Day-by-Day / June 30, 1804

June 30, 1804

The Little Platte River

On this very hot day, the boats pass the Little Platte River, and they see as many deer tracks “as Hogs about a farm.” When going to shore, the barge‘s mast hits an overhanging tree and breaks.

A Very Large Wolf

by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading

Breaking the Mast

by Michael Haynes

A ship's mast hitting a tree hanging out over the river

© Michael Haynes, https://www.mhaynesart.com. Used by permission.

Little Platte River

passd the mouth of a Small river 10 ms. above the Kanseis Called by the french Petite River Platte (or Shoal river) from the number of falls in it, this river is about 60 yards wide at its mouth and runs Parrilel with the Missouries for ten or twelve miles
—William Clark

Numerous Deer

Deer to be Seen in every direction and their tracks ar as plenty as Hogs about a farm, our hunts. Killed 9 Deer to day
—William Clark

Related: The Hunters’ Final Tally

96° Heat

came to at 12 oClock & rested three hours, the [sun or day?] being hot the men becom verry feeble, Farnsts. Thermometer at 3 oClock Stood at 96° above 0
—William Clark

Related: Thermometers and Temperatures | Weather Observations

Another Broken Mast

we broke our mast comming to Shore against a Small Tree which hung over the River.
—John Ordway

Related: The Barge (called the ‘boat’ or ‘barge’ but never the ‘keelboat’)

 

Notes

Notes
↑1 Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio.

Discover More

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
  • The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.

This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.

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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).