The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-16
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er's name is most intimately connected IS
Fort Br.dger. This fort. blockhouse. stock
AIDE, or whatever Il may be called, was
afterwards taken possession Of by the
United States. and Br.dser had a claim OF
$4,000 against the government for the oc-
cupation of his property. Br.dger was in
possession of this fort when the Mormon
trouble broke out in Utah and Wyoming
after the saints had been dr--en from
Jackson county. Missouri. and Nauvoo.
III, in 1851. The Mormons attacked the
fort. took possession Of il and would have
killed Bridger if they could have caught
him. He escaped and found refuge il an
eagles nest. where for several days lac was
supplied with food by man named John
Robinson.
Claim Against the Government.
While hiding in the nest he had several
opportunities 10 shoot the favorite son Of
Brigham Young. hut did not do so, al
though he said afterwards thai he was sore
Is tempted Such "A shot however. would
have betrayed his position and probably
sacrificed his own life. Finally the United
States troops restored order and took up
their quarters in the fort. The command
amt then made bargain with Bridstr 10
buy the fort. EridEer was To receive so
a month rent for ten years and al the end
OF that time the government was to bug
the fort outright FOR SIoeee Buj news ana
reports travelled slowly IN those days. The
next year 1s-S. the land upon which Bird
gers fort was situated made pare OF
an Indian reservation when President
buchanan signed the bin H. did not snow
of the agreement between the commandanJ
aad BrIdger. This complicated matters.
Then the civil war broke out ana nothing
could be done about minor claims
Finauy a bill for the relief Of Bridzer
was worried through congress after TWEEN
10 do the old man any good in his life
time.
a $4,000 Lump of Gold.
Like al hunters and prospectors. BriGs-er
had his stories of buried treasure 10 tell.
Before his period Of dctagc set in he fire.
qucnty talked Of going west to get an
enormous nugget of gold which ne had con
cealed in a forest or The banks Of the Vel
lowstoLe river BriGGcr found the precious
piece Of metal while he was out with some
officers Of the Hayden exploration party
II was so heavy that he got another man
To carry his huapsack. the nugget being
sufficient load for one man. lie carried
il until the party camped at night on the
banks of Clear creek, little stream that
empties into the Yellowstone, and while
be was almost worn out he stole away from
tile camp and buried his treasure. 1t has
hcvcr been recovered. There is no reason
TO doubt the character OF the metal, as
Eridser was "a good judge OF ore and the
members Of the party Were professional
geoiosists and mineralogists and fully con-
nrmed his opinion. IL has been estimated
that the nugget weighed enough 70 make
sts vaiue something near s50eV.
Ia 1888. when there began 10 Dee some dss-
cussicn Of the advisability and feasibility
of building railroad across tie continent,
HriGser fell into conversation on the sub
lect with Colonel u. r. IAN Horn. now
editor of The Kansas City journal. and
said that there was bUt one practical route
through tire mountains Taen taxing a
piece OF yellow wrapping paper and q piece
Of charcoal. the old scout slletchei a route
through the mountains, outing the diHer-
eut localities, butteS, valleys, rivers and
mountains. and said that II "a railroad was
ever built across the continent il would
have TO take that route When some years
later the Union Pacific road was built. il did
actually cross the mountains on the line
laid down by the old guide.