Show Jim Bridger Covered Wagon Hero I Brave Honest and True F Frontiersman an I Some interesting comments on the life of Scout Jim Bridger are axe contained contained contained con con- In a recent editorial in the I Helena Helona Mont Dally Daily Independent of ot December 30 The editorial was wasI prompted by the fact that Virginia I Bridger Hahn a a. descendant of the famous scout has bas sued the Famous Players-Lasky Players corporation for tor 1000 alleging that Jim Bridgers Bridger's memory memory memory mem mem- ory was defamed in the Paramount picture The Covered Wagon The editorial follows Virginia Bridger Hahn Halm of Kansas City daughter of the famous plainsman plainsman plainsman plains plains- man and guide Jim Bridger has brought a 11 suit for against the motion picture company which produced The Covered Wagon claiming claim claim- ing damages because the old man is pictured as drinking whisky and flirtIng flirting flirt flirt- Ing with a 11 couple of squaws The life story of Jim Jg Bridget Bridger tl is C closely r d connected fl with the early days a of Montana and the news dispatch which conveys the information that I the daughter of ot Jim Bridger has brought this suit is of ot more than passing ing g Interest interest to people of this state taSt Apparently Mrs Hahn Halm has gone Into partnership with some Kansas City lawyer who believes he can collect collect collect col col- col- col lect a large sum of money from the I wealthy picture producers and If the case is ever brought blought to trial it sheU 1 sho w produce a record which the Montana I Historical society would do well to I publish Jim Bridger passed through Montana Montana Mon Mon- I tana probably for the first time In 1832 with Captain Bonneville in those eventful days when daring men en were I marching across the continent in search of wealth Many trips fol followed followed fol- fol fOl 1 lowed the Bonneville expedition and Jim Bridger was with a good many of I Ithem I Ithem them camping from the waters of the muddy Platte to the beautiful shores of sw Sweetwater He knew the Indians he knew the plainsmen the first army officers the first territorial Governors and he lie conveyed the f first judges into the Northwest homel homeland territory and Every JEvery trading ain post was his home and buffalo 1119 target and meal 1 every bounded the first ticket He H founded the first post and refuge on the Oregon trail Fort Bridger r Jim Bridger not only saw sawall all all' the wonders of ot Yellowstone park about the first time a a. white te man ever be beheld beheld beheld be- be held them b but in his Imagination g n on he built up other wonders which were lvere not there at all aU and for which future I into the Yellowstone expeditions vatne country look looked In vain I He probably named the Fire Hole Hoe basin and river j and spun w wondrous tales for tor idle people people peo peo- during i idle hours at the military I posts and camps until It was difficult C Continued tin ed on page 2 l 1 Jim Bridger Covered Wagon Hero Continued from page 1 to get anyone from the tho States to believe that there was even eien a warm spring within the confines of ot the Yellowstone country Whole chapters have been written In guide books and natural histories about Jim Bridgers Bridger's Lies But at heart the old fellow tellow was as truthful as he was skilled and bravo The testimony o of scores e of military ry commanders m le and d do civilians lv fi c can be produced to prove that he was always always al always al- al ways to be trusted and believed In as asa asa asa a guide scout trader and all around I pioneer He never betrayed any man I nor was he ever untrue t to any trust so gr far as known 6 n urr nurr to his s friends anti and companions He lie stamped his name nameon nameon on the history and on the geography of ot Montana and his monument stands Overlooking the beautiful valley val val- val val- ley a icy a lofty peak In the Rocky mountains mountains mountains moun moun- which bears his name But Dut In the face of this good reputation reputation reputation tation always enjoyed by Jim Bridger and probably cherished by him during his long and useful life lite how Is the daughter and her Kansas City lawyer going to prove that he did not participate participate participate par par- in the many parties staged at the trading posts that he ho did not drink liquor nor flirt with Indian squaws It will be generally regretted that Kansas City culture u has so far gone to the gs head h 1 of o Mrs rs Virginia t gl at Bridger rl Hahn that she now proposes to prove that Jim Bridger was a member of the W. W C C. T. T U U. the Y It II r. C. C A A. tho thoC C C. C E E. and E. E L. L an and other t sections n of the dry anti and t m alphabet h She wants a million dollars because the producers did not pin a white ribbon on the buttonhole of Jim Bridgers Bridger's buckskin jacket and put a a. Gideons Gideon's Bible In his hip pocket Instead of a flask of ot Jamaica rum The Independent has no desire to prejudice the case and keep the woman and her attorney from dividIng dividing dividing divid divid- ing the million dollars but if anyone Is guilty g of or libel against the memory of old Jim Bridger It Is Mrs frs Virginia Bridger Hahn and her Kansas City GUy lawyer It is a a. libel on the memory of ot any plainsman to allege even In a acourt acourt acourt court complaint that he did not have guts enough to drink rink raw red liquor and pinch the voluptuous squaws until until until un un- un- un til blushes showed through their well smoked skins skin and their breath came hot and fa fast st t I |