Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-01-17


of mountaIneers was organized. Volunteer troops
from California and Nevada were later put IN
charge until 1866 when the army again came IN.
When the territory OF Wyoming was formed ID
1863, Fort BrIdger was included
MANY old trappers remained about the fort
during the changes TINT were taking place. Fort
Brdger WAS the most important stop on the over
land Trail to California after Fort Laramie
thriving business was done In repairing wagons
and selling supplies to the emigrants who were
headed westward The trappers we're In demand
as guides as they knew the ms and outs OF Indian
warfare md were expert In guarding against sur
prise attacks One OF the most celebrated ngures
OF those DAYS was uncle Jack" Robinson, one OF
Brdger's rfonies
with the establishment OF the Overland stage
line and tte pony express Fort Bridger became
OF additional Importance part OF the old build
In which served as the pony express station Is
still standing. The stones used IN building the OLD
Mormon fort have been Incorporated in smaller
buildings which were later used as storehouses
by the military authorities.
Many expeditions were sent out from Fort
Bridrer to protect pony express riders or Overland
stages from Indian attacks. The stage company
kent large number Of horses and mules at the
fort The company's live stock was the best OBJ
tanable and the Indians were constantly endeayor-
ne to steal IT, In addition there were white out
laws who were specialists In horse stealing and
Without military protection from Fort Bridger
and other posts along the line, the stage company
would have been forced out OF business.
AS II was 1t had to change to moreesoutnerly
and considerably safer route east OF Fort Bridger
when concerted raid OF Shoshone and Arapahoe
Indians resulted In stripping the company OF every
horse and mule within distance OF 300 miles.
Stock was run off from stage stations In this raid,
and stages were held UP and horses and mules
taken out OF harness. though no passengers were
killed.
Fort Bridger was typicay wild West post
for several years. An occasional had man
cropped up and had to be dealt with summarily
In accordance with frontier justice.
The most celebrated killer" whose name is
associated with Fort Brldger was Joseph A. Sade
who had been division superintendent OF the Over
land, west OF Julesbnrg, Colo. Slade figures In
Mark Twan's ..Roughng IT. At the time he met
the future writer Slade Is said to have killed
% men, He WAS but on to "clean up. the stage
division but did not rest with killing horse thieves
and outlaws He became so promscuous In his
shooting affairs that the stage company invited
him to leave Slade drifted West to Fort Brdger
but he did not get under full Roadway as ii terror
until he was lured to Montana by gold discoveries
there He trekked to Montana In partnership will
Fort Brdger trader, but owing to bis rough
behavior he was lynched by vgilantes at Virginia
City,
Ben Holiday, the picturesque owner OF thu
Overland stage line, often visited Fort Bridger
Holiday travelled In de luxe coach which con
tanned all the luxuries OF modern pullman Tn
combination OF lavish expenditure and threatene
competition from the railroad resulted In hl
financial and physical collapse.
For several years Fort Bridger remained as al
important military post, chiefly In keeping In sub
lection the Ute and Shoshone Indians and as
base OF supplies for the troops at the Wind Rive
agency and the Sweetwater mining country.
not until 1890 that the post was discontinue
and troops formally withdrawn
Jim Brldger after his sale OF the fort whic
bore his name, went back East In 1855, buying
farm near Kansas City and intending to renal
there the rest OF his days. But the call OF tn
West was too strong. and he went back to w.
oming. engaging as an army guide, locating .
d FcYt Laramie.