Text Fragments

Below are fragments of text (from the journals of Lewis and Clark and other contemporary sources) that were used as part of the York: Terra Incognita project. The fragments are on bronze plaques mounted on the boulders surrounding the sculpture to help “paint a portrait” of who York was.

York’s relationship with fellow members of expedition

”…the swet run off our men in a stream when they row hard, York verry near loseing his eyes by one of the men throwing sand at him in fun & recved into his eyes”…

William Clark
June 20, 1804

York and hard labor

My man york verry unwell from a violent coald and strain by carrying meet from the woods and lifting the heavy logs on the works &c.

William Clark
December 28 1805

York’s relationship with the native Americans

The graetest curiosity to them was york Captn. Clarks black man. All the nation made a great deal of him. The children would follow after him and if he turned toward them, run from him a hollow as if they were terreyfied & afraid of him.

Ordway
October 1804

”…Some of the party also told the Indians that we had a man with us who was black and had short curling hair, this had excited their curiosity very much”… (and they seemed quiet as anxious to see this monster as they were to see the merchandise which we had to barter for their horses.)

Meriwether Lewis
August 16 1805

”…The Indians much astonished at my Black Servant and call him the big medison, this nation never saw a black man before”…

William Clark
October 9, 1804

York’s hunting skills and gun

The Next morning we found that the buffaloe in passing the Perogue had trodden on a rifle, which had belonged to Captn. Clark’s Black man.

Meriwether Lewis
May 29, 1805

”…Derected my servant York with me to kill a buffalow near the boat from a numbr then scattered in the plains”…

William Clark
September 9, 1804

York’s dry riverbed

”…Draw up canoes and take shelter in an old indian Lodge above the enterance of a rives which is nearly dry it has latterly been very high an spread over nearly 1/4 a mile in width. Its chanel is 88 yards and in this there is not more water than could pass theough an inch auger hole. I call it Yorks dry river”…

William Clark
July 30, 1806

York’s treatment after the expedition

”…He is here, but of verry little service to me. Insolent and sulky, I gave him a severe trouncing the other day and he has much mended sence”…

William Clark to Jonathan Clark
May 28, 1809

”…I did wish to do well by him … but as he has got such a notion about freedom and his emence services, that I do not expect he will be of much service to me again. I do not think with him, that his services has been so great or my situation would permit me to liberate him”…

William Clark to Jonathan Clark
December 10, 1808