Dog's tale of Lewis and Clark

AP ^ | Monday, August 4, 2003

[presidio9]

On May 14, 1804, William Clark wrote in his journal that "under a jentle brease," the boats of the Corps of Discovery headed up the Missouri with "46 men, 4 horses and 1 dog."

With the Lewis and Clark expedition's bicentennial, narratives and edited journals are flying off the presses. Much of what there is to tell has been told. At least two new books tell the tale of the voyage supposedly from the dog's point of view.

[RLK]

Let's hear it for the dog.

[najida]

I love stories like this. Thank you!

[presidio9]

Let's hear it for the dog.

arf.

[Misterioso]

Woof!

[Hodar]

If you find a hungry, sick or hurt dog, and nurse it to health; it will never bite you. I wish I could say the same thing about humans.

[Misterioso]

Don't miss Ken Burns' Lewis & Clark on DVD from PBS (ugh).

[EggsAckley]

Nice story! I'm supposed to be related to one of these dudes, Merriweather Lewis, I believe. Love the dog angle.

[Scenic Sounds]

They would have been foolish to attempt a trip like this without a good dog. ;-)

[presidio9]

Don't miss Ken Burns' Lewis & Clark on DVD

Skip Burns' documentary and pick up a copy of Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose (author of Band of Brothers).

[afraidfortherepublic]

Did he make it back or was he left on the prairie? There is no ironclad evidence either way.

There is an account of this dog that says that not only did he make it the entire 8000 miles, but that when Merriweather Lewis died of a gunshot wound after his return to civilization, Seaman pined at his grave, refusing to eat, until he died himself.

[joesnuffy]

Great Story...
Nuefs are quite impressive dogs...great lifeguards...love kids

[jim_trent]

Yesterday, a statue of the first peace council held by Lewis & Clark was dedicated at Fort Atkinson in Nebraska (Fort Atkinson was not built until nearly 20 years later, but it was built where L&C suggested in their journal -- right at the spot of the first council).

Anyway, one of the figures on the statue was their dog -- and it was right out in front (also included were Lewis, Clark, a French trader, and two Indians).

[Sparta]

Lewis and Clark ping

If you want on or off the Western Civilization Military History ping list, let me know.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks for the ping Sparta.

[Misterioso]

Well, it's too late for me to skip something I thoroughly enjoyed, but I've heard that Ambrose's book is outstanding and will take your advice. May I ask what complaints you have about the film?

[Spirited]

Thank you.....

[SAMWolf]

Bump. Thanks for the ping Sparta.

Seaside Oregon has a statue of Lewis and Clark and their dog.

[CholeraJoe]

but that when Merriweather Lewis died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after his return to civilization,

That's better.

[presidio9]

May I ask what complaints you have about the film?

Burn's is notorious for rewritting history to fit the needs of his documentaries. I did not bother with "Lewis & Clark," but I found this to be the case with "Baseball," "The Civil War," "Jazz" and "Thomas Jefferson."