62 ELDORADO 



James Bridger, after whom the fort was named, was 

 one of the oldest and most noted hnnters and trappers 

 in the Rocky Mountain region. He looked the ideal 

 mountainer. He had married a native wife and had 

 great influence among the different tribes. He was 

 loyal to the interests of Americans, and contributed 

 not a little to their safety in passing through their 

 country. 



The fort was a small adobe structure of three or 

 four rooms, and only by a stretch of the imagination 

 could it be called a fort. It was private property and 

 in no wise connected with the government. 



A party of Crow Indians was camped here, among 

 them a "squaw man" with a numerous family. He in- 

 formed me that his oldest son was attending school at 

 St. Louis, and was making good progress in his studies. 

 He appeared to be a man of intelligence, and appar- 

 ently of good habits. 



A southern route up the Arkansas river and crossing 

 the mountains near its headwaters, joined the emi- 

 grant road to Salt Lake and California at this place. 

 It was traveled mainly by pack trains, and to a limited 

 extent by "prairie schooners" freighted for Salt Lake. 



We left this fertile spot Julv 12 with some reluct- 

 ance. The excellent grazing at no great distance, with 

 pure mountain water, made it a little paradise in con- 

 trast with most of the country over which we had 

 passed. Some unpleasant rumors had reached us of 

 trouble with Indians along our route. Before reach- 

 ing the fenile canvons in the Wasatch range, sur- 

 rounding the vallev of the Great Salt Lake, we tra- 

 versed a sterile country, destitute of game (except 

 a few jackrabbits), and having but little fuel. 



