The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-08-05
TABLET commemorating the dis

TABLET commemorating the dis
n cOvery of the Gates of the Noun
~ tains by Lewis and Clark in 1905
was unveiled and dedicated in
Meriwether canyon a rev days ago by
the Orc III chapter Of Daughters OF the
American Revolution. More than 200
were present, including Governor Erick-
son., Chief Justice l.. L. Galloway, Con-
gresham Scott Leavitt, Mrs. NJ. A.. Bran
non, regent of Orc Fin chapter, D. A.
r.; David Hilger, state historian, and Mrs.
c. A. Rasmussen, state regent, D. A. R.
Mrs. Brannon in a short speech
thanked those who had aided in estab-
fishing the tablet. David Hilger respond
ed. Acceptance for the federal govern
ment was by A. H. Abbott, supervisor Of
the Helena national forest.
Mrs. c.. A. Rasmussen made a dedica-
tory address after the unwilling of the
marker by little Filby Barker, daughter
OF Mr.. and Mrs. ]. 7. Barker, and Bobby
Smith, son Of DR.. and Mrs. r.. P. Smith
of Fort Harrison Acceptance on the part
of the state was by Governor Erickson.
The marker reads:
I'm commemoration of the intrepid
explorers, comprising the Lewis and
Clark expedition, who discovered this
canyon and encamped here, July 10,
1905, on their westward voyage Of
transcontinental exploration en- route
up the Missouri bound for the Pacific
northwest.
Dedicated by Orc Elmo chapter,
Daughters Of the American Revolution,
July 10, 1927"
Accepts for Society
In accepting the marker for the state
historical society, David Hilger said:
1T affords me great pleasure to accept
on behalf of the Historical Society of
Montana this splendid memorial COM
memorating the n hundred and twen-
ty-second anniversary of the Lewis and
Clark expedition which camped here Of
this cnOt on .T111U 10 1Q06 on their vynCt-
ward trip Of exploration to the Pacific
1T gives me special pleasure to be in
vited to accept this gift for all the people
Of Montana and to express my apprecia-
ton of the splendid work Of the Daugh-
tiers Of the American Revolution in hay
ing sponsored, planned and arranged this
permanent and beautiful memorial tt
commemorate the great work Of Captains
Lewis and Clark in the discovery anc
exploration Of what is now the state o.
Montana.
"Of the many camps made by explorer
in our state I know of none where TIT
exact location can be more definitely as
sured from their journals n maps o
that time han here where these exercise
are being held.
Expedition Was Wise
when President Jefferson sent his Sc
cret message to congress asking for
modest appropriation for h explor1n
Of the unknown western portions OF tn
country now within the boundaries o
the United States, that eminent states
man builded more wisely than he knew
Little did the command Of Lewis an
Clark dream that on the one hundre
and twenty-second anniversary Of tn
night they camped on this spot that a,
assemblage of this character would hol
exercises to commemorate their grea
work by dedicating this monument. T
repeat the entry in their journal, writ
ten beside the campfire by Captain Lewi
I must quote:
"'This evening we entered much tn
most remarkable cliffs that we have seel
These cliffs rise from the waters ede
on either side perpendicularly to tn
height of 1900 feet. Every object heI
wears a dark and gloomy aspect. Tn
towering and projecting rocks in man
places seem ready to tumble on us. II
river appears to have forced it's wa
through this immense body OF solid roc
for the distance Of ave and t~hree-quartes
miles and where it makes its exit belo
has thrown on either side vast column
Of rocks, mountains high. The river 81