Laurel outlook., 1945-10-03
Observation-Disclosures
LEWIS AND
CLARK
The Great American Odyssey
A Condensed Story of
the Historic Expedi-
ton of 1S04-6.
Copyright 1915, Walter Meacham)
Copyright 1915, Walter Meacham)
CHAPTER IS
Sacajawea Says Farewell

OdCdJdHtd Says TdItWcn
C~harbonneau, Sacajawea ano
Little Pomp also took their leave
of Lewis and Clark. 1t was with
real regret that the men bade them
farewell. They had provided the
only touch of domesticity the party
had known for over a year. The
little Indian woman had carried hel
papoose on her back over rugged
mountain trails, and had borne the
hardships and rigors of the jour-
ney with great patience and brav-
cry. She had given valuable services
on many occasions, neither asking
nor expecting any special reward
Captain Clark placed Little Pomp in
school in st. Louis and did the same
for the son and daughter of the
"Otter Woman" another of Char
bonneau's wives.
Sacajawea was forgotten for a
hundred years, when her name and
d e e were resurrected, statues
erected to her memory and peaks
and streams named for her. Senti-
ment is a mighty force. Without it
this would be a dreary world.
After a final smoking of the pipe
and many farewells, the Big White,
his wife and son, and the inter-
prefer and his family, embarked
with the white men on August IT
and the journey down the Big
Muddy (Missouri) was under way.
On the fourth day they met three
traders on their laborious way up
the river. Lewis and Clark visited
with the Ricaras and C~heyennes,
smoked the pipe with them and
war on the Mandans. By this time
Captain Lewis was able to walk.
The party camped on Islands and
sandbars as a protection against
Indians and mosquitoes, the latter
being dreaded the most. They hunted
as they travelled to supply their
scanty larder. A party of Teton
parley was refused, for they were
considered Enthusiastically. Later on
a band of Yanktons was met and
a short parley had with them. A
small medal was given the chief and
pieces of ribbon were tied in the
hair of several of the warriors.
On September a a visit was paid
to the grave of Sergeant Floyd. He
was their only casualty and they
regretted that he could not be with
them when they again entered st.
Louis. Two days later they met
a party of traders and procured
some supplies from them, including
jug of whisky, their first since
July d, 1905. The mouth of the
Platte was passed on Septem-
Der 9. Three days later they met
Gravelines and Mcclellan and Old
Man Dorion. Gravelines informed
them that the Ricara chief, who
had rome to Washington in 1905,
had died there and that they were
the Indians with a letter
from the president and with pres
ents for the chiefs relatives. The
party eagerly asked for news from
the States and were informed that
they were supposed to have been
est, as nothing had been heard of
hem since their departure.
Kansas river was reached on the
fifteenth, and they were 10Y on
he last lap toward home. After
i've days of travelling they saw
COWS grazing in the fields. 4;
This, their first sign of civilization
or over two years, caused the men
% give shouts for joy. A night was
spent at the village of LaCharette i
md another at st. Charles, where t
hey were greeted with warm hos I
On the twenty-second they {
at Coldwater creek, where I
here was located a cantonment of |
S. troops. Chief Big White was !
aiken to the store and fitted up I
n white mans garb as a prellm-
nary to his entrance into the
United States and his meeting with
he Great White Father.
A triumphal entry into st. Louis
vas made on September %.
alute was fired amid the cheers
# the men as they again set foot
N the beloved soil of the States.
their ~wanderings were over for the
ime, they could sleep without fear
f Indian attack or the onslaught
f wild beasts. They could indulge
the flesh-pots of civilization and
rake their own comparisons. They
we're welcomed as heroes, returned
S from the grave. The best that
he town afforded was theirs, wine,
yomen or song, according to their
wn desires. Lewis and Clark we're
ntertained by high officials with a
inner and ball.
They had travelled over 5000
niles, by boat, horseback and on