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Apparently not. When Clark’s slave York made his appearance among
the tribes of the Upper Missouri, he was a constant source of amazement
to those who saw him. Standing perhaps six foot tall, he was an imposing
physical specimen who immediately became the favorite member of the Corps
among the Mandan and Hidatsa. In one of the more famous Charlie Russell
paintings, York stands in the midst of an earth lodge while puzzled Mandan
touch him and try to rub the paint off. Sadly, upon York’s return
to St. Louis, he again lived the life of a slave, even being beaten by
William Clark for asking for at least the freedom to live with his wife
and children.
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