N3832

Lewis & Clark Expedition - Bicentennial

Fred's Anecdotal Note

The Columbia River

On October 6, 1805, the Corps began the final push westward in the dugout canoes. Elk, deer and plentiful salmon renewed their strength. Vast stretches of white water rapids greeted the explorers. Clark wrote of a "verry bad place with a long bad rapid in which the water is confined in a channel of about 20 yards between rugid rocks for the distance of a mile." Skimming down the Columbia in the cachet are privates Peter Weiser (PA), a cook and hunter; Alexander Willard (NH), a blacksmith, gunsmith, and excellent hunter; and John Potts (Germany), a miller and skilled boatman. Waterfalls had to be portaged around. Canoes had to be lowered by elk skin ropes down rapids too dangerous to run. In late October, Clark described the water as "swelling boiling, & whirling in every direction. A horrid appearance." Amazingly every canoe made it.

As they proceeded down the river, they encountered the Yakimas and Wallawallas. Lewis handed out peace medals with Jefferson's likeness on them and traded for food. Chief Yellept of the Wallawallas wanted the Corps to stay, but the captains pushed on. In April 1806 on their way home, the Corps visited with the chief. He presentid Clark with a "very elegant white horse" and in retum received the captain's sword. Lewis wrote 'I think we can justly affirm to the honor of these people that they are the most hospitable, honest, and sincere people that we have met in our vayage."

On Nov. 1st and 2nd the dugouts made it through the last of the dangerous white water, churning chutes, and small falls that Clark described as "water passing with great velocity forming & boiling in a most horrible manner." The men had challenged and conquered the Columbia, and now the Pacific Ocean was at hand.