Mormon History
Gentile Mountain Man Escape - 1853
The Weekly Tribune – November 25, 1853
Mr. James Bridger.
It will afford gratification
to the numerous friends and acquaintances of Mr. James Bridger, the well known
trader, to learn that the reports in circulation concerning his death, are
without foundation, and that by this time he has doubtless, arrived with his
family, safely at [W-----], Me. He had a narrow escape however, as the Mormons
were greatly [------ed] at him, for furnishing (as they say) arms and ammunition
to the Utah Indians, with whom they are at war. A party of some thirty or forty
Mormons were sent by Governor Young, to his Fort to arrest him. Being apprised
of their approach, he took to the mountains in the vicinity of Bridger's Fort,
where he watched the movements of his pursuers. They took possession of the Fort
and lived upon his [----s] and provisions several days, but, being unable to
find him returned home. Immediately after their departure he collected his
family together and started for the States. -- Sidney, Iowa Journal.
Note 1: Reports of "Mountain Man" Bridger's death began to circulate after some
of his fleeing employees reached the settled portion of the western frontier
without him. For one such news item, see the
Nov 12, 1853 issue of the Illinois Dixon Telegraph.
Note 2: After Jim Bridger fled in 1853, The Mormons took control of the Green
River Basin, establishing their Fort Supply in the area and leaving Fort Bridger
vacant. Bridger returned to Utah Territory in 1855 and sold his fort and lands
to his occasional enemies, the Mormons, for $8,000. They then occupied his fort
and trading post, fortifying the outpost against the possibility of future
attack by Indians or outsiders from the States. In 1857, the Mormons abandoned
the fort and destroyed much of its usefulness to the advancing United States
Army. "Johnson's Army," guided by Bridger, occupied the area late in 1857 and
the old fort was eventually rebuilt.