Seaman Nearly Stolen

Photo: Creative Commons, Ltshears

Near the Cascades of the Columbia on April 11, 1806, the Corps’ camp was crowded by Watlalas, who Captain Lewis declared were “the greates thieves and scoundrels we have met with.”

During the evening, some Watlalas stole Seaman, Lewis’s dog. The Captain sent three men after the thieves with orders to shoot them if they showed resistance. A few miles outside of camp, the men caught up with them, but instead of fighting the Watlalas released Seaman and fled.

Later, a chief of the group of Watlala explained there were two corrupt men among the party and he was mortified by their behavior. The Captains believed his sincerity and presented the chief with a small peace medal.