The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-05-17
Hamilton, "for he could outwit any
and all Of those arrogant corporate
traders"

dIlo Ill VI CnOSe aTrOgauC corporate
traders"
Again, when Williams had secured
unusually high prices for furs, despite
the fact that the Indians were still
dressing skins and the market was low:
II have forgotten that, and after
years of observation I find that honor
able merchants follow the same tao
tics. Self-interest predominates among
all, from the highest to the lowest.
They evade the literal truth, calling
their conduct business diplomacy"
OF the business of trapping: TRAP
ping Is a science, to be acquired through
long practice. I am considered one of
the best, yet I am constantly expert
menting. To skin and stretch
beaver and otter is quite an art, in
proficient" So, mountain men, like
those at home, were skilled workers
or. merely run-of-the-mill hands.
Despite its hazards, the wilderness
offered an enchantment that more
than offset the dangers for men Of
high courage and the will to adventure.
When two trappers, killed by Indians,
were buried, they had furs valued at
over $4,000. There was good money in
trapping, but the rewards hardly just
flied the risk I have often been
asked why we exposed ourselves to such
danger. My answer has always been
that there was a charm in the life Of a
free mountaineer from which one can
not free himself, after he has once fall
en- under its SPELL"
Despite their isolation, wilderness
men were highly intelligent and I'M
usually well informed. II found the
Scotchman and the Kentuckian well
educated men The latter presented
me with a copy of Shakespeare and an
ancient and modern history which he
had in his pack " We had an
abundance of reading matter with US;
old mountain men were all great
readers. It was always amusing to me
to hear people from the east speak Of
old mountaineers as semi-barbarian,
when as a general rule they were the
peers of the fasteners in general
knowledge"
At a Hudson'S bay post on the Column
bia river: 1.-THE head men of the Hud-
sons bay company did not look favor
ably on American trappers and traders.
They claimed the right to collect all
furs in a given area on the American
side, having a charter to hold their forts
and trading stations up to 1861 or 1862.
We had some interesting arguments on
the subject and Williams, who was
better posted than Dr.. Mclaughlin, told
him their exclusive right was past and
that in the neal future all Oregon and
the country up to the 49th degree would
be settled by Americans. Then, he said,
they would have to move all their forts
to the British side of the line. Nc
Laughlin was somewhat surprised when
Williams gave him the whole history of
the country, and said he had not ex-
pected SO much Information from a
trapper."
Wilderness law: At a rendezvous I'VE
found many trappers and traders who
were having a high time, gambling and
drinking. Many trappers became hill
arious, but not offensive. A strict law
prevailed among mountain men en-
hioded in a few words: Take nothing
that does not belong to you without the
owners consent A man who commit
ted an offense would be fined about all
he possessed, besides being o~stracised.
Far better to be dead than in that con-
dition. He would never be allowed In
a trapper's camp. His act would in a
short time be known throughout all
the camps"
Sturdy ideals and patriotism: Give
me the man who has been raised among