The Ketchum keystone. (Ketchum, Idaho) 1881-1884, 1882-12-29
HUNTED AND HAUNTED.
Jim Bridgcr, the Renegade Scout and
Trapper, at Last Showed Up.
from San Francisco CALL


The mystery of u i'm Bridger's early life
WAS explained to writer, during a recent
visit to Oregon, by Col. Jesse Applegate,
Of the Umpgua valley, whose story of the
Pilgrims of '43" was published in the
Call of August 9th. Col, Applegate OBJ
tanned the following details of an almost
forgotten tragedy from some of Jim
Bridgers companions nearly 40 years ago.
The story has never before been publish
ed and is peculiarly interesting, as ii cx.
plains why this celebrated scout and guide
sought home and protection among The
Indsans in his early days, and why he
was always avoided and Stunned by the
old French trappers and traders on the
Upper Mississippi and its tributaries.
The story as told by old Jesse Applcgate
is as follows:
When Jim Bridger was young man
he became identified with the American
Fur Company, which, more than half a
century ago. kept winter quarters near
the mouth of the Kansas river, This trad.
ing post was in charge of the Choctaws,
Of st. Louis, Missouri Here the Otoes,
Kickapoos, Osages and Kaw tribes came
to trade, anC-sss 4 also, the tiat-boatmen
and fur traders, voyagers and others -
the employment of the American Fur
Company, passed their winters and pre-
pared for their spring trip up the Missouri
river after furs and peltries,
In the spring of 1888 Jim Bridger, with
party Of eight or ten huRters, trappers
and fur traders, started for the Yellow
stone country to spend two or three sea-
sons hunting or trapping. The journey
was long and tiresome one, and as they
had made late start the season was far
advanced when they reached the present
site Of old Fort Randall. They had aban-
doned the boat and were making their
way on foot to Fort Benton. when the fol-
lowing tragedy occurred:
The party was marching in single file
through a densely wooded region, each
carrying his kit containing food, ammu-
milton and traps strapped upon his back,
his rifle upon his shoulder. The leader
of the party, a young hunter named Tom
Glass, was ten or flfteen feet in advance of
the rest of the party. when large she
bear and two cubs were met cd the trail.
Before Glass could retreat the monster
had seized him in deathly hug and bore
him to the earth. Before the bear was
killed it had torn open the unfortunate
mans abdomen, exposing the intestines,
and wrenched his left arm clear OF the
socket at the shoulder. His companions
,lid all in their power to relieve Glass and
case his intolerable pain, but all agreed
that lie could not live long His abdomen
was bound with buckskin bands, and his
left arm, which adhered TO the shoulder
merely by pieces of lacerated flesh, was
washed, bound and tied to his side, and
nc was laid out to die.
As the party was In great hurry, ow,
ing to the latencss of the season, It was
decided TO leave enc OF the party to at.
end on Glass and bury him when he died,
Shile the rest continued their Journey,
Lots were cast to see who should remain
gith the dying man, and Bridger was Sc.
lected. 1t appears the Indians wore fierce
and hostile along the Missouri river, and
Bridger did not relish his task very keen
iy, He sat beside the wounded man one
yisy and one night during which Glass
became delirievs and rNved wildly,
on the second morning, Bridger deter.
nnned to anticipate the death which he
supposed was certain II claim his com
panion, and oSsftske his associates, So
while Glass was unconscious on asleep
4,ridger gathered up what few effects he
deemed most valuable, belonging 20 Glass
including his rifle, ammunition, etc, and
quietly Stole away, leaving the wounded
man to die alohc He succeeded N over
taking his cSisradcs ana reported to them
that Glass had died and he had buried
him and brought away his arms and traps
Nothing more was heard of the affair
Until the next season when teffitie de
founoenlGht was made. ard BTidger iled
70 the mountain tribes to save his life
II Apjiears that GLASS swsoke from hi,
uyilriuin or tho scebnd dry aftsf Brisiss'