Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-04-25

! On the morning of September 1
while Corners forces were preparing
for tae days march down Tongue
river, the distant report of cannon
was heard, supposed to have been
fired on the Rosebud. Believing Cole
and Walkers combined forces were
in that direction General Conner sent
out Captain North with 20 scouts, &C.
companied by detachment OF ~
Ohio cavalry under Captain Marshall,
to communicate with them.
| Marshall's men were ex-confeder-
ate soldiers, taken prisoners during
Morgan's raid in OHIO, and were re-
enlisted in the Union army to fight
the Sioux Indians in Nebraska and
Dakota. The detached reconnoiter-
ing force travelled westward through
the Wolf mountains, camping the
first night at strategic point in a
wild and gloomy gorge. There, at
the midnight hour, they were awak-
ened by the dismal howl of "medl-
cine wolf" which old Bridger said
was a supernatural animal, whose
bowling would bring disaster to their
camp unless they Immediately chang
ed it. This the men refused to do.
Again tae mountain wolf uttered
it's long, quavering, blood curdling
100000! wild, weird howl, the cad
ences echoing and re-echoing along a
ghostly ridge, looming on through
tangled CLEANS of shadowlight.
James Bridger, Nick Jeanisse and
half-breed named Rulo, being SUI
perstitious, and frightened by the
peculiar bowling, took up their
blankets and struck out for new
camp.
AS they started out, Bridger said:
''It is not a buffalo wolf; their hun
cry howl would be only a coyotes
yelp in comparison" The half-breed
took with him, Indian fashion, piece
of dried buffalo meat and the sound
of retreating footsteps was enlivened
with the following words:
"Ho, Shunka, ishula Wakon: -
you lone dog spirit-"are you hun
cry? take this
That section of country, within the
present state of Wyoming, is water
ed by the upper branches of the yell
lowstone, the Big Horn, Rosebud and
Powder rivers; partly girt by outly-
ing spurs Of the Big Horn, Wind river
and Panther mountains.
A wild region, in the early days,
unsurpassed in its game resources
the Absaraka" of the Indians, which
interpreted means, "Home of the
Crows" that predatory war tribe, so
wildly portrayed in Washington Irv-
ing's victoria; over whose hunting
grounds Wilson Hunt led party of
trappers and fur-traders on his way
to the Columbia river in 1851.
The Crow Indians loved their
mountain home, and fought despar-
ately to keep it; but they were de-
feated and driven further north by
the allied tribes of Cheyennes, Black
feet and Arrapahoes; who were found
in undisputed possession in 1865.
Being superstitious, the Sioux in
vaders believed that many spirits of
the dead returned to the hunting
grounds of Absaraka, in the form of
wolf or some other wild animal that
represented their old clan; making
themselves known usually at night,
as they roamed over wild and isolat-
ed portions of the country.
/ In consequence Of that belief the
Dakota tribes made feasts for the
ghosts, both good and bad, which
they would not for anything omit,
especially in a land taken from an
other tribe.
Hence, the superstitious belief of
Jim Bridger and many other old trap
pers. who lived with the Indians in
their wild life beyond the borders of
civilization.
Bridger was a noted character
hunting and trapping for many years
on the wild western plains, having
lived for almost half a century roam
| ing with the Indians-being at one
time partner in the Missouri Fur
company, and with General Ashley
in his battle with the Arickaras, in
1928.
Bridger was good guide, who
could point out and name all the
principal landmarks along the old
historic trails that led from Platte
river to the Yellowstone. He was
great story teller, and when "draw-
ing the long bow" was inclined to
boast Of his marvellous adventures
among the wild Indians, but was
cautious in battle, to the verge of
cowardly action. Charles Lerpen-
teur, in chapter II, volume I, OF his
Forty Years a Fur Trader on the
Upper Missouri" presents vivid pen
picture Of Jim Bridger, in his narra-
tive describing a battle fought with
the Sioux near old Fort Union at the
mouth Of the Yellowstone in 1914
The tragedy at old Fort Union as
told by Larpenteur. is the following
interesting story,
Nothing unusual transpired at
Fort Union until late in November,
when Jim Bridger and his men $50
ttrappers) made their appearance,
having come from Milk river with
tae intention of passing the winter
with us. Mr.. Laidlaw, who was In
charge at the time, offered him all
/ the assistance he could afford to make
Il is winter pleasant and comfortable;
and SO Bridger pitched his camp one
half mile below the fort. Iii = .i:,3
THE main substance of Bridger's
conversation was his brave men. fast
horses and fights with the Blackfeet,
until we we're induced to believe that
with such q party to defend us, there