Still Wild
Journal 2006 08 28
Still Wild
The Corps of Discovery traveled one hundred thirty seven miles closer to home these last three days. In the breadbasket of our nation their rations of meat are running thin. They find abundant evidence that the Sioux have been hunting buffalo ahead of them. The plains and river bottoms are pummeled with the hooves of thousands of bison. But only a few poor deer are brought in by the hunters. The men hear the buffalo “bellowing” in the night restoring their hope of a tasty meal.
“…as we were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order.” Captain Clark orders the men to full alert. For those who have been reading these postings for a while or are familiar with the Expedition, the first tense moments and closest conflict for the Corps was in this spot in September 1804 when the Teton Sioux attempted to intercept the men on their upstream course. All weapons on both sides were aimed at someone of the other party. Lewis and Clark were resolved not to be intimidated and the Sioux were standing their ground. Only the action of lowering arms by one Chief averted conflict. The Captains expected worse on the return trip. They also knew if they could negotiate this stretch of the river safely they were home free.
Yesterday, as Clark was away from camp with the men, Lewis did what most of us do when recovering from injury. “My friend Capt Lewis hurt himself very much be takeing a longer walk on the Sand bar in my absence at the buffalow than he had Strength to undergo, which Caused him to remain very unwell all night.” He pushed it and is back on his belly. Ouch!
“Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we derected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the 16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk, antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes.” Don’t know about you, but I think my stomach leads much of my travel habits. Spokane, it’s the Onion with its Whisky Jack’s Steak or Spinach Salad. Seattle waterfront, gotta be Ivar’s Fish Bar. Walla Walla, the great deli in the middle of town. Yakima, its Santana’s for just about anything on the menu. Fairbanks, mud pie at the restaurant on the river. In hometown Auburn it’s a Big Cubby basket with chocolate shake! Now I’m drooling on the keyboard even talking about it! I could list a whole lot more! I bet most of us could.
These young men were no different. They remember this abundant camp of meat and fruit and look forward to returning to more of the same. And they do.
Captain Clark, and I assume his friend Captain Lewis, find a piece of their mission incomplete. The antelope and mule deer of the Great Plains still elude them. Clark sends out his hunters again. Not for meat but for skins and skeletons of these two ghosts of the prairie. Antelope and mule deer hunting has not changed much in two hundred years. They are still elusive and difficult to get close to. Custom gun makers craft weapons and cartridges designed to consistently make three to four hundred yard shots just for antelope hunters.
Somethings are still wild. Like antelope. Like mule deer. Like elk. Wild requires more than a chase. It requires wisdom and cunning and skill and a little good fortune. Maybe, just maybe, it requires a blessing from God. Game left wild that we may be blessed. And that is a good thing for all of us.
Proceed on.
Still Wild
The Corps of Discovery traveled one hundred thirty seven miles closer to home these last three days. In the breadbasket of our nation their rations of meat are running thin. They find abundant evidence that the Sioux have been hunting buffalo ahead of them. The plains and river bottoms are pummeled with the hooves of thousands of bison. But only a few poor deer are brought in by the hunters. The men hear the buffalo “bellowing” in the night restoring their hope of a tasty meal.
“…as we were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order.” Captain Clark orders the men to full alert. For those who have been reading these postings for a while or are familiar with the Expedition, the first tense moments and closest conflict for the Corps was in this spot in September 1804 when the Teton Sioux attempted to intercept the men on their upstream course. All weapons on both sides were aimed at someone of the other party. Lewis and Clark were resolved not to be intimidated and the Sioux were standing their ground. Only the action of lowering arms by one Chief averted conflict. The Captains expected worse on the return trip. They also knew if they could negotiate this stretch of the river safely they were home free.
Yesterday, as Clark was away from camp with the men, Lewis did what most of us do when recovering from injury. “My friend Capt Lewis hurt himself very much be takeing a longer walk on the Sand bar in my absence at the buffalow than he had Strength to undergo, which Caused him to remain very unwell all night.” He pushed it and is back on his belly. Ouch!
“Sent out Reubin & Joseph Feild to hunt for the Mule deer or the antilope neither of which we have either the Skins or Scellitens of, we derected those two men to proceed on down to the places we encamped the 16th & 17th of Septr. 1804 and which place the party had called pleasant Camp from the great abundance of Game Such as Buffalow Elk, antilopes, Blacktail or mule deer, fallow deer, common deer wolves barking Squirels, Turkies and a variety of other animals, aded to which there was a great abundance of the most delicious plumbs and grapes.” Don’t know about you, but I think my stomach leads much of my travel habits. Spokane, it’s the Onion with its Whisky Jack’s Steak or Spinach Salad. Seattle waterfront, gotta be Ivar’s Fish Bar. Walla Walla, the great deli in the middle of town. Yakima, its Santana’s for just about anything on the menu. Fairbanks, mud pie at the restaurant on the river. In hometown Auburn it’s a Big Cubby basket with chocolate shake! Now I’m drooling on the keyboard even talking about it! I could list a whole lot more! I bet most of us could.
These young men were no different. They remember this abundant camp of meat and fruit and look forward to returning to more of the same. And they do.
Captain Clark, and I assume his friend Captain Lewis, find a piece of their mission incomplete. The antelope and mule deer of the Great Plains still elude them. Clark sends out his hunters again. Not for meat but for skins and skeletons of these two ghosts of the prairie. Antelope and mule deer hunting has not changed much in two hundred years. They are still elusive and difficult to get close to. Custom gun makers craft weapons and cartridges designed to consistently make three to four hundred yard shots just for antelope hunters.
Somethings are still wild. Like antelope. Like mule deer. Like elk. Wild requires more than a chase. It requires wisdom and cunning and skill and a little good fortune. Maybe, just maybe, it requires a blessing from God. Game left wild that we may be blessed. And that is a good thing for all of us.
Proceed on.
posted by @2007 Dick Cinkovich | 6:51 PM
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