Laurel outlook., 1945-08-29
Observation-Disclosures
LEWIS AND
CLARK
The Great American Odyssey
A Condensed Story of
the Historic Expedi-
ton of 1S04-6.
Copyright 1945, Walter Meacham)
Copyright 1945, Walter Meacham)
CHAPTER ID
Farewell to Fort ClatsOp


On March %, 1906, Lewis and
Clark left Fort Clatsop. A letter,
giving a brief account of the ex-
pedition with the names of the
party, was posted on a wall in the
fort in the hope that it would fall
into the hands of some sea captain
or trader and be delivered to the
proper authorities in the United
States. Strangely enough, this let
ter was secured by Captain Hill, a
rowing sea trader and, few months
later was delivered in the United
States. AS a reward for his friend
ly services, Chief Comonwool was
given the fort and it's furniture.
Certificates of good character were
given Comonwool and the Chinook
chief, Delashelwilt.
With a hearty "klahowa tilicums,"
the Indians waved farewell to their
white friends as the latter pushed
out into the Columbia and turned
the prows of their canoes upstream.
They passed the site of future Van
couver and camped at the mouth of
the Seal (WashougaD river. There
they were told about a large river |
flowing into the Columbia, which |
they had not seen on account of |
the islands which hid its mouth. On |
April Captain Clark, with an In
dian guide and six of his men, set
out to explore the river. They
ascended it to the site of the pres
ent Portland and named it Multno
NAH, for a tribe of Indians living
along it's banks. Clark rewarded
his guide with a present of SUM-
glass. The river which Clark
named Multnomah is the Villa
mette of today.
While ascending the river, Cap
tain Clark sighted a snow-capped
peak and named it Mt. jefferson, in
honor of the President. By April
Is the party was again at Rock
Fort on Quenett (MilD creek. In
order to avoid the long, hard port
age past the rapids of the Colum-
bia, Lewis and Clark decided to
cross to the north side of the river
and proceed by land.
Considerable time was consumed
in securing enough horses, but at
last they were mounted and on their
way. They did not dispose of the
last of their canoes until past the
mouth of the Towahnahiooks (Des-
chutes) river. Thievish Indians
made constant vigilance and stern
measures necessary to protect the
property. The mouth Of
the Youmalalom (Umatilla) river
was viewed from across the COlum-
oia on April 27.
The following day the Sokulka
(Walla Wallas) and Chimnapuns
lYakimas) visited the party and
oow-wow was held. Around TIE
,ampfires that night a vaudeville
show was staged, both Indians and
Whites exhibiting their best thea
rical talent. There was no lack of I
,ncores, and no curfew was in force
o curtail the festivities.
Crossing of the Columbia was :
made on April % to the mouth of :
he Wala Walla river. The In
ian chiefs told the captains that !!
hey could save many miles of trav
| by taking a shortcut across coun- =
ry to the Snake. So Lewis and =
lark turned their backs on the =
nightly Columbia. :
The Indian trail led up the Walla :,
valIa to the Touchet, thence up =
hat stream past the present Touch -
t, Prescott, Waitsburg and Dayton.
iding northwest, they reached the
ucannon, thence up it two miles
} present Marengo, across the d- o.
ide into Pataha valley and on to q,
ataha creek. Up that stream they IN
ode past the present Pomeroy, s.
amping on Pataha creek the night =
f May 3. The trail led across u
lpowa ridge and on to Alpowa ~
eek, which was followed to its q
motion with Snake river. IL
They followed up the Snake, Is
ong the south side, for three 81
lies, then crossed to the north side u, ~
! May T. The route continued az az
asst the forks of the Clearwater VI VI
I'd Snake and along the north ~ ~
INK of the former, reaching Colt q
s creek (Potlatch river) on May a.
when they camped. ns -,
(To be continued) 80