His Proposition Was That His Party Should Proceed
Up The River As Rapidly As Possible In Advance Of The Main Party.
On The Second Day Out, Says The Journal:
-
"Captain Lewis left the bank of the river in order to avoid the steep ravines,
which generally run from the shore to the distance of one or two miles
in the plain. Having reached the open country he went for twelve
miles in a course a little to the W. of S.W.; when, the sun becoming
warm by nine o'clock, he returned to the river in quest of water,
and to kill something for breakfast; there being no water in the plain,
and the buffalo, discovering them before they came within gunshot,
took to flight. They reached the banks in a handsome open low ground
with cottonwood, after three miles' walk. Here they saw two large
brown bears, and killed them both at the first fire - a circumstance
which has never before occurred since we have seen that animal.
Having made a meal of a part, and hung the remainder on a tree,
with a note for Captain Clark, they again ascended the bluffs into
the open plains. Here they saw great numbers of the burrowing-squirrel,
also some wolves, antelopes, mule-deer, and vast herds of buffalo.
They soon crossed a ridge considerably higher than the surrounding plains,
and from its top had a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains, which are
now completely covered with snow. Their general course is from S.E. to
N. of N.W., and they seem to consist of several ranges which successively
rise above each other, till the most distant mingles with the clouds.
After travelling twelve miles they again met the river, where there
was a handsome plain of cottonwood."
Again leaving the river, Captain Lewis bore off more to the north,
the stream here bearing considerably to the south, with difficult
bluffs along its course. But fearful of passing the Great Falls
before reaching the Rocky Mountains, he again changed his course and,
leaving the bluffs to his right he turned towards the river.
The journal gives this description of what followed: -
"In this direction Captain Lewis had gone about two miles, when his
ears were saluted with the agreeable sound of a fall of water, and as
he advanced a spray, which seemed driven by the high southwest wind,
arose above the plain like a column of smoke, and vanished in an instant.
Toward this point he directed his steps; the noise increased as he approached,
and soon became too tremendous to be mistaken for anything but the Great Falls
of the Missouri. Having travelled seven miles after first hearing the sound,
he reached the falls about twelve o'clock. The hills as he approached
were difficult of access and two hundred feet high. Down these he hurried
with impatience; and, seating himself on some rocks under the centre
of the falls, enjoyed the sublime spectacle of this stupendous object,
which since the creation had been lavishing its magnificence upon the desert,
unknown to civilization.
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