses for their hunters
to ride IN order TO help them carry the
game which they killed for the party.
The Lewis and Clark party made about
twenty miles n day up the Missouri river
| Part OF the time they used the sail and
part OF the time the oars, and great
part OF the time they pulled the boats
with long ropes which the men held while
they walked along the shore. II was two
months before they reached Nebraska.
at tho mouth OF the Nemaha river. not
far from the village OF Rulo, IN Richard
son county. Here they found Indians,
wild plums, cherries and grapes.
On July Is they we're at the mouth OF
the Little Nemaha river. and on July 20
they were at the mouth OF the Weeping
Water in Cass county. where they killed
a large yellow wolf. The next day they
reached the mouth Of the Platte river and
camped little way above II. They sent
out runners TO the village OF the Otoes
near the place where the Elkhorn flows
into the Platte.
After resting and repairing their boats
they went on past the site OF Omaha, and
on July 30 reached a high bluff near the
present town of Fort Calhoun in WASH
ington county. Here they camped. The
hunters brought In deer, wild turkeys
and geese. Catfish were caught in the
river and the men tanned a beaver. Here
on August 3 they held the first council
ever held by the United States with the
Nebraska Indians. Fourteen otoe and
Missouri Indians came TO the council.
The principal chiefs were Little Thief.
Big Horse and white Horse. They prom.
ised to keep peace with the United States
and were given medals and presents OF
paint, powder and cloth. They gave the
white men presents of watermelons. Tho
place where the council was held was
named Council Bluff and IL now a part
of the town of Fort Calhoun. A hundred
years after this large rock was placed
on the schol house grounds In memory
OF this first council held with the Indians
west OF tile Mississippi river.
On August II the party reached Black.
bird Hill In Thurston county. where Il
found the grave OF the great Omaha chief
who died Of smallpox about four years
before On August ls the party was a,
the mouth OF Omaha creek in Dakota
county. Here the men made net of will.
lows and with II pulled out over I,1Ol
fish from a beaver pond in the creek.
Sergeant Charles Floyd. member OF
the party. died on. August 20 and wal
buried on high bluff on the Iowa side
OF the river near Sioux City. This A
called Floyd's Bluff to this day. 1t Is 4
landmark which may be seen for many
miles across the Missouri valley In Ne.
braElSa.
On August Is they camped at Calumet
biun In Cedar county, where they held
great council with the Sioux Indians