Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-05-20

fort, and swap stories about their trap
} ping and hunting experiences.
Jim Bridger spent considerable Of the
l winter at the fort as did Ducharme
: Louis Anderson. Jim Baker. Joe Baker
L'Humphrie and Others. These were all
names of men highly respected by the
frontiersmen, most OF them men who
) had spent years in the mountain regions
) trading with the Indians and trapping.
Bridger Told of Park
Bridger had been northward into the
Montana country on several trips and
had seen the glories of Yellowstone park.
Talk frequently was diverted to the sub
Ject and many OF the pioneers became
interested. Hunting In that section was
said to be unusually good. So in the
spring when a party was organized for an
expedition to the Snake river country. it
was decided to make a trip through the
park country. All of the trappers men,
toned here, with the exception OF Bridg-
er, were with the party when 1t started.
The journey was made by slow stages
hunting and trapping en- route. The
country south OF the park. in what IL
now known as Jackson's hole, was ira
versed and there quantities OF wild elk.
deer. buffalo, mountain sheep and goats
were seen. For some time the party
camped at Jackson's lake and there cap
tured a large number Of excellent speci-
mems OF beaver in the traps.
Moving northward the party crossed
the continental divide and struck the
upper Yellowstone, known to old timers
as Elk river. Moving down the river they
were greatly charmed by the scenery. and
the various springs in the vicinity OF the
lake proved q marvel to them. At the
lower end OF the lake large quantities of
beaver and otter were captured.
Camped at the Lake
Near the upper end Of the lake on the
north side the party built a corral, a
prairie about half a mile In length fur
nishing a fine place for their horses to
run. After they had been there q few
days some OF the party. who had been
out trapping and shooting. brought In
reports OF Indians. and preparations were
made to defend the camp.
Additional poles were placed In the
corral and he horses were all rounded
up. The work was done SO that the
structure had the appearance of a small
fort. Not far away were a number OF
boulders. Water was brought from the
lake n stock was taken Of the ammu-
milton. Fortunately the trappers were
exceedingly we'll equipped In this respect
as they had taken on a large amount at
Fort Bridger from traders. who had re-
Gently arrived from the east.
These preparations were wisely made
for they had not been completed until
the advance scouts OF the Piegans APP
peared and made an effort to drive off
the stock, being repulsed by the trappers,
who succeeded in getting the animals
into the corral. When the main body OF
Indians arrived they decided to charge.
probably believing that there were only
q few trappers in the party and that such
a large number of Indians would have
no trouble overcoming them.
Redmen Killed In Charge
The charge proved to be a costly one
for q large number Of the redmen fell
to the deadly aim of the trap
pers and the indians made q hasty re-
treat out Of shooting distance of the COR
raj n held a war council Night was
fast approaching and when darkness ar
rived the Indians managed to crawl suf-
f1ciently close to the corral to recover
the bodies OF their dead, though in an
attempt to get close to the corral several
Of the redskins paid for their efforts with
their lives.
Bows and arrows we're the principal
weapons used by the Piegans. though
were a few Hudson's Bay trade
guns In the band, but the redmen seemed
to lack ammunition, as little use was
made Of the fire arms. The battle lasted
all OF the second day, the Indians hold
ing the trappers inside Of the enclosure
and preventing them from getting to a
water supply. AS a result the supply had
70 be conserved n by night most OF 1t
was gone.
With darkness, however, 1t was de-
to replenish 1t and some of the
party volunteered to go to the and
'eturn with the water. They managed
20 evade the watchful redskins and Sc
,ured plenty OF water both for the men,
the horses. At the enc Of the fol-
owing day after an Intellectual charge on
he corral In which several more OF the
'edmen were killed, they beat a retreat
,aking with them their dead and wound
there being several score Of the for
ner.
Five Trappers Killed
Five OF the rrappers were killed and
heir bodies were buried near the lake,
>eing so covered that the Indians would
lot be able to ascertain the graves n
iig them up to get the scalps. A large
lumber Of the trappers received wounds
n the engagement and as o result the
,arty had to camp some time longer I'M
IL the wounded had sufficiently recov-
red to travel.
Leaving the lake the trappers took an,
indian trail and soon struck a warm
pring creek. nj followed 1T down to q.
arge river, which at that time was UNI
.noWn to the trappers. 1T was the Madi-
one Of the sources of the Missouri.
The party spent the remainder of the
ummer and fall hunting and trapping
n the country to the northwest and
vest of the national park, returning to
'ort Bridger for the winter. and most OF
he leaders spent the winters immedi-
tely following. there.
Made Notes on topography
Careful notes on the topography of the
ountry traversed were made and from
hem Louis Anderson and the Baker
used to regale the trappers that
altered at the fort in the cold months
18th stories of the wonders that existed
t the head OF Elk water yellowstone
Iver).
They described accurately the lake, the
springs at the upper end OF the lake.
Springs on the south side, the
'wer end or the lake. Vinegar and Peli-
an creeks, Sulphur mountain, Yellow
one falls n the mud geysers and ex-
lained the relations of these more lucid
than any map could show them.
Stories OF their trip to the park were
arried east to Independence, Mo-, where
he trappers QUILTED. and from there on
.rther east, but they were passed by as
I'D mountaineers' stories" and It was
ot until years afterwards that Ameri-
ms came to realize the wonderful beau
es and marvellous scenery of the region
here for two days pioneer trappers ana
Indians fought a life and death
ruggle.
Farm accounts are necessary in anaIyz-
& n reorganizing the farm business