The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27

best we knew how, when We discovered that tn
strangers were white men We had never e1pocte,
TO meet anything but Indians in that wild country
On they came, big, strong, broad -shouldered
axcn-hairod and blueeyed man In the lead rid
ing as fine saddle animal as ever saw. They
were now quite close; they came within few pacet
and stopped
How" said the big man
How, how" we exclaimed shaking hand
with him in turn
Who are you" he asked free trappcrs?-
"No," replied. we belong to the company
And your
MY names Brdger" he said. Jim Bridgcr
Maybe you've heard OF me"
| We had. There wasn't a man west Of the
Mississippi who did not know him OF know OF
him, for he was the greatest hunter. uapper and
indian tighter OF us all. As We rode along with
him and his men TO their camp. we told of the hgh,
| We had witnessed the day before and advised
Bridger TO move at once as We were sure there
| was a big camp OF Indians in the vicinity. he
| laughed, and Just then We came TO the edge OF the
| valley and with a sweep OF his hand he said
| Does that look like much like running?"
| IL didn't around number Of small fires his
men-cghty in ALL as we aftorward learncd-were
willing away the time smoking, cooking clean
ing guns and mending clothes"
| No., said Brdger. as he noticed our asonish-
| moht we only move when get ready TO aud
God help tho Indian outfit that tries to stop us
We've fought our way out here and we can fight
| some more"
This was BIdgcrs first trip into the Yellow
stone country. he having before always trapped
south Of 1t He told us that he had left ST Louis
| In July and had fought his way through the
country OF The Sioux. the Pawnee, the Cheyenne
and the Crow and that he intended TO winter where
ever he could find good fur country. Well
We Joined in with him. and next day once more
moved westward. 1t was on the Bighorn that we
met him. and little did we think that twenty six
years later our soldiers would be buchcred
by the Indians there We travelled on up the Vel
lowstone for number of days until we came 10
tho mountains where, on little tributary of
the river, We built some cabins, got everything
In shape for the winter. and then spread out over
the country each for himself in search of beaver
and other fur. Bridger was sick nearly all winter
but kept doctoring himself with various roots he
found, and along toward spring recovered his
health He was unable 10 do any trapping him
self but his men got big pile OF fur--bcaver otter
fisher and martcn Of which he owned a share
II was his intention 10 turn his furs over TO the
American Fur Company. aud get drafts for them
on St Louis, so when spring came, we all packed
up and started for the nearest post, which was
Fort Cotton, situated on the Missouri about forty
miles below the Great Falls
I'VE crossed the Yellowstone and swung IN into
the Musselshell country, trapping lcisurely along
the way and by tho time we reached the point
OF tho Snowy Mountains our animals even the
saddle horses, were heavily loaded with furs
and skins that they could carry no more AT that
nn1e oil year the beaver trapping was at its best
ana they were so numerous that everyone hated
TO quit work. So we made big cache of our furs
each ono putting a tag with his name his bundle
Three men were then sent 10 tho fort 10 notify
the company 10 come and haul in the furs, and
tho rest Of us continued on our course skirtng
the foot Of the Snowy. the Judith and the Belt
mountains ! never saw beaver more plentiful
and il was not long before our horses were again
well laden. II was in the latter part Of April tina,
We came 10 the Missouri. exactly where the city
OF Great Falls stands today All the morning
we had seen occasional Indians riding and lodging
about ahead OF us, and finally, when we came
TO tho river. and could look up the valley of the
Sun River. which puts in there, We were not sur
prisod 10 string of lodges scattered along
the edge Of tho timber far the eye could reach
"Bridger." l said, Those are surely tho Black
feet and we've got 10 fight them. Don't you think
we had better find better place 10 camp than this
unprotected fiat?
NO" he replied This is good enough for us
II they como at here, reckon they Il get their
bellyful Of trouble"
Il said no more and we went into camp beside the
river, at the upper end Of the at which the city
Is built Night came on, and the horses were all
brought in, hobbled and staled close to the river
and We made down our beds in a circle about them
each one piling his furs. saddles and whatever he
had at the head Of his couch as a sort Of breast
work. Double guards put on, and bctimes
the rest OF us turned in don't think many OF us
slept much at first, and time seemed 10 pass mighty
4 Ali, a.
Bndger himself taking turn. 1t was Just day
light when some one sung out and at the same
moment the air was filed with whoops, yclls and
the high keyed war song OF about four hundred
Indians as they charged down on us from all
directions
Don't get excited, boys, and be sure OF yer aim
Take it easy. now" Brdger hollered out
Well, twas good advice, and we did our best but
tell you the sight OF four hundred yelling painted
and befeathered Indians coming down on you lust
as fast as their horses could was mig hty trying
on ones nerves. guess they expected TO find US
asleep and to stampede our horses in the first round
But when our rifles began to crack and some OF
them began tumbling out Of their saddles, they
were more surprised than VIC and they turned and |
wheeled off Some Of them tried to pick up thei,
dead, but We made 1t too hot for them One fello-,
who had his horse shot under him as he was trying
this, lit out running, and guess many as doz-
en- bullets struck him at once He tumbed az in a |
heap They had done some shooting tos, and
two OF our men were dead and one wounded Be
sides that some of our horses had been shot We
could count eleven Indians lying out on the plain
here and there and some Of the boys storted out to
scalp them and did get the hair of several of tho
nearest ones But that brought the others back
gain, and for d few minutes we had another excit
ingtme, as some Of the bravest came right at us
II the rest had followed them il would have been all
day with us; but they didn't have the nerve and of
those who did attempt to Gloss in U.S. few got
away. One great, tall fellow had his horse shot
from under him and when ho struck the ground no
made for Brdger holding wicked-looking war
club in his right hand and knife In the other
His gun was empty and he had thrown it away
"Brdger just laughed as he saw him come and
motoned us toilet him alone. His gun was empty,
too, but he had a pistol In his bolt He wouldn't
use that though, When they met the Indian
aimed blow at him with his war club but Bridger
caught it the barrel of his rife and 1t flew away
Cd TO one side. Then the Indian tried To knife him
and Bndger Just punched him with his rifle barrel
70 the fellow couldn't close in. and all OF sudden
be hit him square in the forehead and SIN ashed his