New-York tribune., 1905-01-01
Foreign Resorts.


,..o q, ~,r. a stream which divides the pass
nar+ of the water flowing into the HeiloWsIoiis
River and thence to the Atlantic ocean anu P-'l'
through the Snake River TO the Pacinc oee',''
These two streams are known as the AuSA'-
and the Pacific rivers. Fish by THESE
mass from, one side of the divide TO the Quiet
The mass IS one Of the curiosities or felo"s'oN9
Park. ~
Bridger In his field was man OF Close o0-
servation and correct deduction N''A'iiS
which was of value IN detecting the "pp''o
or presence OF friends or enemies !"
termining the best route to be taken the 0eSt
spot to camp or the presence OF game
him. He seemed TO be able to determine the points
or the comnass and the direction which souid
be taken through unknown country TO reach
certain place by intuition. General Dodge tens
this about his qualities a mounta'Heef anu
trapper: "He could tell whether an OBJECT hVs
or six miles away was man or an ahiiIiaal, . a.
Indian or a white man or the klnu OF aIi,li' -
He could tell this by the general attltuoe ..
the object IL it was human pelhs, 9Itan 9II
stood still, he would say that IL was an 1iuies- ~
who had discovered his party. for Wilte ., nla,n
would not keep still. The Indian Woulu I0nloall It
in that position until the approaching partJ
came near enough to learn all about IT, 5i
eral Dodge illustrates Bridgers aDiilty ,.t IN tls
direction by quoting from description written
by Captain II. E. Palmer 11th kansas Cav
airy +, .o,,
II was riding In the extreme ADVANCE III COA4-
pany with Major Bridger." Captain PalheT
wrote. I'VE were two thousand yards at least
ahead of the general (P. e. Connor) and ms
staff. Our Pawnee scouts were on each hdhk
and a little in advance. At that time there was
no advance guard Immediately In front AS the
major and myself reached the top of the hill we
invOluntarily halted our steeds. raised my
field glass to my eyes and took In the gTahaesS lS
view had even seen ~ = brantb of air stir
ring. The old major, sitting upon his horse Win
his eyes shaded with his hands, had been tell
ing me for an hour or more ABOUT ms inolaI % ne
his forty years experience on the plains, tellllS
me how TO trail Indians and distinguish the
tracks of different tribes; how every spear or
grass every tree and shrub and stone was a
Compass to the experienced trapper and hunter
subject that had discussed with him nearly
every day.
you see those ere columns Of smoke over yon-
der?' replied: Where, major? he answered.
over there by that ere saddle. meaning a de-
preston in the hills not unlike the shape of
saddle, pointing at the same time 10 point
nearly fifty miles away. l again raised my siasS
to my eyes and took long, earnest look' ana
for the life of could not see any column OF
smoke, even with a strong field glass. Ihe
major was looking without any artlnclaI help:
In the long distance, like smoke, but there were
no distinct columns of smoke IN sight. AS soon
as the general with his staff arrived called MS
attention to Major Bridger's discovery. The
general raised his field glasses and scanned the
horizon closely. After long look he remarked
that there were no columns of smoke to be seen,
The major quietly mounted his horse and rode
on. I asked the general to look again. that the
major was very confident that he could see
columns OF smoke. which. of course indicated
an Indian village. The general made another
examination and again asserted that there was
no column Of smoke. However, TO satisfy GU
riosity and to give our guides no chance 10
claim that they had shown us an Indian village
and we would not attack IL. he suggested to
Captain Frank North. who was riding with his
staff that he go with seven OF his Indians IN
the direction indicated and reconnoitre and 10
report TO US on Peneau Creek or Tongue River,
down which were to march. L gaHoped on
and overlook the major, and as came up 20
him overheard his remark about these damn
paper collar soldiers telling him there were 10
columns of smoke. The old man was very in
dignant at our doubling his ability to outsee US,
with the aid of field glasses even. Just after
sunset on August 27 two OF the Pawnees who
went out with Captain North toward Brtdgers
column of smoke two days previous came into
camp with the information that Captain North
had discovered an Indian village"
General Connor captured this village the next
day in a fight known as the Battle OF Tongue
River.
Major Bridger's eyesight did not last. for the
last few years of his life were spent IN the twi-
light of partial blindness.
Major Brdger had three wives In the course
of his life. They all squaws, one being the
daughter of a Flathead chief. another a Ute and
the third Snake Indian