[145] The surprise of the Indians will hardly be cause for wonder, after reading the following description of the "Western Engineer," which appeared in the St. Louis Enquirer, June 19, 1819, ten days after the expedition arrived at that place: "The bow of the vessel exhibits the form of a huge serpent, black and scaly, rising out of the water from under the boat, his head as high as the deck, darted forward, his mouth open, vomiting smoke, and apparently carrying the boat on his back. From under the boat, at its stern issues a stream of foaming water, dashing violently along. All the machinery is hid. . . . The boat is ascending the rapid stream at the rate of three miles an hour. Neither wind nor human hands are seen to help her; and to the eye of ignorance the illusion is complete, that a monster of the deep carries her on his back smoking with fatigue, and lashing the waves with violent exertion."
A resident of Franklin, Missouri, thus described the boat and the impression it made upon the savages: "In place of a bowsprit, she has carved a great serpent, and as the steam escapes out of its mouth, it runs out a long tongue, to the perfect horror of all Indians that see her. They say, 'White man bad man, keep a great spirit chained and build fire under it to make it work a boat.'"—Ed.
[146] Willoughby Morgan, a Virginian, served during the War of 1812-15 as captain and major of infantry. In 1815 he was retained in the rifle regiment as captain, with brevet of major, becoming lieutenant-colonel in 1818. In 1821 he was transferred to the infantry; he became colonel of the 1st Infantry in 1830, and died in 1832.
"Lieutenant Fields" is probably Gabriel Field, whose army record is given as follows in the registers: "Born in ——. Appointed from Mo. 2nd Lieut. Rifles, 24 May, 1817; 1st Lieut., 15 April, 1818; transferred to 6th Infantry, 1 June, 1821; resigned 16 April, 1823."—Ed.
[147] Independence Creek owes its name to Lewis and Clark, who reached this point on July 4, 1804. Its mouth is on the line between Atchison and Doniphan counties, Kansas. Lewis and Clark named another small stream, fifteen miles below, Fourth of July Creek. They also visited the site of the Indian village here mentioned, and thought it must have been a large one, judging from the remains.—Ed.
[148] The color is due to the presence of yellow ochre.—Ed.
[149] For data relative to the Nodaway River, see Bradbury's Travels, in our volume v, note 5.—Ed.
[150] The name of Wolf River or Creek (Rivière du Loup of early French maps), is a translation of the Indian name. The stream debouches four miles below the town of Iowa Point, in Doniphan County, Kansas.—Ed.
[151] Sciurus macrurus. Say.—Body above each side, mixed gray and black; fur plumbeous, black at base, then pale cinnamon, then black, then cinereous, with a long black tip; ears bright ferruginous behind, the colour extending to the base of the fur, which, in its winter dress, is prominent beyond the edge; within dull ferruginous, the fur slightly tipped with black; side of the head and orbits pale ferruginous, cheek under the eye and ear dusky; whiskers black, in about five series, of which the four inferior ones are more distinct, hairs a little flattened; mouth margined with black; teeth reddish yellow; head beneath, neck and feet above pale ferruginous; belly paler; fur pale plumbeous at base; palms black; toes, anterior ones four, the thumb tubercle not longer than its lobe in the palm, and furnished with a broad flat nail; posterior toes five; tail beneath bright ferruginous, the colour extending to the base of the fur, with a submarginal black line; above mixed ferruginous and black; fur within pale cinnamon, with the base and three bands black; tip ferruginous.
| ft. | in. | |
|---|---|---|
| From nose to tip of tail (exclusive of the hair) | 1 | 7¼ |
| Tail, from base to tip (exclusive of the hair) | 91⁄10 | |
| Ear, from head to tip | 0¾ |