| "York Meets The Indians" by Mari Bolen |
York, William Clark's slave and
boyhood friend, accompanied the
Corps of Discovery on their historic
journey. He was described as a
brawny man who loved to sing and
dance. When the Corps camped
near the Salish, the children thought
he was a "burnt man" and one
bravely approached him to rub the
charcoal from his skin. He picked
the boy up and whirled him about
singing and dancing; frightening the
Indians, who thought he was
possessed! They soon joined in the
dance when they realized he was
not going to eat the child and was
merely playing.
boyhood friend, accompanied the
Corps of Discovery on their historic
journey. He was described as a
brawny man who loved to sing and
dance. When the Corps camped
near the Salish, the children thought
he was a "burnt man" and one
bravely approached him to rub the
charcoal from his skin. He picked
the boy up and whirled him about
singing and dancing; frightening the
Indians, who thought he was
possessed! They soon joined in the
dance when they realized he was
not going to eat the child and was
merely playing.