Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-02-02

In the summer of 1882, the Rocky
Mountain and American Fur companies
had their rendezvous in the upper part
Of what was then called Pierre's Hole
now Teton Basin) in northwestern
Wyoming, some u or Is miles from
Teton pass.
William L. Sublette arrived there
with party of about 60 men on the
9th of July. Nathaniel P. Wyeth was
with him. Henry Vanderburgh and
Andrew. Drips of the American Fur Co.
were also present. Lucien Fontenelle
also of the American Fur Co., who was
coming from Fort Union with supplies,
ley. Captain Bonneville, likewise head
ed in the same direction, was still in
the valley of the Platte.
AT Pierres Hole were also hundreds
Of Indians, mostly of the Flathead and
Nez Perce tribes.
Competition between the two COM
panies was great. The agents of the
american Fur Co. were still compare
tive strangers in the mountains. James
Bridger and Thomas Fitzpatrick, ex-
perienced leaders of the Rocky Noun
tain Fur Co., had fixed upon the head
waters OF the Missouri as the field for
their fall hunt. Vanderburgh and Drips
had been following Bridger and Fitz-
patrick, who had repeatedly tried to
o3iahC Ol1. AI Glle TeIOHZVOlS Ia
Plerres Hole, Bridger and Fitzpatrick
proposed to divide the territory with
their rivals. The proposition was re-
fused. But as the American company s
supplies had not arrived, Bridger and
his companion decided to get away be-
fore their rivals should receive their
equipment.
Went to Find Fontenelle
In the meantime Vanderburgh and
Drtps started in haste for Green river
to learn what had become of Fonte-
nellie and their supplies. They left
Pierreis Hole Aug. 2, reached Green
river Aug. 8, found Fontenelle In camp
about four miles above Captain Bonnie
vile. Four days were consumed trans
acting the necessary business of the
rendezvous. Then Vanderburgh and
Drips set out to overtake Bridger and
Fitzpatrick, whom they believed some
where on the headwaters of the Mis-
souri,
When the American Fur men reached
P1erre's Hole on their return, w. A
Ferris was detailed to make a circuit
to find the Flathead Indians at the
head OF the Salmon river, whence hi
was to rejoin his comrades in the Big
Hole basin. In the meantime, Wander.
burgh and Drips beat up the country
on the sources of the Jefferson. They
proceeded up that river to the Beaver.
head, and at Horse Prairie they cached
such OF their equipment as would de.
lay their pursuit Of Bridger. They haC
found the fresh trail OF their rivals
and knew they could not be far away
Ferris rejoined them on Sept. /, anc
10 days later they overlook Bridges
and Fitzpatrick somewhere in the up.
per Jefferson valley.
Fitzpatrick and Bridger were com.
pletely exasperated by their persistent
shadows. They resolved to lead them 6
chase they would remember. On Sept
II they set out northward down tn,
Jefferson, apparently for the. Thre,
Forks Of the Missouri. Drips, with {
portion Of his party. followed them
while Vanderburgh crossed over 3,
the Madison to trap along the coursl
| OF that stream. Drips gave up tn
chase and returned southward. tn
parties separated about Oct. /, 1885,
and Drtps started up the Jefferson, AMI
t1tzpatr1ck and Bridger up the Gala
TN. The latter party, after ascendin,
the Wet 0auatin, crossed over to til
Madison. Oct. 9. Whsre they unexpect