Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-27

Clark, unite to form the Missouri Here it was
that Sacajaw had been captured by the Min
netareeS and here, too, was the hunting ground
not only of the ShoShones but also of the Crows,
the Flatheads and the savage Blackfeet Which
tribe would be the first to see them, and what
would be its attitude? These were tremendous
questions, heavy with life and DEATH for every
thing depended upon Indian friendship. Canoes
were no longer to be called upon; they must
have horses for the conquest of the mountains
that rose before them; more than that, they
stood in need of guides and food.
Lewis, taking command of a vanguard, swung
wide and wider circles in desperate search of
Indians. f1ercely eager to put an end to sus-
penSe, but it was not until August 49, far up
the Jefferson, that he came face to face with
a hunting party. With the expeditions usual
amazing luck, it was ShoShones that he met up
with, not Blackfeet. Even so, the Indians were
suspicious rather than friendly, and not until
Clark arrived with the rest of the party did
Lewis know whether it was to be peace or war.
Sacajawea ended uncertainty, for Cameahwait
the Shoshone chief, proved to be her brother,
and she soon inspired him with her own devo-
ton to the white men.
1t was this one turn of fortune that decided
the fate OF the Lewis and Clark adventure The
ShoshoneS gave them food and horses, without
which the starving, footSore men would have
had to confess defeat-and that would not have
been forthcoming but for the Bird Woman. And
as the expedition reached the Bitter Root Valley
staggering with exhauStion-it was Sacaia-
wea that gained the friendship of the Flat
heads. More horses were secured from these
Indians and on September IL the two captains
were face to face with the stark menace of the
Bitter Root Range.
MOT in all the annals Of human fortitude is
there more inspiring record than this
zfasvA
beat upon Them and the cold froze to the mar
row. now they crawled sheer cliff sides sinking
their bleeding fingers into crevices, and now
they Climbed savage peaks where a false step
meant death; they ate half-cooked horse meat;
dysentery weakened Them there were times
when they gave themselves up as lost and when
they came at last to the plains it was with
the sobbing relief of men who wake from some
CHASTITY nightmare
Nez Perces were camped in the pleasant
KamaS prairie, and Soft-voiced Sacajawea con-
vinced them that the white men came as
friends. AS though they were blood brothers.
the Indians fed and nurSed the emaciated
Americans and guided them to the Clearwater
That offered plain way to the Pacific. Rude
canoes were fashioned, and on october the
pathfnders began the last leg of their long
journey. They were soon to find that all was
not the easy sailing that had been imagined,
1or frequent portageS took heavy toll of
strength. and the utter absence of game forced
Ci1em 10 I'VE on dogs that they bought from
Indian tribes along the shore
From the falls to the Dalles the Columbia
boils through a vast lava bed, frowning pail
sades narrowing the river and great fragments
blocking and tormenting the channel. long,
hard portage past the falls but cliffs
made this impossible at the Dalles and with
deSpairing bravery the captains gave their
canoes to the rapids, Notwithstanding the
horrid appearance of this agitated gut swell
ing, boiling and whrling in every direction"
The Indians, gathering to watch what seemed
madness. gave a shout as the last boat reached
smooth water in safety, greeting it as q sign