One of Jim Bridger's favorite yarns to tell was about being pursued by one hundred Cheyenne warriors. After being chased for several miles, he found himself at the end of a box canyon, with the Indians right on his tail. Then he would go silent, and his listener would ask, "What happened then, Mr. Bridger?" He would reply, "They killed me."
Jim Bridger died on his farm near Kansas City, Missouri, on July 17, 1881. After suffering from goiter, arthritis, rheumatism and other health problems. He lived a long and adventures life.
Jim Bridger began his exciting career in 1822 at the age of 18, as a member of General William Ashley's Upper Missouri Expedition. He was one of the first to see the geysers in Yellowstone. In the winter of 1824-1825 he experienced the wonder of seeing the Great Salt Lake in his bull boat. He thought it was part of the Pacific Ocean because of its salt. In his round bull boat he explored the "Pacific Ocean Coast."
He also, with a group of other mountain men, bought out the Ashley Fur Trading Company and established the Rocky Mountain Fur Trading Company. He competed against The Hudson Bay and John Jacob Astor's American Fur Companies. He built with the help of Louis Vasquez a trading post on the west bank of Black Fork of the Green River to serve Pioneers on the Oregon Trail.
Jim Brigers best known yarn is one in witch he tells the audience of a "petrified forest" in which there were petrified rabbits, deer, beavers, bears, and even "petrified birds" singing "petrified songs."
Jim Briger was an honorable man and lived a extraordinary life of excitement and wonder. He will always be remembered.
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Saturday, January 15, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Smith was born in Jericho, New York which is now called Bainbridge. Many people recognized him by deep scars on his face from when he was attacked by a grizzly bear along the Cheyenne River. The Bear ripped open the side of his head then ran off and the people with him ran to help. They found his skin and ear nearly ripped off, but he convinced a friend to sew it loosely back on.
Jedediah Smith was also a Christian. His Bible and his rifle were his closest companions some said. He traveled more on unknown territory than any other mountain man. His exploration was the main source of maps in the pacific northwest area.
In search of new beaver hunting grounds, a Jedediah Smith Party followed the Colorado River and ended up in harsh Indian territory. To gather supplies for the return trip, the group chose to travel to California. After an dangerous pass through the mountains into the Mojave Desert, the party was attacked by a group of Mohaves, some of them died. Finding shelter with a friendly Mojave village, the men rested and waited. Finally some people offered to guide them to the San Gabriel Mission. The guides led them through the desert along a path that avoided Death Valley and pretty much follows the route of modern I-15. They made it to the mission and rested there for a while. On December 8, Echeandía told Jedediah Smith to go too San Diego, apparently under arrest. The rest of the party remained at the mission. Badly needing supplies. In San Diego he was interviewed a bunch of times by Echeandía, who never believed him when he said he was only looking for food and shelter. Echeandía let him go back to his party on condition that they left California the way they came and never came back, he agreed. Jedediah Smith and his party didn't leave the way they came, and later in they did go back to California.
Another time he was angry because he said The Umpqua Indian Tribe stole an axe from him. He threatened to kill the thief and the Indians attacked his party. He lost 19 men and had to go for aid. The company he was working for at the time became angry at him and only paid him half price for the beaver skins he had come back with.
Jedediah Smith was leading a trading party on the in May, 1831 when he left the group to scout for water. He never returned to the group. The remainder of the party moved on to Santa Fe hoping he would meet them there, but he never arrived. A person at the market there was selling his things. They asked him were he got them and the trader told them from a band of Indians. Jedediah Smith's body was never found.
Jedediah Smith was also a Christian. His Bible and his rifle were his closest companions some said. He traveled more on unknown territory than any other mountain man. His exploration was the main source of maps in the pacific northwest area.
In search of new beaver hunting grounds, a Jedediah Smith Party followed the Colorado River and ended up in harsh Indian territory. To gather supplies for the return trip, the group chose to travel to California. After an dangerous pass through the mountains into the Mojave Desert, the party was attacked by a group of Mohaves, some of them died. Finding shelter with a friendly Mojave village, the men rested and waited. Finally some people offered to guide them to the San Gabriel Mission. The guides led them through the desert along a path that avoided Death Valley and pretty much follows the route of modern I-15. They made it to the mission and rested there for a while. On December 8, Echeandía told Jedediah Smith to go too San Diego, apparently under arrest. The rest of the party remained at the mission. Badly needing supplies. In San Diego he was interviewed a bunch of times by Echeandía, who never believed him when he said he was only looking for food and shelter. Echeandía let him go back to his party on condition that they left California the way they came and never came back, he agreed. Jedediah Smith and his party didn't leave the way they came, and later in they did go back to California.
Another time he was angry because he said The Umpqua Indian Tribe stole an axe from him. He threatened to kill the thief and the Indians attacked his party. He lost 19 men and had to go for aid. The company he was working for at the time became angry at him and only paid him half price for the beaver skins he had come back with.
Jedediah Smith was leading a trading party on the in May, 1831 when he left the group to scout for water. He never returned to the group. The remainder of the party moved on to Santa Fe hoping he would meet them there, but he never arrived. A person at the market there was selling his things. They asked him were he got them and the trader told them from a band of Indians. Jedediah Smith's body was never found.
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