The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-10-15

attempting to remove them, the shaft
of one of them came away and left
the metal arrow head in Bridger's leg.
It was not removed until three years
later. when DR.. Marcus Whitman took
it out at Walla Walla. In the mean
time Bridger had Travelled thousands
of miles by trail and river.
Entered Business
In 1843 Bridger embarked in a bus
mess venture all by himself. He went
to St. Louis and bought stock of
trading goods, and established Fort
Bridger on Green river in southwestern
Wyoming. He enjoyed an excellent
trade there for some time, but eventu-
ally was harassed by the Mormons who
forced to move. When the United
States troops were sent to Utah to en-
force the federal laws among the Nor
mons, Bridger guided them. Later, in
order to obtain winter quarters for the
soldiers, the government bought the
Mexican grant belonging to Bridger
upon which Fort Bridger was located,
was paid for it. Eight years after his
death his family was paid for the i'm
provementS, but no rent was ever paid,
although the property was used for a
long time by the government.
In 1850 Bridger led Captain Stans-
bury over the route which later be-
came that Of the pony express, the
Pacific railroad. In 1854 Bridger en-
tered the services of Sir George Gore,
English sportsman whom he met at
Fort Laramie. He remained with Gore's
hunting party as guide for two years,
during which time they Jared far and
wide over the west in search of big
game. Bridger left the party at Fort
Berthold in Colorado and Joined his
family in Kansas City. In 1859 Bridger
was employed as guide for the party
of Capt. w. F. Reynolds on an eXplor-
ing expedition up the Yellowstone
river. In 1861 Bridger guided the Rus
sell & Holiday, expedition, seeking a
! Denver. In 1862 he guided a govern
ment party across the plains to Utah
In 1865 he guided an army expedition
from Fort Laramie against the Indians
! in the Powder river country. His last
duty as a guide was for Gen. Phil
Sheridan in an expedition against In
dams in the southwest. During the
years Bridger guided scores of enigrant
trains into Montana over what is known
as the Bridger trail, which, while moi
as short as the Bozeman trail, wa.
claimed by Bridger to be safer from
attack by Indians.
!. Married Three Times
Bridger was married three times
each time to an Indian woman. Hi!
first wife was the daughter of Flat.
head chief. One of their daughters
school at Walla Walla and was killet
in an Indian massacre when II year,
old. Another daughter, Josephine, anc
son Felix, were sent to school at st
Louis. Feliz served in the Civil wal
and died on the >Bridger farm at Santa
Fe, Mo-, in 1876. There is no record a!
to what became of Josephine.
Bridger's second wife, whom he mar
ried after the death of the first, wa
i. Ute. She died in 1849 after the birth
Of her second child. The infant, nance
Virginia. was brought up on buffalo
milk, and when five years old was SEN
to friend at st. Louis. When sever
she was placed in convent school
It was this daughter who cared fol
! life.
Bridger married his third wife, {
Snake Indian, in 1850. 1t was this wife
whom he established on the farm nea,
Santa Fe, Mo-, which he acquired a
a home, after leaving Fort Bridger. HI
When failing eyesight and advancing
age forced Bridger to retire perma,
nently to his farm, he spent much o.
his time trying to collect the sum owec
him by. the government for For
Bridger, but without success during hi
During the so years that he spen'
roaming over the west on foot, OF
horseback and in canoes, Jim Bridge
visited every section of the countr!
from Mexico to the Canadian bordel
and from st. Louis to the Pacifil
ocean. His selection as the type for tn,
| typical trapper is amply justified.