Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-01-17
JoHnsroh5 Amy AT FORT BRlDoER IN 1857
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

sA-~ have been upon OCCASION but It Will
be a museum-monument to perpetuate the fame OF
Jim Bridger. trapper, trader, scout, pathfinder,
Indlan-fghter and one Of the most remarkable
characters In many respects the American from
tier ever produced.
For the people OF uinta, Lincoln and Sweet
water counties in Wyoming are planning to restore
Fort Bridger by raising enough money through
popular subscription to purchase the land In
Uinta county upon which the few remaining struc-
lures OF the fort stand and present It to the state
of Wyoming for maintenance as the Fort Bridger
Historical park. They also plan to erect museum
there In which will be preserved the historical.
relics OF that section Of the country and ask che
state to appoint custodian OF these relics and
of the historical records which will be collected
In 1t.
IF this nlan s carried out, the restored Fort
Bridger will not only be memorial to the man
who built 1t and gave 1t his name, but II Will also
he symbol OF the whole thrilling history OF the
trans Missouri West. For past Fort Bridger In It's
strategic location the trail to Oregon and to
the California gold fields, streamed the whole
magnificent pageant OF the West II the ghosts OF
the old trading post would talk they could tell
romantic tae--of Indians and traders and trap
pers In the brave old days OF Kit Carson and
the mountain men, "when beaver was money;
OF pony express riders and overland stage drivers
OF Ben Holiday, the owner OF the Overland
Stage line and his division superintendent, Jim
Slade the killer; OF Brigham Young and his
Mormons trekking west In 1917 to their promised
land; of the emgrants, maddened with the lust
for the shining metal OF the California gold fields;
OF Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston and his army en-
route to Salt Lake City for the mormon war;
OF Uncle Sans cavalrymen who rode out from
Fort BrIdger when the Utes or Shoshones took the
war trail and OF hundred other famous frontier
names and stirring events.
OF the history OF Fort Bridger Itself, Arthur
Chapman, the man who Is known best because he
once told In poetry "lvhere the West Begins" but
who Is also d well-nformed historian OF the Old
West has written as follows.
In 1912 Fort Brldger founded Since 1884
the little valley OF Blacks Fork had been a trap
pers' rendezvous. Beaver abounded In nearby
streams and there was abundance Of buffalo,
deer and elk. Besides, It was on highway which
was being used by those on their way to the Ore
gon country. Uncle Jack Robinson, an od-time
trapper. is said to have persuaded Brdger OF the
many advantages OF trading post on the Blacks
Fork site.
The first building put up by Brldger block
house. or rather two houses Joined. surrounded
by a fence eight feet high, made OF logs which
were set three feet In the ground. In 1916, after
successful trading business In furs had been
established Auguste vasquez became BrIdgers
partner.
Brdger and vasquez continued In partnership
till 1854, when they sold out to Louis Robinson
who was said to represent the Mormons and to be
acting under orders from Brigham Young. In cor.
roboraton OF this the War department says: The
Mormons set up claim to the land on which the
post was located on the ground OF a conveyance
from James Brldger, who was said TO hold Span
ish grant for the same"
1t is probable that Bridger did have some sort
OF title from the Mexican government He estab
lIshed Fort Bridger six years before the United
States came into possession Of that part OF ths
country through the War Of 1848. Mexican grants
In New Mexico and Colorado were numerous ant
there Is no to disbelleve Bridgcrs claim
though no official record has ever been found Is
confirm It.
The price paid by the Mormons for Fort Bridge
was $780, half of which was ION the NALL" Before
the remainder paid the mormon War
began Fort Brdger became too hot for the Nor
mons, but Brdger is said to have made persona
journey to Salt Lake City and collected the $500
DUE The United States government TOOK over tn
property and disaowed Bridger's claim for ST.
years rental at 5000 year on the ground tina
no official copy OF the Spanish land grant wa
found.
Louis Robinson rebuilt the fort In 1855. TIL
walls were IA feet high and 100 feet square, bull
OF stone On diagonal corners bastions i
big corral was built against the fort The locat
WAS then part OF Utah and the Mormons main
tained affairs at the fort until 1857, when tn
scvArrrnnnt dinnatetph military force to su,