Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-02-21

Trapper, boatman, interpreter. trad
er and freight-captain by turns, Felix
Michaud had, when l knew him, spent
40 years in the Upper Missouri and
Platte countries. Short, stocky, OF
great breadth of shoulder and uncom-
mon strength, he was of iron endur-
ance at 60. He was man OF singu-
larly placid and even temper. yet OF
most adventurous spirit, cool, de-
termined, alert, seeming never to be
taken by surprise.
He was my captain in wagon
march from the Northern Pacific road
to the Black Hills when every mile
of our route from old Fort Fetterman
was beset by hostile Sioux. Three
times they attacked, only to find
Michaud ready to receive them. The
close order of our march and the un-
renting vigilance exacted by our
leader undoubtedly saved the band of
35 adventures.
When Felix Michaud went to Fort
Bridger from the Missouri country in
1910 or thereabouts, he was young
man, untried among the trapper COM
panies. Some weeks after his arrival,
and in the time of revels at summer
rendezvous, he had the misfortune,
unwittingly, to provoke one of Brldg-
er's fire-eaters, hot-headed trapper
who could not brook to be crossed
without fighting. Felix was immedi-
ately challenged to fight. the challenger
naming his own weapons-rif1es at 60
PAGES.
The peaceful Canadian, however
not only refused to fight, but attempt
ed to explain that he had meant no
offensa. This breach of frontier eti-
quette could not. of course, be over
looked, so Michaud was branded
"squaw" and promptly cut by most
of his new associates.
Some days later the offended trap
per, somewhat in liquor, attacked
Michaud with a pistol. declaring he
would blow the "sQuaw Kanuck's
brains OUT if he did not immediate
ly get gun and fight, whereupon
Felix promptly disarmed his opponent,
seized the astonished trapper by the
belt, bore him outside the forts de-
IenCeS, uHU uullS Ill., hSSh anu hSS'S'
into BLACK Fork swimming-hole.' y
This matter raised such laugh
against the trapper that he did not re-
new his attack. In fact, when sober.
he laughed as much about the affair
as any one.
Nevertheless, such was the mountain
code that Michaud's reputation was
not fully established. ''Kanuck, as
he came to be called, was tolerated
merely as good man at taking
beaver, and handy about the camps.
Two years later he was trappir,s
with a small band near, or within
territory now included in the National
park. Among these little-frequented
mountains he and his companions
gathered so great harvest of peltries
that when spring came their small
outfit of ponies was found inadequate
to pack all to the fort. Months of hot
weather must elapse before the expe-
dition could return, and no cache
would preserve the furs from spelling
so long 1t thus became necessary to
leave a man behind--one who could be
trusted to care for the furs, and also
to hold the ground against invasion
from rival company.
The choice of a man was determined
by lo., but Michaud was left out Of the
drawing Some thought he would re-
joice at this, but the young Canadian
was much hurt at his comrades lack
of confidence in him. When the un-
lucky member. Haze" Fenton, eX
pressed a conviction that he should
never see Fort Bridger again and made
some final requests Of friend,
Michaud promptly volunteered TO stay
with him. The trappers were sur
prised but offered no objection to his
remaining.
Thus Felix and the big, raw-boned
Yankee, Haze, were left in a mountain
wilderness to guard some thousands
of dollars worth OF furs. AS their
winter dugout was getting damp for
| the peltries, they fell to work with
| their 'ayes, and built upon the bank
of a small lake a pine-log shack with
a rough wareroom overhead for stor-
age
NrthS iHNo
trappers fished, hunted, picked ber-
ries. or lounged about in enforced
idleness, Notwithstanding there were
hostile tribes at no great distance
| they saw no man, red or white, for
four months. and were looking for
ward TO the return,sof their friends
when Haze came in one evening from
ramble about the lake, wearing I
sober face.
"Kanuck." he said, setting down his
rife. we've got comp'ny on this lake
and mighty poor sort. Lope Vas
quez and his gang. six of en-, are
campei down here way
Michaud said nothing. but his face
must have shown the concern he fell
at this piece OF unwelcome news.
Lope Vasquez. cousin of Bridger''
Spanish Mexican partner, had beer
employed by the trader. William Sub