Distinctly Montana Magazine

65 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m OPEN APRIL OCTOBER rough (OPEN IN NOVEMBER WEATHER PERMITTING) OPEN PURCHASE TICKETS AT WWW.MININGMUSEUM.ORG 155 MUSEUM WAY BUTTE, MT 59701 406-723-7211 TAKE AN UNDERGROUND TOUR IN THE ORPHAN GIRL MINE AND EXPLORE THE STREETS OF HELL ROARIN' GULCH B E S T M U S E U M B E S T C U LT U R A L M U S E U M B E S T H I S T O R Y M U S E U M whom Myers Myers regarded as one of the deserters. Unprepared for the sheer terror exhibited by the 19-year-old youth and recall- ing conversations he overheard on his deathbed, Glass forgave Bridger. Reverend Orange Clark, who transcribed Yount's narra- tive, indicates, however, that Glass departed Bridger with food for thought: "I leave you to the punishment of your own conscience and your God. [Hereafter, don't forget] that truth and fidelity are too valuable to be trifled with." As winter worsened, Glass had to postpone his pursuit of ven- geance until February 29, 1824, when he volunteered for courier service on a contingent headed to Fort Atkinson. Unfortunately, another skirmish with Arikara Indians, which took place near the historic site of Fort Laramie, left Glass, once again, unarmed, alone and on foot. After traveling some 400 miles to Fort Kiowa, he learned that John Fitzgerald had given up beaver hunting and enlisted in the Army. Given Glass' unwavering commitment to his mission, it is entirely possible that he would have executed Fitzgerald when their paths crossed at Fort Atkinson in May or June of 1824, had it not been for the Army's intervening authority. Even so, that encounter was volatile. As Myers Myers observes, the officer of the day, Captain Bennet Riley, informed Glass that he "couldn't have one of the post's soldiers to eat." To his credit, Riley en- sured that Glass' rifle was promptly returned to him. That act, in conjunction with a "purse of Three Hundred Dollars," which Yount insists that members of the Sixth Regiment donated to Glass, finally extinguished the fires of vengeance that had fu- eled Hugh's behavior. Literary and cinematic portrayals of this saga have consistent- ly and understandably emphasized the life-and-death struggle for survival that occurred during the weeks immediately after his near-fatal grizzly attack. Fully contextualized, however, Hugh Glass' journey constitutes nothing less than an American od- yssey, one that pitted Glass against extraordinary odds, the de- structive power of an enraged grizzly, brutal weather and Arika- ra war parties, for more than nine months and 2,000 miles, much of which he traversed alone and on foot. These events justifiably gave rise to one of the West's most enduring legends. Map of Glass' Odyssey W e're a locally-owned pharmacy dedicated to the well-being of you and your family. Our specialty is providing outstanding compounded medications. Choose us to experience the level of service that the big chains can't offer. www.rmpharmacy.com 406.587.4332 1931 W. Stevens Unit B Bozeman We've moved! Visit our new space on North 19th Ave. TM

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