Captain William Clark enlisted his slave, York, as a member of the Corps of Discovery. York grew up in Virginia with Clark and traveled with the party during the entire journey to the Pacific Ocean and back to St. Louis, Missouri. He was a valuable addition to the Corps because he was extremely strong and an excellent hunter. Native Americans were amazed by his skin color, and his coarse black hair reminded them of the sacred buffalo. After the expedition returned to St. Louis, York asked Clark for his freedom, and Clark granted it. It is said that York later started and ran a freight hauling business for several years. Many believe that York died of cholera, but there is no written record of his death. There are also stories that he returned and lived with Native Americans for many years, but there is no proof of those travels. No record shows what happened to York, and he appears to have disappeared into history.