Page 4
February 21, 2001
Focus
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York, One of the Northwest’s First Black Pioneers
B y R on W eber for T he
P ortland O bserver
A record from one o f the jour­
nals o f the famous Lewis and
Clark Expedition to the North­
west talks about a very impor­
tant, yet little known explorer,
guide and interpreter, who was
also a slave owned by Clark. York
is said to be the only member of
the expedition who went all the
way and yet was never paid even
find the group to be safe. His
compassion for his fellow travel­
ers was noted by all in the group.
Local Native Americans were
said to be very
fascinated with
I FWIS \xn CLARK u THREE FORKS
York, continu­
ally trying to
wipe his black
skin clean. Most
Indians thought
it w as paint.
York was said
to have a great
sense o f humor,
pretending to be
a descendant of
wild animals. To
make local Indi­
ans laugh, he
w ould ju m p
around, growl­
ing and moan­
ing, trying to
The Lewis and Clark Expedition crew at Three Forks with York and Sacajawea.
im itate
the
beasts
he
had
allegedly
descended
trying to cross raging rivers, en­ separated. York had gone to look
gaged in steep climbs, or trying to for a buffalo. When he tried to from. He loved to put on shows
forge their way through dense find his way back to the group, and dances for the Indians who
forests in severe storms. Sadly they were not where he thought were surprised that such a large
enough, York is hardly m en­ they would be. Accounts showed man,six feet tall and 200 pounds,
tioned. York was also known to that he became “extremely agi- could move with such speed and
carry heavy loads for Sacajawea tated and worried.” He showed agility. York was said to have
so she could tend to her baby. He much relief when he finally did remarkable skills in terms o f fish­
ing, hunting and swimming. When
the expedition was over with,
York asked repeatedly for his free­
dom to be granted. Although Clark
refused, never completely giving
York his full freedom. He was
said to have given York enough
money to start a hauling business
in Louisville, Kentucky. Although
this story was never fully ru­
mored that because o f his im­
mense physical skills, and over­
whelming popularity with the In­
dians, he became a chief o f one o f
the tribes. The land he had once
helped guide Lewis and Clark
through thus may have become
his final home and resting place
for this brave and little known
early African American pioneer.
Perhaps his desire to be with the
Indians was because o f the disre­
gard shown to him by whites,
after all he did for them. The
I Native Americans earned his loy­
alty and kinship by recognizing
his many talents and rewarding
him accordingly.
Whatever precise direction he
took after the famous Lewis and
I 101 NE Alberta
R.D. Sevier & Son. Inc.,
Clark Expedition, York will al­
ways be remembered as one of
Portland OR 97211
Garbage Service
America’s first black pioneers,
the first documented black ex­
plorer in the Northwest, and a
credit to his race.
one penny for his hard work and
heroism. Many accounts showed
his outstanding acts o f bravery,
especially when the group was
was very protective o f her and
Clark. Once during a storm with
high winds and a torrential down­
pour o f rain, they were briefly
H onors B lack
¡H istory M onth
445 NE Killingsworth •
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P u t y o u r re la tiv e s
in o n e o f o u r s .
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