Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-11-08
HOW JIM BRIDGER
SAVED THE LIFE
OF JOSEPH MEEK
HAPPY WARRIOR OF OLD WEST
BARELY ESCAPED DEATH
AT HANDS OF CROWS

Had it not been for the willy Jim
Bridger, Joseph L. Meek, the happy
warrior of the old west, probably
never would have lived to become
United States marshal for the terri
tory Of Oregon.
Born in Virginia in 1910, Meek ran
away from home at the age of Is and
made his way to st. Louis, where he
met Capt William Sublette, a prom
inent man in the fur trade, and made
arrangements to go into the west as
trapper the following spring.
His first colorful experience was at
the rendezvous, held that year on the
Popl Agile in central Wyoming, where
Indians, free trappers and BUYERS
gathered to dicker over the years take
of pelts and get gloriously drunk In
the process.
But Meek had other experiences.
maybe no more colorful but certainly
more hazardous, and one of these be-
gan to take shape when he was cap
tured by band of Grow Indians when
he was trapping alone on the Rocky
Fork of the Yellowstone.
Mired Down in Mud
Il had been from camp five days, |
and was solitary and alone" said |
Meek, when was discovered by a |
party of Crows. They had the prairie. |
and I was forced to run for the creek
bottom but the beaver had throWed
the water out and made dams, so
that my mule mired down. While I
was struggling in the marsh, the In
dams came after me, with tremendous
yells; firing a shot now and then, as
they closed in on me.
when they were within about two
rods Of me, brought old Sally, that
is my gun, to my face, ready to fire,
and then die; for knew it was death
this time, unless Providence interfered
to save me; and I didn't think Provi-
dence would do it. But the head chief.
when he saw the warlike looks of /
Sally called out to me to put down
my gun, and should live"
Meek added that he liked to live
being then in the prime of life-and /
that while 1T hurt me powerful, I
resolved to part with Sally" He laid I
the gun down and the chief picked it !
up and one of the braves sprang at /
him with spear and it would have !
been curtains for Mr. Meek then and
there had not the chief knocked the
ambitious warrior down with the butt :
If the gun.
They led Meek to a high plain and !.
put him in charge of three women
while the head men of the band staged ?
! pow-wow to determine what should y
De done with the prisoner. Meek took :
his opportunity to count the Indians. ),
They numbered 1877 men, 8 boys and =
women. u
He Didn't Lie-Much
After smoking and studying the =
ituation for three hours, the chief. =
whom Meek said was named THE =
Sold," summoned him and said: -
Il have known the whites for - =
1ng time and I know them to be =.
reat liars, deserving death; but if ."
on viii tell the truth, you shall live" :.
Then I thought to myself" said y
feek, they will fetch the truth out -
me If there Is any In me-"
Tell me where are the whites you "
elong TO-" said the chief, land what
your captains name?" ~
'Bridger is my captains name" "
Ieek responded, or, In the Crow q
'ngue, Casapy, the Blanket chief" ~
How many men has hep" asked the IA
lief. :,
IT thought about telling the truth So
I'd living" Meek said later, "but I ~
i'd 40" III
At this The Bold chuckled happily. Io'
We will make them poor" he boosted. vl
nd you shall live, but they shall die.'' "a
Meek thought to himself hardly" -
It said nothing. pf,
He then asked me where 1 was to M,
eet the camp, and told him-and Fst
en- truly. for I wanted them to find
e camp" 10
The Indians Immediately made prep a
atoms for the trip. Two husky ]
ayes mounted Meek's mule, while the brs
ter walked and was forced by the a
men to pack moccasins. Seventy IN
rriors travelled ahead, then came Ga
eek with the women and boys, and ths