Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-08-16
News Correspondent Writes Re-
garding a Unique Mountaineer'
BEAVER DICK, TIE HERMIT


Ills proper name WIS Richard Leigh.
he was born DO Manchester England.
july o. 1881, came 10 America in July
lsgs. with his sister and father. his
mother having previously died In i,ti
De left his home In Pennsylvania Tor
Mexico. Getting thoro Just as the war
was ended. lie then returned TO tho
Snake river country, ON the river ana
~ tributaries and in the adjacent
mountains be spent his ne. 10 was al
ways supposed that thoru was q secret
iu his lie that kcpt him out IN the
wilda leading half-hcrmitH existence.
lie was a striking inquire when urst
seen by the writer dressed Ia buck
skin coat with buHs buttons. string
fingers and red flannel trimmings his
fget covered by m0ccnalnI, tho coat was
furnished with "a uruiuse bad trim
ming in coiorcd beads, also the mecca
Gins. Ills head was adorned BY u largo
felt hat trimmed with FUR, un his back
was alung his rifle ln o. huckskin ease
trimmed with strings Of the same ma
torlal; around his waist. on the outside
OF the cuat. was "a belt In which he
carried "a knife and pistol.
Before the country began TO settle
Dick used Go winter down the river and
Tor long time made his principal
home 10 the forks Of the Snake river
Its FIRST wife was q squaw of the pu-
Catellu tribe OF Indians and shu and
her children died u smallpox and were
buried near the forks 90 the North
Fork uf the Snake river and the Te-
ton. Dick was a good hunter. an gX-
pert trapper, and "a most interesting
guide. lie was feplute with stories "
the hunt and had almost an aboriginal
Instinct ln the tracking uf game. His
wife that ho loft h. squaw OF the
Bunn1Uk stride OF Indians, and above
the average ~ her class iu Intelligence.
HH#aN Ia
all the trails and haunts VI game; the
habits 20 the different wild animals
were as an open book to him and he
l loved " tel about them. Yet he was
| very discreet as TO himself and always
/ assumed. aa TO his lIfo when np-
/ preached, nm air % secrecy. Ito was
/ an excellent shot with q rifle. His
/ daughter ~ married 60 white man and
l she ~ an expert hunter. and seems to
/ possess an Instinct Ia tracking any kind
| Of game.
! For years Dick made his home ON the
l meadows at the mouth OF Teton canyon.
| about nvc miles above MILFORD. in 10
] most romantic spot. whore the Htcpp hin
| Sides and PERCEPTIONS rocks almost
/ fenced them Ia. Here, at his death
/ which occurred last April, he left his
| family requesting them a. live good
/ lives and u retain the home
The secrets that brought this unique
| character 90 the West ID buried with
| him ON the top OF the hill above the
house whore his grave was made at his
request MS he wished to be- laid 20 rest
! Ia that spot
one by one OF the old time noun
tnlneor or squawmen arr passing away
and the tales Of the wild and wooIly
West they told Il all that " left u
! them.
Beaver Dick had dude out once who
/ was very DESTROYS OF killing "a moose.
| Dick gUt on the trail and atalked Il
10 whore the dude was 90 shoot. fear
Ing that he might loose the game or
miss u " he shot from the horse the
dude got on and had 10 leave his horse
some distance behind; Dick had turned
the moose ana u came quite near the
dude when he shot-the animal fell aud
the dude dropped his gun. ran forward
| with hiA knife 20 cut To- throat when
the cntugcd animal sprang Go ita feet
ANA made for hin, who took to u small
tree up which he climbed IN "a hurry
| while the ungerod animal stamped Un
the ground and thumpcd the tree with
| lta heavy uutlrrs while the dude much
! frightened hung 20 the branches The
sight was almost too much for Dick
who roarcd with laughter and allowed
the performance 10 20 on until the
crnzcd moose turned 20 40. when 10 shot
from his rifle finished tho game. Tho
Crvsitallun dude descended from the
tree nud know he had seen moose.
one uf Dicks last adventures was
with bear which he met ln % narrow
deule, u scared the colt he was ridlnH
30 IL threw him, then The bear at.
tackled the old man ana u Il had not
been for the timely arrival and brave
efforts of his squaw II would have In.
ished Dicks career
His whole life was full NJ adventure
IN the chase, lie was peculiar In many
ways ana as rcvongefil for nm injury
uH an Indian. Yet to those IN distress
he was kind, ana many OF the poor set.
tiers on the Snake river were helped
TO fresh meat from the game that Dick
gave them.
Many tourists and early travellers In
the Teton and Yellowstone regions
knew Beaver Dick and many awaited
themselves OF his valuable services Il
guide them 10 the bs"ni- of no Co.,