Pride and Stupidity

July 1805

Poor Captain Lewis could not see that his cherished iron boat would be useless. Everyone tried to tell him. He was just too prideful about him choosing the right direction to the great falls through a fork. He was determined to see his boat work. But, as expected, after five minutes in the water, every seam burst and the mode of transportation was useless. Captain Clark was prepared to make dugout canoes, and finally Captain Lewis accepted that fate. But, boy did he beat himself up about it…yelling at himself, shouting all his failings, beating wood against a tree until he bled, feeling stupid and upset that he cost the Corps two weeks that it would take to make the canoes…not to mention the hassle of dragging that useless iron boat the great distance. Lewis was beyond normal…I had to wonder about him.