Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

We acknowledge our friend and fellow historian, Dr. Harry Fritz, as an esteemed student of history in many circles. We’ve all admired his work for a long time. As Lewis and Clark history buffs, we first encountered him in about 1984. Fritz is best known for his historical “spoofs,” much-admired pieces written with tongue in cheek. A prime example is his lecture to a group of Lewis and Clark buffs titled “How Idaho Drove Meriwether Lewis Mad.” In his banquet address to the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation’s 1984 meeting in Great Falls, Dr. Fritz regaled us with his argument that Montana was central to the Lewis and Clark epic and, in hilarious fashion, extended the borders of Montana in both an eastern and western direction. Now comes another obvious “spoof” with his recent Montanan article, “The Core of Discovery.” Fritz has gone too far this time by trying to confuse your readers and convince them that, while it may be the center of Big Sky football, Missoula is somehow the epicenter of the Corps of Discovery. The good professor’s claims have about as much relevance as asserting that Baker is the population center of Montana.

There really are significant Lewis and Clark sites and areas throughout Montana—the White Cliffs area of the Missouri, in Great Falls, at Three Forks, the Dillon-Beaverhead area, the rivers between Bozeman and Billings, etc. There are even important sites to this wonderful story NEAR Missoula on the Lolo Trail, west of Lolo, Lost Trail area, and descending into present day Idaho (always considered a suburb of Montana).

We must argue, however, given the true record of the expedition and the development of Montana, especially from the viewpoint of those of us who are lucky enough to live in the true heart of Lewis and Clark country, that Great Falls and surrounding area is actually the center of Corps of Discovery activities on the entire trail.

Consider:

1. William Clark never saw Missoula. In fact, when given his choice, he led a contingent of men and Sacagawea south of the five-valley area, retracing his steps back up the Bitterroot Valley, rather than going through Missoula, a behavior often chosen by current-day travelers.

2. Clark and his group were very anxious to uncover their cache of tobacco at Camp Fortunate. Not so Lewis and his group, as they are believed to have sworn off tobacco for life after enduring the smog and air pollution from burning campfires in what is now present-day Missoula. Nothing has changed.

3. Lewis, hoping to navigate the maze of insane intersections and trails in the Missoula area was, like many of us today, obliged to hire two Nez Perce guides to ensure minimum delays [lessen] and the possibility of becoming lost in the area.

4. On their trip west in 1805, Clark chose the challenge of the River of No Return in Idaho, choosing almost certain death, rather than going anywhere near Missoula.

5. When in Great Falls the men ate very well, feasting on a few of the thousands of buffalo inhabiting the area, along with succulent elk, trout, deer, and antelope. In the Lolo area of the Missoula Valley the men were hungry and realized they had to brave the treacherous, snow-capped Rocky Mountains in order to dine on Columbia salmon. Food in the Lolo Travelers’ Rest area was limited to truck stop fare and corn dogs, all of which the men found totally unpalatable just as we do today. It has been said that this was the low, low point of the trek.

6. The local residents, Shoshone, Salish, and Nez Perce, all realized they had to go east of the Continental Divide at least twice a year to fill their larders with meat and would have stayed there if it were not for the fierce and determined Blackfeet. Missoula Valley hunters seem forced to do much the same each hunting season today.

7. Been to the Missoula Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center lately? Oops, there isn’t one. To see up to forty historically significant sites, you have to come to the Great Falls area. The corps stayed in Great Falls for extended periods. They blew through the Missoula Valley like Bobcat fans do, to this day, every other year. It’s been said that they passed through the Missoula Valley like gin through a fraternity boy at Homecoming.

8. Did the entire party visit Missoula? Nope. Everyone in the Corps of Discovery saw and chose to enjoy the great falls. In fact, Lewis and his men, much like present day travelers, in their haste to return to the lush valleys of the Missouri, barely had time to relieve themselves in the river at Missoula. They stayed an entire, enjoyable month at the falls.

9. Seen the schedule for the Bicentennial Signature Event? Oops, sorry about that. You’ll have to journey east with your family to Great Falls and Billings to take part in these wonderful events during the coming commemoration.

10. At the time of Lewis and Clark, all the grizzly bears were in the Great Falls area. Missoula, since that day, has had to settle for a mascot named for a denizen of the great falls.

11. Surely the good professor would agree that all parts of Montana possess sites of true historic significance; we concede that only Missoula had Fort Fizzle.

We could go on and on but we are certain your readers get our point. We fully understand why the good Professor Fritz wants to appropriate the story of Lewis and Clark for Missoula. What else do they have these days? Heck, recently a group from the Three Forks area, known as the Bobcats, even whipped their beloved Grizzlies.

Thanking you for allowing us to enter this debate, we remain yr. obd’t srvnts,

Robert Doerk, Fort Benton, Past President Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

The Honorable Randy Gray ’72, J.D.’76 Mayor, Great Falls of the Missouri

Larry Epstein, Cut Bank ’70, J.D. ’76 President and Grand PoohBah Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

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