University of Virginia Library

[Clark, first draft:]

November 12th. Tuesday 1805.

a tremendious thunder storm abt. 3 oClock this morning
accompanied by wind from the S W. and Hail, this Storm of
hard clap's of thunder Light[n]ing and hail untill about
6 oClock at intervales It then became light for a short time
when the heavens became darkened by a black cloud from the
S. W. & a hard rain suckceeded which lasted untill 12 oClock
with a hard wind which raised the seas tremendiously high
braking with great force and fury against the rocks & trees on
which we lie, as our situation became seriously dangerous, we
took the advantage of a low tide & moved our camp around
a point a short distance to a small wet bottom at the mouth of
a small creek, which we had not observed when we first came
to this cove, from its being very thick and obscured by drift
trees & thick bushes, send out men to hunt they found the
woods so thick with Pine & decay [ed] timber and under groth
that they could not get through, saw some Elk tracks,
I walked up this Creek & killed 2 salmon trout, the men
killd. 13 of the Salmon species, The Pine of fur [fir] speces, or
spruce Pine grow here to an emence size & hight maney of
them 6 & 7 feet through and upwards of 200 feet high. It
would be distressing to a feeling person to see our situation at
this time all wet and cold with our bedding &c. also wet, in
a cove scercely large [e]nough to contains us, our Baggage in

a small holler about ½ a mile from us, and canoes at the mercey
of the waves & drift wood, we have secured them as well as
it is possible by sinking and wateing them down with stones to
prevent the emence [waves] dashing them to pices against the
rocks. one got loose last night & was left on a rock by the
tide some distance below, without receving much damage. fortunately
for us our men are helthy. It was clear at 12 for
a short time. I observed the mountains on the opposit side
was covered with snow. our party has been wet for 8 days
and is truly disagreeable, their robes & leather clothes are rotten
from being continually wet, and they are not in a situation
to get others, and we are not in a situation to restore them.
I observe great numbers of sea guls, flying in every derection.
Three men Gibson Bratten & Willard attempted to decend in
a canoe built in the Indian fashion and abt. the size of the one
the Indians visited us in yesterday, they could not proceed, as
the waves tossed them about at will, they returned after proceeding
about 1 mile we got our selves tolerable comfortable
by drying our selves & bedding. Cought 3 salmon tds. evining
in a small branch above about 1 mile

November 12th.. Tuesday 1805

A Tremendious wind from the S. W. about 3 oClock this
morning with Lightineng and hard claps of Thunder, and
Hail which Continued untill 6 oClock a. m. when it became
light for a Short time, then the heavens became sudenly
darkened by a black cloud from, the S. W. and rained with
great violence untiil 12 oClock, the waves tremendious brakeing
with great fury against the rocks and trees on which we
were encamped. our Situation is dangerous. we took the advantage
of a low tide and moved our camp around a point to a
Small wet bottom, at the Mouth of a Brook, which we had not
observed when we came to this cove; from its being verry
thick and obscured by drift trees and thick bushes. It would
be distressing to See our Situation, all wet and colde our
bedding also wet, (and the robes of the party which compose
half the bedding is rotten and we are not in a Situation to

supply their places) in a wet bottom scercely large enough to
contain us our baggage half a mile from us, and Canoes at the
mercy of the waves, altho Secured as well as possible, Sunk
with emence parcels of Stone to wate them down to prevent
their dashing to pecies against the rocks; one got loose last
night and was left on a rock a Short distance below, without
rec[ei]ving more damage than a Split in her bottom. Fortunately
for us our men are healthy. 3 men Gibson Bratten &
Willard attempted to go arou[n]d the point below in our
Indian Canoe, much Such a canoe as the Indians visited us
in yesterday, they proceeded to the point from which they
were oblige[d] to return, the waves tossing them about at will.
I walked up the branch and giged 3 Salmon trout. the party
killed 13 Salmon to day in the branch about 2 miles above.
rain continued