Lewis climbs the pinnacles of Tavern Rock, slips, and manages to escape with the help of his knife. In Tavern Cave, Clark adds his name among the graffiti left by earlier travelers. In the area, the boats struggle against a swift current, and Lewis collects a specimen of indigo (Amorpha fruticosa).
Pinnacles of rock rise three hundred feet above the river at Tavern Cave, on the south side of the Missouri near the Femme Osage River. While some explored the cave, Lewis climbed the cliff above it, for a view of the surrounding terrain. At the summit he slipped and almost fell. One can only wonder what the fate of the expedition would have been, if Lewis had plunged to his death, nine days after the expedition officially got under way.
Lewis’s Close Call
Capt Lewis’ assended the hill which has peninsulis projecting in raged points to the river, and was near falling from a Peninsulia . . . . Saved himself by the assistance of his Knife
—William Clark
Kickapoo Hunters
8 Indians Kick [Kickapoo]: Came to Camp with meat we recved their pesents of 3 Deer & gave them Whisky:
—William Clark
Tough Going
Set out early run on a log: under water and Detained one hour proceeded on the Same Course of last night, (2 miles) passed the mouth of a creek on the Sbd. Side called Woman of Osage River about 30 yds. over, abounding in fish . . . . the water excessively Swift to day . . . . hard water all Day
—William Clark
Arms Inspection
In the evening our officers inspected our Arms and accoutrements.
—Joseph Whitehouse
Tavern Cave Graffiti
many people Came to See us, we passed a large Cave on the Lbd. Side about 120 feet wide 40 feet Deep & 20 feet high many different immages are Painted on the Rock at this place. the Inds & French pay omage. many nams are wrote on the rock [Mine among others]
—William Clark
Lost Specimen No. 3
No. 3. Was taken on the 23rd of May 1804, near the mouth of the Osage Woman’s creek, it is a srub and resembles much in growth the bladder scenna, it rises to hight of eight or ten feet and is an inhabitant of a moist rich soil.— it is a handsome Shrub.
—Meriwether Lewis
This specimen was among the ones sent east in April 1805 that are now lost. Two specimens of this plant, collected elsewhere, survive.[1]See Moulton, Herbarium No. 8. Moulton identifies this lost specimen as “Amorpha fruiticosa, false indigo.” Gary E. Moulton, ed. Journals, “Fort Mandan Miscellany”, vol 3:451, … Continue reading
Tavern Cave is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The cave is on the National Register of Historic Places but not open to the public.
Notes
| ↑1 | See Moulton, Herbarium No. 8. Moulton identifies this lost specimen as “Amorpha fruiticosa, false indigo.” Gary E. Moulton, ed. Journals, “Fort Mandan Miscellany”, vol 3:451, 466. |
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