Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 14.djvu/423



SNAKE COUNTRY EXPEDITION, 1824 381

Saturday 29th. Crossed over height of land which divides the waters of the Salmon and the Snake descended to Goddin's River 30 named in 1820 by the discoverer Thyery Goddin. The main south branch of the Columbia, the Nez Perces, the main Snake River and Lewis River, are one and the same differently named. I have determined to change my course and steer for the source of the Great Snake River near the Three Pilot Knobs (Three Tetons) a place which abounds both in beaver and Blackfeet. I told the people danger or no danger, beaver was our object and a hunt we must make.

Monday 31st. Left eight to trap Goddin's River and raised camp for head of the Salmon.

Sunday 6th (June). The two men and

Beauchamp who went off yesterday were robbed by the Pie- gans, had a narrow escape with their lives and got back to camp a little after dark having traveled on foot forty miles. On their way to the place to meet our people they discovered a smoke and taking it to be our people advanced within pistol shot when behold it proved to be a camp of Piegans. Wheel- ing, they had hardly time to take shelter among a few willows when they were surrounded by fifteen armed men on horse- back. Placing their horses between themselves and the enemy, our people squatted down to conceal themselves. The Piegans advanced within five paces, when our people raising their guns made them fall back. The Indians kept capering and yelling around them cock sure of their prey. The women had also collected on a small eminence to act a willing part, having on their arrow finders and armed with lances. During this time, the two men had crept among the bushes, mud and water a little out of the way and night approaching made their escape leaving behind horses, saddles, traps. They saw the tracks of our people near the Piegan camp and that is all we know of them. We fear they have been discovered but little hope of their escaping as they had little ammunition.

30 According to Arrowsmith's map this would be Big Lost River, and Day's or McKenzie's River would be either Birch Creek or Little Lost River on present day maps. Ross seems to have ascended Pahsamari River to source and crossed the divide to Birch Creek, where he left his main party and himself made four days' trip to Snake River near St. Anthony's. He is back again on the 6th. See pages 68, 69, 70 of "Fur Hunters."