Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-04-09
Early TruPPers Trouersed Golden Guc

down the river, ostensibly for Tire,
Forks. Then Vandenburgh and Drip
divided their party. DripS with a par
Of them followed Fitzpatrick ant
Bridger, and Vandenburgh with tht
remainder crossed over to the Madison
river to trap along that stream. Drips
followed Bridger and Fitzpatrick IA
enough north 20 see that he was beint
| led entirely out Of the good trapping
country, and turned back, starting uI
the jefferson down which they hac
Just come.
Separation Pleased Jim
Fitzpatrick and Bridger, pleased at
the separation, took another route In
order to make 1t more definite. They
went up the Gallatin river, then crossed
over TO the Madison, where they ran
into Vandenburgh's party. That, how
ever, was their last encounter EVIDENT
" the American Fur Co. men had
learned all they wanted to about the
country, for although on Oct. IL, Fitz-
patrick and Bridger started up the
Madison, Vandenburgh made no effort
TO follow them further, and on Oct.
IL, took his men down the Madison
The next day Vandenburgh crossed to
the northwest IS miles and camped on
Alder creek, one Of the sources Of the
jefferson, where the discovery of gold
80 years later was to electrify the
world and start q stampede which
brought thousands to the territory.
After a few days on Alder creek the
party moved down stream to its juno
ton with the Stinkingwater. There
they discovered Indian signs and Ferris
and several others went to reconnoiter
They found the remains OF a freshly
butchered buffalo, from which 1t was
evident the Indians had fled at the
approach of the white men.
Vandenburgh and six others left the
camp and started up the river think
ing to ascertain II possible TO what
tribe the Indians who were In the
belonged. and how many
camp they found another freshly killed |
buffalo and q fire nearby surrounded |
by fresh Indian tracks.
Vandenburgh Deserted
The small number of tracks and the
TACT that buffalo were still grazing In
ihe immediate vicinity made them be-
ieve there were only seven or eight |
Indians in the party. Three miles far
her up the river as they approached
} patch of dense timber, the only
lump in the region, they were fired
N by about 100 Indians who were con-
,ealed in the brush. At the first volley
md ran. Vandenburgh's horse was
dlled under him. Then two more of
lis men, Ferris and r. @. Nelson,
urned and ran and Alexis Pillon, his
ole remaining companion was slain.
Iandenburgh was left alone.
AS the Indians, who proved to be
3lackfeet, approached him he killed
ne with his rifle and was raising his
istol to fire at another, when v0lley
rom party Of the Indians who had
made thanking movement and reached
is rear. struck him in the back.
When the five survivors reached
amp and gave the alarm, the camp +.
TaS moved to q point of timber on !
he river and preparations made for !
efenSe. There was no attack by the :
indians that night, however, and the :
ext day the party set out for the .
LorSe Prairie caches. At Point Of
,ocks, is miles below where Dillon is
ow located, they encountered large y
arty of friendly Flathead and Pend !
reille Indians and the danger was l
yer. A few days later q burial party =
hich returned to the scene Of the !.
tack found and buried the body Of !
illon but could find no trace Of Van {
snburgh's body. His bones were later
'und and buried, however, by party
Flathead Indians sent out by Ferris. Il
ne Flatheads reported that the hostile
adams had cut of Vandenburgh's a
ms and carried them away. They r
ter exhibited them at Fort McKen- "
3 on the Missouri river. tx
At Horse Prairie the Vandenburgh d
Irty was Joined by DripS and his c.
rty and the whole contingent went to q
e Snake river country. Il
In the meantime, Fitzpatrick and
idger encountered band Of Black e.
ct Indians. Both parties halted and c.
delegation from each side went for W
lrd to council. which formed in r.
Gle. Ii
Bridger rode towards the peace :
nncil with his rifle across his saddle
front of him. A Blackfeet chief fr
mt to meet him. Bridger, apparently k
itrustful of the Indian, cooked his
1e, and as he did so, the Indian, q
lieVing he was about to be shot by n
, white man, struck the weapon down ra
that it was discharged into the tr
)und The council Immediately be- 70
ne the scene Of a battle. Bridger th
s shot In the back with two arrows Ia
struck over the head with his own w
a which the Indians had wrestled sh
m his hands. The Indian chief with 70
ON Bridger had the encounter re
ped astride the trapper's horse and Da
, whole party, both red and white, 70
de for the cover Of nearby rocks sls