Fort Clatsop goes to the dogs

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Batman. Superman. Spiderman.

Seaman?

No, he’s not a super hero; Seaman was a dog. But he and his breed, Newfoundlands, are known for their heroic qualities.

The dogs are superb swimmers and are able to rescue people from water. They also use their considerable size – their average weight is 150 pounds – to fend off danger.

Newfoundlands are epitomized in the tales of Seaman, the lauded dog Lewis and Clark brought on their 19th century expedition to find a water route from the East Coast to the Pacific Ocean.

Five Newfoundlands brought their owners to Fort Clatsop Wednesday to celebrate the 15th annual Seaman’s Day in honor of the dog of the Corps of Discovery.

Seaman was as much a member of the expedition party as any of the 33 humans who made the journey across the country, said rangers at Fort Clatsop. Stories about Seaman, all recorded in his owner Meriwether Lewis’ journal, show his heroism.

Seaman once diverted a charging buffalo from stampeding Lewis and Clark’s tent while they slept in it at one of their encampments. Another time, he showed off his swimming ability by drowning and retrieving a deer that had fled into the river after one of the explorers shot it.

Lewis’ records of Seaman’s adventures have memorialized the breed of dog as a heroic friend to man.

And even though Newfoundlands can’t fling web like Spiderman, they have an adept talent for slinging drool – lots and lots of drool.

“They can sling drool about 20 feet,” said Lynn deBeauclair, an owner of a Newfoundland named Athos. “I’ve seen it on the ceiling.”

Athos, visiting Fort Clatsop for his first Seaman’s Day, lounged about on the bark outside of the fort, moving occasionally to lick the face of an unwitting child petting his thick black coat.

“They’re cute and cuddly,” said Lynd-say Gwert, 8, of Portland.

Gwert, her mother, Laurie, and sister, Bethany, brought both of their Newfoundlands, Morgan and Kona, to Fort Clatsop to show the few dozen visitors how Seaman most likely looked.

The Newfoundlands of the 19th century were probably leaner, with thinner coats, but just as gentle, said Sally Freeman, a park ranger at Fort Clatsop. Newfoundlands have two layers of fur, which helps insulate them in cold weather and water.

“The winter in North Dakota wouldn’t be a problem,” said Freeman. “Of course, the men were freezing.”

The breed of dog is incredibly friendly, and many families keep them as pets because they’re gentle with young children. Amy and Ron Frigaard own a Newfoundland, Uff Da, for precisely that reason.

“I’ve always liked big dogs,” said Amy Frigaard. Ron Frigaard said that despite his size, Uff Da, a word that basically means “dang it” in Norwegian, is gentle with their children.

“They’re protective, but it’s mostly bravado,” he said.

Freeman said Lewis most likely brought Seaman on the trip because of Newfoundlands’ swimming abilities, although no reason is known. Because they were traveling on rivers for the duration of the trip, Freeman said Seaman would probably be useful in case someone fell overboard.

Lewis purchased the dog for $20, a hefty fee in those days.

Tom Wilson brought Dolly, a 150-pound, 8-year-old Newfoundland and veteran of prior Seaman’s Days. Wilson, a retired teacher and seasonal ranger at Fort Clatsop, said the day provides a good opportunity for people to learn more about Lewis and Clark.

“It’s just another way to connect people to the story,” said Wilson, who trains Dolly for her owner Bob Zimmerling.

Ryan and Jazmine Bowman, a brother and sister visiting their grandmother, Kathy Bowman, from Pahrump, Nev., said they like the dogs because they’re “very drooly,” big, and furry.

“They have a whole bunch of fur,” said Ryan, 11. “I like their face. It’s funny.”