Mystery Surrounds Death of Explorer Meriwether Lewis 200 Years Later

[LewisNClarkTrail]

If his skeleton is recovered it could possibly reveal where the bullet entry wounds occurred. Being shot in the head would make it most unlikely he could have reloaded a single shot pistol (which took quite a bit of effort, with powder) it seems unlikely he could have reloaded to shoot himself again. The family of several hundred ancestors is unanimous in exhuming the body.

[ideastoday]

I don't think Lewis should be exhumed, but there really are problems with the suicide theory. Lewis was carrying a .69 caliber, muzzle loading pistol. How could any man have reloaded and shot himself a second time, after having suffered the first wound with such a weapon? A pistol like that would cause massive injury at close range. Also, the testimony of Mrs. Grinder changed with the wind and is not credible. Finally, the large sum of cash Lewis was carrying was never recovered.

[DonutSkull]

@ideastoday Well he had 2 loaded pistols (i think they were his dueling set pistols).

[mrgimp420]

The descendants only want to exhume him so they can feel important, like they were a part of his expedition or something. Exhuming the body isnt going to solve a 200 year old mystery. Its just an opportunity for the bones to be lost, damaged, or destroyed

[amerithaiphx]

@mrgimp420 That is not true, the reason of exhumation is to prove he did not commit suicide, OK. If they handled the bones as they do for dinosaurs there won't be much of a problem, if it were the local police department handling it then yes you could count on all those things happening. Since the mystery can be solved and don't know why the 1846 exhumation didn't get filed properly it is something that sits in my mind wondering why it won't be done, is it a continuing cover up??

[oweidlewid]

His story is better with the mysterious ending than with a suicidal ending so I vote we leave him in the hole.

[amerithaiphx]

@oweidlewid he couldn't have killed him self in those days with that kind of weapon