The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-02-25
FITZPATRICK A
DARING HUNTER

The Inter-Mounta1n Catholic says:
Conspicuous among the daring hum
| ters and free trappers of Utah and
the intermountain regions In the early
days Of the fur companies was Thomas
Fitzpatrick. friend and companion OF
Ttienne Proyot and James Bridger.
Fitzpatrick was grand uncle of Rt
Hon. Sir Charles Fitzpatrick. K. c..
NJ. G, now chief justice of the supreme
court of the Dominion and member Of
the board of governors OF the Catholic
Church Extension society for the Do
minion Of Canada
He joined the Northwest Fur COM
pany at Montreal. Canada. In 1919,
at about the time Peter Skeen Ogden
OF the same company was leaving
Vancouver to open a trading post in
the Wasatch range OF the Rocky noun
tains. The fur traders both Of the
Hudson's Bay company and the Can
adian Northwest company penetrated
TO the Rocky mountains and, west
ward still, to the streams flowing into
the Great Salt lake. years before the
American trappers entered the coun-
try. and the names of many of the
early explorers are perpetuated in the
rivers and lakes which are found in
thds vast territory. 1t Is not too much
to say that the fur traders were tho
pioneers of civilization In these I'M
menso regions. They undertook the
most fatiguing Journeys with the
greatest pluck and fortitude, they ex-
plored tho land and made It's wealth
known to the outposts Of civilization.
In 1872 the long and violent conflict
and rivalry between the Northwest
and the Hudson's Bay companies was
ended by coalition of the companies.
When the coalition was effcted Og-
den and Fitzpatrick were in the Wa
satoh region. Peter Skeen Ogden
latter whom Ogden City is named)
was British subject, the son OF Chief
Justice ogden Of Quebec. This Is the
Ogden who In our histories is men
toned as the discoverer of Humboldt
river which had been discovered and
was we'll known to the Spaniards long
before Ogden was born Ogden. after
the union Of the English Fur COM
panies. continued as purchasing agent
Of the Eudson's Bay company, retain
Ing in his encourage the French Can
adian trappers. hunters and traders
of the Northwest company, who had
followed him from Canada
Although wild and reckless at times
these hardy men were remarkable for
ouedle0ce to their suDeTiors fOY their
unequalled skill In handling the pad.
die. their strength and endurance and
their facility in adapting themselves
to the habits and peculiarities Of the
Indian tribes. They were the great
est bush-rangers and canoe men OF
their time. and long before the advent
OF the American trapper hunter and
frontiersman, had penetrated vast re.
gions and trapped the beaver streams
of the great west. With the help of
these men Ogden had accumulated for
his company vast supply OF valuable
furs, worth 1t is said. $4,000. At
about this time-1S23-Ash and
Henry with their hunters entered the
Green River valley region and began
moving into Ogdens territory.
The Hudson Bay chief, fearing for
his precious furs. removed them by
night from tho warehouse and hid
cached-them in a neighboring valley
(now Cache valley. from the French
word Cache. meaning hiding place.
Ashley bribed some of Ogdens
men. stole the furs and escaping to the
MISSOURI. sold his rich haul at st,
Louis and laid the foundations OF a
great fortune. After this misfortune
Ogden broke camp and retired to the
columbia region. He died at Oregon
CITY 1854, In the Goth year of his age.
his companion. Thomas Fitzpatrick.
remained In the Rocky mountain re.
gion as an independent trapper and
huhter. When he Joined the Rocky
mountain Fur company In 1924 he was
welcomed as one of the "fairost
straishtest squarest" men of the west