Show 69 over Provot as the first man to reach the lake a further statement concerning it must be made in behalf of Provot’s claim It should be kept in mind that Provot broke relations with the Ashley company in 1826 the very year that Campbell Since reached the mountains as a member of that company in his statement concerning Bridger's claim to discovery it would seem highly possible that he was making a deliberate attempt to distract attention from any other man— especially one who had withdrawn from the company But There is no real evidence to support such a suggestion in writing Provot off as just another ’’possible" discoverer Campbell was so emphatic this point should be kept in deliberately "overlooked" by W mind His claims may have been in 1857 Provot’s claim has had some enthusiastic supporters Marshall Andrews wrote a lengthy letter to the editors of Campbell the Hational Intelligencer February 16 1860 claiming that Provot discovered the lake This is a letter in protest against the name of Bonneville being attached to Great Salt Says Andrews: Lake protestthis letter after protesting solemnly done to a numerous brave ing against an act of injustice and adventurous class of our western citizens by our much I will end or by Captain Bonneville through him In Irving the name of Sublette Fitzpatrick Fontinelle Beipps Bridger and Campbell I protest againstseathe name "Lake of our Bonneville" given to that great inland admired 19 17 J H Simpson Exploration Across the Great Basin |