Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-07-03

tIlC HUI thNtSL ID ldI LlO1t interesting
than the popular fiction regarding it,
and among those to take the lead in
providing this colorful background
were the trappers and fur traders.
There were two classes of trappers
who ventured into the northwest, those
who were employed by. and owed al
legiance to the fur companies. British
and American; and others known as
free trappers, who were under no con-
tract, but disposed of their time as
they chose. These free trappers, we
are instructed, often Joined an expe-
dition, that in numbers they might
find protection when in the territory
of hostile Indians. The subject of this
sketch was one of these, and a men,
Der Of the company of Cant and
Blackwell.
When he had arrived at the age of
81, Zenos Leonard, Pennsylvania lad,
told his father, Il can make living
without picking stones" His father
raising no objection to his experiment.
ing along this line, Zenos set out for
Pittsburgh, where he heard so much
of fortunes made in fur trading, that
he felt this was the opportunity he
sought, and so he went to ST. Louis.
Here he joined the company of 70
men under Cant and Blackwell, bound
for the Rockies.
They took with them merchandise
to trade with the Indians: traps, guns,
etc; and enough provisions, so they
thought, to last them until they
reached the buffalo country. Their
leader, Captain Cant, was a trapper
who knew the business thoroughly, and
understood how to get along peaceably
with the-Indians. He was said to have
been the first hunter to gain the
friendship of the Arapahoes, not only
for himself, but for all the whites.
The company left St. Louis the last
Of April, 1881. 1t did not follow the
regular route leading up the Missouri
but having crossed the Kansas river
near its mouth, assembled the Little
Blue, and from there went to the
Platte. This was a mistake, as they
soon discovered.
Game was scarce, and likewise wood,
and their provisions failing, they were
forced to kill a couple of horses for
food. Again, 10 miles from the Platte,
they were about to kill another, when
one of their hunters rushed into camp
with the welcome news that he had
killed an elk.
They continued their westward jour-
ney up the Platte. until they reached
the mouth of the Laramie river. Here
beaver signs being plentiful, the COM
pany was split up into three parties
of Is or 20 men each, under Captains
Cant, Stephens and Washburn. Cant
would go up the Sweetwater; WASH
burn trapped on Timber fork, and the
Stephens party, to which Leonard was
assigned, would try their fortune on
the Laramie. While caching their
goods before setting out in different
directions, they we're visited by three
white men and an Indian. One of these
was Fitzpatrick. a partner of Bridger
Leonard was not favorably impressed
with Fitzpatrick, for the reason that
he would not divulge any of the secrets
of his business. Leonard said, THE
selfishness of man is often disgraceful
to human nature; and I never saw
more striking evidence of this fact
than was presented in the conduct OF
this man, Fitzpatrick. Notwithstanding
we had treated him with great kind
ness and hospitality merely because
we were to engage in the same business
with him, which he knew we never
could exhaust or even impair, he re-
fused to give us any information what
ever, and appeared disposed to treat
us as intruders." Considering the fate
of Vanderburgh of the American Fur
Co., who was led to his death by Fitz-
patrick and Bridger, for attempting tc
gain the information Giants party de-
sired, Leonard should have thought he
and his comrades were fortunate ir
escaping with their lives.
After the goods were secreted, the
companies separated, and Leonard as
cended the Laramie where he trapped
until the snow fell. The Stephens party
then thinking it time to return to the
appointed winter quarters at the mouth
of the Laramie, found they could not
do so, as 1t was impossible on account
of the snow, to cross the mountains
Determined to make the best of the
situation they concluded, as it wa:
then the first of December, to camp
In the valley in which they were, until
spring.
Here they built cabins and stables
and went into winter quarters. 1t wa.
not long, however, before the pastur-
age failed, and their horses facec
starvation. Thinking to relieve the sit.
uation, the men stripped the bark
from cottonwood trees to feed the hun.
cry animals, but were surprised to fine
they would not touch it. Horses were
fond of cottonwood bark; then what
was the trouble? 1t lay in the fac
that the cottonwood in their vicinity
was of the bitter variety. There was
no help for 1.-THE horses were doomed
One after another they died, until bu
two mules we're left, to serve as burden
bearers.
1t was then proposed by Captain
Stephens that they go to Sante Fl
where horses were plentiful and cheap
and purchase what they needed. Ac.
cordingly they set out on foot, leaving
four men at their winter camp to lool
after their goods and the mules. Each
man carried besides his bedding /,