Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-31
BY. Z. A. BRINNsTOOL
Author Trail Dust Of q Maverick" /,
"A Trooper with Custer, The


Fetterman Disaster, The Island
Of Death, etc.
The Rocky Mountains have been the
scene Of many great hunting expedi-
tons, outfitted by both American and
foreign sportsmen. In days gone by,
when game was so abundant, and
there was no such thing as a game
law, hunters whose pocketbooks were
longer than their scruples against in
discriminate slaughter, invaded the
Businesses Of the Rockies Of Wyoming
and Colorado, shot away thousands Of
rounds Of ammunition, and doubtless
created utterly useless havoc among
the herds of deer, elk, mountain sheep
and other wild creatures.
But probably the most elaborate, ex-
pensive and largest hunting caravan
on record which ever penetrated the
Rockies was in 1858, when Sir George
Gore, an Irish nobleman Of wealth, a
lover of the out-of-doors and devoted
to the chase, came from Sligo, Ireland,
for q grand expedition after big game
He landed In New York, and inn
mediately proceeded to st. Louis, then
the western outpost of civilization.
Here the Gore expedition QUILTED
His caravan consisted Of Al men with
the noted Jim Bridger as guide Of the
expedition) four six-mule wagons, two
three-yoke OK wagons and 81 French
carts, painted red. and drawn by two
horses each.
Doubtless no such an arsenal as Sir
George carried along with his was
ever taken west of the Missouri river
by any single individual, either before
or since One of his wagons was loaded
with nothing but rifles and shotguns,
there being IS rifles alone Of various
makes and calibers, among them one
Sharps' rifle, at that time and for
many years after, the universal wea-
pom in use on the plains. OF shotguns,
Sir George carried dozen or IS, both
single and double barrel All of these
were muzzle leaders, the breech-loader
at that time not having been invented.
Pistols and revolYers in divers guam
titles were also a part Of the arsenal
of the Irish nobleman in his quest for
big game and adventure.
But when it came to fishing tackle,
the present day sportsman would have
been staggered at the conglomeration
of lines, hooks, flies, reels and other
tackle. Two wagons were required to
carry this part Of the equipment alone.
Sir George had even brought along an
expert fly-maker, whose sole duty was
to study the species Of flies and in
sects of the invaded territory, so that
he could duplicate them on hooks,
whereby his wealthy chief could de-
rive all the pleasure possible IN the
numerous trout streams Of the
Rockies.
And as for conveniences and lux
uries. there were many things which
must have brought a smile from the
old mountain men who accompanied
Sir George. For instance, there was
brass bedstead, which umscrewed and
folded into a small space; there was
portable iron table and wash stand,
and other articles too numerous to
mention. A powerful telescope with a
lens enabled Sir George to
view the country and get an idea OF
what sort of region was ahead OF him.
II also came In handy for locating
game in crossing the great plains. Two
milch COWS kept him supplied album
dainty with milk and cream. In fact,
there was nothing lacking in the OUT
fit Of this strange Irishman TO give
him "all the comforts Of home"
History records that Sir George left
st. Louis in royal and regal style,
iourneying leisurely westward by easy
stages until he arrived in the present
state of Colorado, where he passed
portion of 1853 in exploring the num-
erous park like places OF interest al
forded In the Colorado Rockies.
Having heard much about Fort
Taranie-around which old frontier
post clusters more romance Of his
toric interest than any fort ever con-
structed on the western frontier-Sir
George determined to visit 1t and
spend some time there. Setting their
faces northward, his party reached
Fort Laramie late ip the season. Sir
George found so much to interest him
at this place that he determined 70
spend the winter there. The half wild
trappers. mountain men, traders, adj
venturers and Indians with whom he
came in contact, made a deep impress
sion upon him. They were motley
crowd; Sir George was a student OF
human nature, and here was a class OF
people the like Of whom had never be-
lore been encountered by this aristo-
,ratic globe-trotter and adventurer.