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| COVERING THE IRON BOAT FRAME Description: Artist's rendering of (L to R) Joseph Field, Meriwether Lewis, Patrick Gass, and John Shields stretching leather skins over the iron framework of "The Experiment" at the Great Falls of the Missouri River. Patrick Gass wrote in his journal on July 8, 1805, "We call her The Experiment and expect she will answer our purpose." From June 18-July 8, 1805, the canoe was assembled and covered with a total of 28 elk skins and 4 buffalo skins. Unable to find pine trees for pitch, a substitute tar of charcoal, beeswax, and buffalo tallow was applied to the skins to prevent them from leaking. When put into the water on July 9, "the experiment" floated "like a perfect cork," but then began to leak. Lewis wrote on July 9, 1805: "She leaked in such manner that she would not answer." Lacking time to attend to further modifications, Lewis "relinquished all further hope of my favorite boat." Artist: Keith Rocco/Tradition Studios Year: November 2002 |
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