Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-04-29

with him yesterday. When Bridger's
daughter in Kansas City brought suit
against the Lasky-Paramount company
for defamation of her fathers character.
claiming he was a clean, hard working
man. attorneys for the Aim company
came to my home near Kendall and Sc
cured my deposition as to the facts.
Those attorneys told me at the time they
had looked all over the United States to
find a man h had personal knowledge
of Bridger and his life on the plains"
Mr.. Schoolcraft is a nonagenarian. In
fact a few weeks ago he celebrated his
distance" while he can read ordinary
typewriter copy without the aid OF
glasses. He is a light eater, leaning heav-
lily to a milk diet. He never drinks cof-
fee. tea. nor any alcoholic liquors and
never uses tobacco.
When anything hurts me I never
touch 1t again." he remarked. When a
boy l ate some black cherries and fol-
lowed with cheese. The combination was
too much and / never tried 1t since,
When I came to Michigan in 1855 every
body had the ague. / called q doctor
once, the single time in my life"
Mr.. Schoolcraft was born near the city
of Quebec. March 80. 1894. His family
early showed a liking for Michigan. Long
before Kalamazoo was known as a rude
frontier settlement. George Diamond
grandfather. came into this valley, tax
ing up land near the Kalamazoo river In
to the remarkable age OF 104 years and is
the oldest man buried In this vicinity.
Starts Hunt for Gold
When 81 years old young ~Schoolcraft
caught the western fever and in 1855
landed In Detroit.
In 1854 he succumbed to the search
for gold and Travelled west to Omaha
urbara he {O{~aJ n ~~un-> 4N-o
van headed to the Far West. 1t was on
this trip he met Jim Bridger. His ac-
count of the trip is interesting.
I'VE followed the North Platte west
ward to the Red Buttes," he said, then
took the cut of, or short route to vir-
ginia City. We forded as many streams
as possible, though at both the Yellow
stone n Big Horn river crossings 1t was
necessary for us to build heavy scow
boats to cross the streams. All the time
we were on the lookout for Indians, pass
ing as we did through the hostile Grow
and Blackfeet country.
Lauds covered Wagon"
THE Covered Wagon is true to life.
Twice I saw hat great film and every
foot of it brought back to me incidents
of our life on the trail. When Bridger
rode into the picture. he was SO natural
and perfect as to make up and costume
that l knew him perfectly.
speaking OF Bridger, he was our guide
on the trip west n though paid by the
government, agreed for a special fee to
take us where gold was plentiful. We
hit the spot and prospected, but no gold
was in sight anywhere. The train held
a council Of war n at one time 1t
looked as though Bridger might pay the
penalty, but finally we voted to spare hts
life and allow him to lead III on to Vir-
ginia City.
II remained a few months in that wiIo
camp. 1t was without law or order anc
life had no value. / saw 40 highwaymer
buried along the roadside and one OF the
Fgraves held the body Of their leader, the
sheriff OF the county. ! soon tired o.
THAT n returned to Omaha by way Of
FIT. Kearney and FIT. Laramie.
Helped Build Railroad
Just at that time plans for the build
ing of the mo- Pacific westward were
perfected and our gang of men went II
miles north Of Omaha and got out the
first ties used for the right of way"
MIR. Schoolcraft returned to Michigan
In 1855 and bought 80 acres of land In
Pine Grove township and his made hi,
home there since that time.