882 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
r 
[May iy, 1902. 
Powell, while he was making his exploration of the Grand 
Canon of the Colorado. The date, however, was partially 
obliterated, and was read 1855, Ashley's exploration being 
by that time almost wholly forgotten. 
After some years of trading and trapping, Ashley gave 
up the mountains in 1826 or '27, and sold out the business 
to Smith, Jackson and Sublette, who carried it on under 
the name Rocky Mountain Fur Company. With these 
men was young Jim Bridger, then acting as trapper and 
guide for the northern country. In 1830, Smith, Jackson 
and Sublette sold out to younger men, Thomas Fitz- 
patrick, Milton G. Sublette, Henry Fraeb, Jean Baptiste 
Gervais and James Bridger, and these men bring the fur 
trade down to the time of people now or very recently 
alive, since, as has already been said, James Bridger died 
in 1881, The adventures of these trappers, their fights 
with the Indians, their struggles with their competitors, 
their individual sufferings from starvation, are fascinating 
reading, but for them the volumes must be consulted. It 
was these men and their parties who now began to meet 
such men as Bonneville, Drips, Fontenelle and all the 
other travelers who are mentioned in the many volumes 
written about the plains of early days. 
The company was not successful, for the competition 
was too sharp. One of the partners sold out in 1834; the 
others kept together for a little longer, but a year or two 
later the concern was dissolved. 
As has been said, the American Fur Company had been 
long established. Its lack of success on the northwest 
coast has already been adverted to ; yet Mr. Astor con- 
tinued the enterprise, and in the year 1822 a west branch 
of the American Fur Company was established in St. Louis. 
Shortly after this appears to have begun the first establish- 
ment of permanent trading posts upon the upper Missouri. 
Such names as Kipp. McKenzie, Papin and Berthold be- 
gan to be known along the great stream, and are estab- 
lished-there forever. It was McKenzie who sent a man — 
probably James Kipp — to build a fort at the mouth of the 
Yellowstone River, in order to catch the Assiniboine 
trade. This post was called Fort Floyd, not Fort Union, 
while the name Fort Union was first used for the post 
built a year later, in 1829, about 200 miles above the mouth 
of the Yellowstone. The name Union was applied to the 
post at or near the Yellowstone in 1830. 
In that same year McKenzie induced an old Hudson's 
Bay man, named Berger, who was well acquainted with 
the Blackfoot language, and with the tribe, to head a small 
party into the Blackfoot country. They traveled up the 
river for a long distance above the mouth of the Yellow- 
stone, and at length meeting a number of mounted In- 
dians, were charged by them at full speed. The white 
men halted, and Berger advanced toward the Indians, 
carrying a flag. They did not understand what this 
meant, and when they paused undecided, Berger called out 
his name, when the Indians, recognizing him, advanced in 
the most friendly manner, and he and his party were re- 
ceived most kindly in the village. Berger induced a party 
of about forty to go with him to Fort Union, where Mc- 
Kenzie handled them so well that the Blackfeet readily 
assented to the establishment of the trading post near 
their village. McKenzie also negotiated a peace between 
Assiniboines and Blackfeet, which treaty was afterward 
ratified. James Kipp was sent up the river, and reached 
the mouth of the Marias, and began to build a fort about 
Oct. 15, in the year 1831. From the beginning the 
Piegans seemed to be attached to the Americans. They 
were willing and glad to trade with them, but would not 
permit them to set traps in their country, and insisted on 
killing the beaver themselves, and bringing them in to 
trade. This was, of course, more profitable to the traders 
than if they had gone out to trap themselves. It is said 
that during the first ten days after the fort — named Fort 
Piegan — was built, there were traded 2,400 beaver skins, 
and they expected to increase the number to 4,000 before 
the winter was over. 
Meantime the British, alarmed at the success of the 
Americans, are said to have incited the Blood Indians to 
attack the post. They besieged it for some time, but 
finally withdrew, and more or less friendly relations hav- 
ing been established, Kipp gave them so much liquor that 
they promptly deserted the English and came over to the 
Americans, trading all their furs to this post. The fol- 
lowing spring it became necessary to take the fur down 
the river, but Kipp's men declined to be left behind if he 
went away, so the whole party started down, and the 
Indians shortly afterward burned the post. The site of it 
is still locally called Fort Brule, and the place where it 
stood, the Brule Bottom. This, however, is not according 
to Captain Chittenden, who tells that the Brule Bottom 
was six miles above Fort Piegan, and the one in which 
Fort McKenzie was afterward built. 
In April, 1831, the steamboat Yellowstone left St. Louis 
for the upper river. It went as far up the stream as Fort 
Tecumseh — Fort Pierre— and then returned to St. Louis 
with a full cargo of fur. The appearance of this fire boat, 
which walked on the water, made a profound impression 
on the Indians, and greatly increased their respect for the 
Americans who could do such wonderful things. 
And now for many years the American Fur Company 
carried on its work on the Missouri River, striving con- 
stantly against keen competition, but crushing it by paying 
for furs prices that its rivals could not pay, and therefore 
ultimately ruining them and obliging them to leave the _ 
country that it claimed. The competition was so keen 
that notwithstanding the law against the importation of 
liquor into the Indian country, the vessels now commonly 
took alcohol as a portion of their cargo. However, at- 
tempts were made to enforce this law, and great was the 
complaint by the traders. McKenzie even established a 
distillery of his own on the river, and declared that he 
could "produce as fine liquor as need be drunk." Un- 
fortunately for the traders it was not long before the ex- 
istence of this distillery was reported to General William 
Clark, Superintendent of Indian Affairs' in St. Louis, and 
he promptly took measures to stop the manufacture. Mc- 
Kenzie, whose idea it was, gave up the fur trade in the 
summer of 1834, came down the river, and later took up 
his residence in St. Louis. In 1834 Mr. Astor retired from 
the American Fur Company, which was then practically 
divided, the northern department, which retained the 
name, being sold to a company of which Ramsay Crooks 
was the chief partner, while the western department 
passed into the hands of Pratte, Chouteau & Company, of 
St. Louis. In 1838 this last company became Pierre Chou- 
teau, Jr., & Company; which continued in the business 
until the year 1864, and is still a familiar name among 
old-timers on the upper Missouri. 
And now as we draw nearer the modern time, the ma- 
terials for a study of the fur trade becomes more numer- 
ous and accessible. Various companies were formed to 
compete for the Missouri River trade, but none of them 
were markedly successful, and most of them were gradu- 
ally absorbed by the Chouteaus. Few chapters of Captain 
Chittenden's great work are more interesting than that 
which treats of the methods and men of the American Fur 
Company. A chapter of very great interest, too, is that con- 
cerning Captain Bonneville, and the men who were so inti- 
mately connected with him in his trading, his trapping and 
his Indian fighting. But time fails us to go into any of these 
matters. It is, of course, well known that Captain Bonne- 
ville was dropped from the rolls of the army for desertion 
during his long absence in the West, but was reinstated 
by President Jackson as a reward for the contributions 
to the geographical knowledge of the country. Subse- 
quently Captain Bonneville served in the Seminole and 
Mexican wars, and was in command of Benton Barracks 
at St. Louis during most of the Civil War. He died in 
the year 1878, at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Nathaniel J. 
Wyeth is another of the Western heroes very properly 
treated with much fullness by Captain Chittenden. His 
career in the mountains was a long one, and not alto- 
gether successful, yet he undoubtedly contributed much 
toward the acquiring of Oregon and Washington by the 
L'nited States. 
Over the Mountains on a Race 
Against Time. 
Adventures in Tropical America. — XL 
During a long experience advising in regard to tropi- 
cal enterprises, I have frequently had occasion to wonder 
at the many irresponsible men who have secured the con- 
fidence of people with money to invest, and who have 
thus entered on a course of reckless extravagance in dis- 
tant countries unchecked by their principals at home. 
I was once employed on such an enterprise; their ob- 
ject was to develop mines in Honduras, and my know- 
ledge of that country secured for me an appointment 
with them which I considered very advantageous. I 
soon found, however, that for reckless extravagance and 
almost idiotic proceedings this outfit was beyond any- 
thing I had ever known. One morning responsibility 
for transactions of which I knew nothing, and for money 
which I had never seen, were charged up against my de- 
partment, and I promptly offered my resignation,'feeling 
well assured that I had seen quite enough of those people. 
Then there was a row, and finally they complained that 
my course was dishonorable; that they had spent money 
to bring me to their camp, and that they had thought I 
was to be depended on. This touched me in a tender 
spot, and I agreed to be at their service until they were 
sufficiently compensated for expenses incurred in my be- 
half, but I refused absolutely to handle any money for 
them. 
One Sunday morning, shortly after our disagreement, 
the manager and the capitalists who had come out with 
him, were in a state of excitement; perhaps they were 
tired of telling each other how great they were, or per- 
haps they had become angry as to their respective great- 
ness; from where I was I could not tell. Presently one 
of the servants came hurrying over to me, and asked that 
I should go immediately to the manager. I went, and 
was told that he might be able to use me in a little matter 
that had come up. I made no answer, and presently 
learned that some important papers had been entirely 
neglected, and that unless by some means or other these 
papers could be deposited in the bank at Tagucigalpa, the 
capital, before sunrise Tuesday morning, serious loss 
would result, and the proposition was that I should go 
and deposit the papers on time, a difficult undertaking. 
I would have to reach Tagucigalpa from the lower 
Alancho valley before Tuesday morning, over a rough 
trail of one hundred and twenty miles across two moun- 
tain ranges — a trip that usually took from five to seven 
days. After considering a moment, I said: "If you give 
me a mule that can do the work I can sit on its back till 
we arrive; it is only a question of long hours in the sad- 
dle, and the endurance of the mule." 
I was assured of a good mule, and knowing that there 
were several high priced animals at camp well able to do 
the work, I made hurried preparations, anticipating a 
novel and perhaps pleasant experience. My preparations 
were soon made; a pair of saddle bags, a change of under- 
clothing, an ounce of quinine, a two ounce package of 
condensed soup — that was all. 
I hurried over to the officers, where we all waited 
anxiously for the mule. While waiting I was told that 
if I succeeded in depositing the papers on time my asso- 
ciates would be amply compensated for having brought 
me to their camp. About nine o'clock the manager's 
servant came, bringing a mule — a little animal not half 
grown, and which had never been ridden before. The 
men employed about the mines had come to see me start, 
and when the manager said promptly : "Now, there is as 
fine an animal as you could want; it will take you easily 
in two days," the whole crowd began to laugh derisively, 
which made him furious. 
1 said to the capitalist: "Mr. Blank, that mule can 
never take me in two days; you must give me one of the 
better animals." 
The manager protested angrily, and the capitalist, now 
thoroughly anxious, said: "Oh, go, go on. The manager 
is an expert and knows his business; he says the animal 
can take you; don't object so much, but do something 
for us." 
I said: "Mr. Blank, that mule can never cross the 
first range of mountains, but I will get your papers in 
the bank on time." 
Then I mounted the little animal and had considerable 
difficulty in getting it to start, but finally it did go, and I 
was soon out of sight over the hills. 
It was a gallant little mule and took me fifteen miles 
in three hours, and then it broke down, and not another 
step could I get out of it. I had expected one day's 
work from it, and the situation was serious. 
It looked as though I was stuck, but fortunately some 
soldiers came along just then, and I made a bargain with 
them to have my saddle carried on to the next place 
where I hoped to secure an animal. I left the little mule 
at a house nearby, and then we started. It was an 
eighteen mile tramp, but we got in safely about four 
o'clock. 
I went at once to the alcalde, and applied for an animal, 
but here I was in worse luck, the city was in "fiesta," and 
all the men who were not drunk were trying to become 
so as last as possible: Animals? Was that all I wanted? 
I could have all Honduras, but to-morrow. This would 
have been too late. Fortunately I found two men who 
were not quite so drunk as the others, and I offered to pay 
them five dollars each if they would walk with me all 
night and carry my saddle and other things till I could 
find an animal. They readily agreed, and we started on 
our hard tramp. Rough work, indeed, but I determined 
to keep on. About midnight we came to a little tavern, 
and my men were so tired that they begged me to let 
them find substitutes, and they would not take any of 
the money. I told them I had no objections to new 
men, and said that they might make the best bargain 
they could and save the difference. They tried from 
house to house, but it was of no use; none would under- 
take the journey. 
Then I said: "I am sorry, but my necessities require 
that you carry out your agreement; we must go on." 
They went obediently, the law and custom of that coun- 
try compelling them. 
At intervals I let them sleep for twenty minutes, mount- 
ing guard myself, then we would push on. I was excited, 
and made the most fearful exertions. Once we lost the 
trail, and went some miles out of our way, but by sunrise 
we had crossed the largest range of mountains. We- 
pushed on, and about 11 A. M. Monday morning I 
reached Talanga, hardly able to stand. I felt sure of suc- 
cess now. I had made seventy-five miles on foot in 
nineteen hours, and I was within twelve leagues of my 
journey's end, requiring only an animal that could do an 
ordinary day's work. But misfortunes were everywhere; 
not an animal, could be had. and I was too exhausted to 
think of walking further. However, I felt compelled to 
do the best I could; so I telegraphed to Major Burke, of 
New Orleans, to whom I was consigned, telling him the 
condition I was in, and stating that I would come" on as 
far as I could, and when I gave out I would lie down 
across the road, and if I was not in by midnight to send 
a courier out to get the papers, as they must be deposited 
before sunrise Tuesday morning. 
Then I prepared to push on. As I was about to start, 
a man came and said he owned a horse which had never 
been ridden yet, but if I thought I could ride him I could 
try. 
It was a chance, but I determined to risk it, and with 
a good peon at my side started on again. The horse was 
a little troublesome at first, but he took to work naturally, 
and I made good progress. 
About four o'clock we came to a group of great orange 
trees, loaded down with fruit, and because of my exhaus- 
tion I never had anything that tasted so good in my life; 
the fruit was perfect, and for ten cents I bought more 
than I could possibly carry. 
Everything went well till I came to a little place called 
Cofradia, four leagues from the capital. I felt that I had 
almost succeeded when sudden pains shot through my 
body, followed by a violent chill, and then my legs be- 
came paralyzed, I lost all control over myself, and it 
seemed as though -my teeth would rattle out of my head. 
I managed to get my feet out of the stirrups, and half 
fell to the ground, then I staggered to a house and sank 
down by the door. 
As soon as I found my voice I asked for some hot 
water, but was informed that the women had all gone to 
a dance, and the men did not consider it their business 
to boil water. I might have died — that was nothing; they 
would not touch a woman's work. 
Then I asked for rum, which fortunately they had, and 
more fortunate still was the tin of quinine powder in 
my saddle bags. I drank some rum and then tried to 
take some quinine, but my hands were shaking so much 
that I could not measure it, and I shook out a quantity, 
almost as much as my hand could hold. J looked at '% 
