, 1872-11-07

posed to have been killed bY them. Panthera
or painters are frequently met with On the
mountains sides, who do not hesitate to attack
human beings and some suppose the young man
was killed by them; at all events, small por
ton OF his remains vas found, showing that he
had been eaten up by them, or by their sneaking'
companions in iniquity, the wolves.
l do not know why should always be inter-
ested IN the Indians, but 30 it is Inever get
near where they are but am on the qui Diue to
lind out something about them. This is the old
stamping ground Of the Shoshonees and Utes.
For years and years, they were atwar, but finally,
through the instrum mentality Of the whites made 4
peace, which has been lasting, and they roam
about over this country undisturbed. Shoshonee
jim shuf11es about with very modest quantity
Of hat-rim on his warlike brow, the crown Of
sports enormous round brass earrings, pair OF
frightfully- legs, a soi1ed blanket, and
plentiful supply Of sore eyes. In fact, Jim has
sore eyes enough to do whole Mormon settles
wears his honors meehly. There is a twinkle
about Jim's eye when you ask him to bring in
aome black-tailed deer meat, az much
asaa as to ao. say ~ H. knoT sSS where h black X
ton to the pale-faces." Whereupon Jim wraps
his Maekinaw blanket about him, and ahuffiles
out. In the mountains, these Indians remain
during the whole winter, trapping for beaver,
and taking such other game as they are able
Of valuable timber will be destroyed. These
accidents frequently occur, and there Beems to
be no way to. prevent them. In q
country where timber is SO valuable, this loss is
severely felt. There some good mjlls on the
foothills, busily engaged saving lumber with
which to build snow-sheds along the course Of
the Union Pacific Railroad, Thus far this fall,
We have been remarkably fortunate, and there
has been no snow Of any consequence.
The roads in this vicinity are very good in
deed, and it is real pleasure to ride over them
| in a carriage. They are as hard and dry us q
| turnpike, and the horses travel on them with
dry creek-beds, there millions and millions
OF small bou1ders, which have been accumulat-
ing since creation. The benches, Or buttes,"
| Of land resemble old pyramids, OF great cause
Ways made for railroad-tyack. These are Rald
to be the bottoms OF old lakes, or sens, and, up
on the subsidence OF the water, these benches
| were formed. There is q stunted growth Of sage
brush upon, them, and IN places, as BE-
| fore remarked, the ground is remark
cultivation. with anything like fair seasons, I
believe fine crops Of wheat could be raised, and
! have no doubt but, years hence, there will be
wheat@felds Of Immense extent IL this Territory.
! People are too apt to condemn as useless those
| things with which they are unacquaintod.
| When they come to know this country better,
| they will appreciate it more highly.
| Io-day, while out riding, met Q party Of Utes
On their way to their lodges on Smiths Fork.
| lleg were al4 We'll mOuQl6Q, AuQ, Ills Lu6J tubtSu
along over the sage-brush plain, looked quaint
enough. There we're three women and boy,
all travelling in Indian file, as it is called. First
came the leader,-evidently an Indian Queen
riding astride of her horse, and decked ont in all
work, red broadcloth, red flannel, buck
| skin fringes, and all; whilst round
the neck Of her horse we're two large strings Of
bells, which ratified merrily. Next came the
| boy, no doubt her son; and then two other
sauaws also riding astride Of their horses, who
were the vassals, or hangers-on, OF her ladyship.
] I cannot say much in favor OF the beauty Of the
party; but one thing is certain, and that it, they
themselves Tezy poTaa* Pc psfeon
ties, and the Indian Women seemed almost
buried up in them. Her Majesty used her qulrt,
! or whip, unsparingly, and her horse attended to
his business with the greatest as5duty. They
| wore their blankets over their heads, and seemed
| to feel that this WAS indeed notab array OF
the womanhood of the Nation. It is dificnlt to
supply female with enough fnery, but I he
lieve in this case the Ute Queen was perfectly
! satisfied With herself, and certainly WAS "the
cynosure of all eyes"
The whole country hereabouts seems to have
been at one time the bottom OF great lake, and
remains Of turtles, shell-fsh, and hippopo-
tamuses are found on the hil-sideB. This was
long before the advent OF man upon thus earth,
! and where all appears sterile and barren was
once the home Of ducks, geese, cranes, and
other aquatic birds. For ages and ages, night
and morning came and went, with no human
being to watch the changes, and trees ct re-
markably beautiful foliage lived where now there
is nothing but desert-Waste.
And hoary centuries fell, slow dropping
| From the weary wing Of Time,
And thee, changefess, proud, and mighty scene.
The surface Of the lake was rufled only by the
breasts Of ducks and geese who sailed upon its
bosom the huge Tiver-horse disported amid
the fens and mashes along it's border and great
lizards made their slimy tails along the ooze,
and mud, and tangled water~aags., Here, too,
were immense turtles: and all the varaoue
reptiles who love to dwell amid the sWe1terlng
shades Of the marshes I; for it vas much warmer
then than now, there having been great
upheayal of the lands which are known as the
Rocky Mountains. Gradually it was drained
face of Wyoming Territory were formed ranl
vegetation gave. place to sterile plains and I
region once teeming with animal life became al
| silent as the tomb.
In old times, in the days Of the fur-trade, thl!
was place of considerable importance, and Mr.
James Bridger appears to have had much int1u
| euce among the mountain-men. BeaVer-tra5
ping WAS good business and is so even now
I Gloves cape8, coats, and caps made Of beaver
skin are comfortable in winter-time; and grea'
many man - skins are used annually. To get these
there is distinct class Of people always trap
ping in the mountain-streams, and these, to
Eether with the Indian tribes, furnish the supply
Though shorn Of its former Importance, tue tur
! |
sums Of money are made therein. There ar.
many Mericans engaged in it, % ant
about Fort Bridger are these men, Wh:
we're born in Chlhuahua, New Mexico, ant
Southern California They are 5stra.e gqldes
, about. They generally have taken unto them
selves Indian wives, and appear to be as haPp!
and contented as any people on earth: severa
, Of them have become successful stock -raisers
and a in a they are good; citizens hena n Ths5 7s4S
when the cabins belonging to the little fur
/ trading post we're built. Here we're Weste1, e1,
Americans. gaunt and tobacco-chewing sell
4 possessed Mexicans, well-behaved Indian won
. en-, en- looking on with wondering eyes, and alway
, silent; Snake chiefs in paint and war gear
ponies covered with saddles and packs; piles 9
, fu1s; and, when there was any sort OF good luck
grand carouse on Whiskey, provided any va
i | obtainable. ---.
! The most noted mountaineer living near For
Bridger is unquestionably Jack Robinson, no,
6o-odd years Of age. He is thorough NesteI
) man, aud has splendid physique, which Toni ~
) attract attention anywhere. He came to thl
: country by way Of Taos, in New Mexico, ove
| III is