Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-01-17
n Work Contributed Much the Picture of Wilderness Life
the Primitive Commerce of States EARLY Fur Trading Posts
BY ELMO

am happy In being able
inform you that I enjoy good
altb, and am yet blessed with
possession OF my scalp, which
rather more than / had reason
expoct. This last, my friend,
ben a severe years duty on
All my perseverance and for
hide were scarcely sufficient TO
ar I'D against the danger, misery
ID cons, quent anxiety to which
Is exposed.
IN difficulties commenced at the
outset. On leaving this place the
attacked the people ana they
of so fast that every boat was
a hospital, and I really thought
kre time that ! would not be able
{each the Nez Perces. However. at
so few words In q letter to Ed
4 Fymatinger of the Hudson's Bay
did John Work describe the hard
b dangers and general i'll luck
beset him on an expedition to the
now in Montana and Idaho,
/ rh ended with his return to Fort
kcOuver July 81. 1882.
LlL NOl xvi l6llldly dlh-Nd>
alive OF North Ireland, and at the
Of q years he entered the service
the Hudson's Bay Co. in 1914, serv-
in the region OF Hudson's bay until
), when he accompanied Chief
(der Peter Skene Ogden to the Co.
Rbia river and Pacific coast forts
keen observer, faithful in recording
kils OF his journeys and experiences.
Fix contributed much to the picture
wilderness life and the primitive
kmerce Of the fur posts century
more ago. His journals are valued
billy in the archives Of Canadian
tory.
Is early as 1926 Work had visited
Flathead Indians and had found
i American trapperS were entering
region. He also met the Flathead
efS who soon were to journey 10
Louis TO seek the Book Of the
ristian religion. No record remains
the American fur take that year,
Work returned home with only
beaver pelts and a few muskrat
rs.
n 1881 Work succeeded Peter Skene
den as chief trader in charge OF
! Snake river brigade, which COW
d the area now in Montana and
lhO. Aug. 10, 1881. he started an
petition to the area which led to
rdSh.ps 10 try the soul of any man.
tn SIS 10 40 men he left Fort VAN
lyeT in boats with the Nez PerCe
I on the upper Columbia as his
tination for final Quitting for the
H. Many OF his men were veterans
the service OF the company, ana
ne OF them had been in the Snake
ar country before. But fever cpl
mic had struck Fort Vancouver, and
ny OF the men became i'll after
rting. These most seriously affect
were left at the Nez Perez fort
| others were added-trappers and
Hans. Illness continued for some
lie, slowing up the movement Of the
'ty and adding to its difficulties.
iorSeS we're scarce, and 1t was with
ficulty that q sufficient number
re secured, many Of them in poor
diticn for the winter trails ahead
he country to be traversed was un-
1wn to many Of the people, and
'se depended upon as guides were
always sure Of their trails. Good
zing early on the road soon turned
a shortage Of forage when early
VS. struck the high country. Food
plies, too, seldom were much above
famine point.
he trail followed the route of
Wis and Clark a part of the way.
'ticu!arly through the Lolo pass
ntry, then down the Bitter Root
Hell Gate CMissoula) and up the
.ckfcot river TO a point near Avon.
n BY Warm Springs and the
overhead rock into Idaho, a loop