Page 28 - Cornelius Hedges Story

15 The Cornelius Hedges Story

The next day, Independence Day, they overtook Jim Bridger and
his train and traveled with them the remaining distance to Virginia
City. They also crossed the Yellowstone that day by ferry, with the
ferry charge of $2.50. Hedges entered the following into his journal.

“We spent July 4th on the river at the crossing and that morning
the mountains and foot-hills all around us were white with
fresh-fallen snow. I spend most of the day fishing and caught
several handsome strings of trout, enough to last use two or
three days on our further journey. Some left the train here and
started for Virginia City on horse-back, which was told them
could be made in four days. Jacobs persuaded many that he
knew a better route to the Gallatin than Bridger proposed to
take, but our team stayed with Bridger. When we came out near
where Bozeman now is¸ we, who were in advance, saw who
followed Jacobs in the valley below.”
“In the Yellowstone Mountains bear were so numerous that we
counted no less than seven at one time. Here it was that my
reputation as a hunter came near costing my life. Several who
had tasted the antelope I had accidentally and providentially
shot, insisted that I should head a party to hunt bear. I could not
well go back on my reputation and started with a half-dozen
men who agreed to stay with me to the end. We had not far to
go or long to wait till us a large bear apparently hunting for
us and coming through an opening at a pace that was rapidly
covering the interval. I had barely time to get a position by a
large boulder when the bear was within shooting distance. The
situation was becoming intensely interesting but I reserved my
fire until I could be sure of hitting the bear. The ball evidently
hit the best, for he staggered some and changed his course to
my great relief. On looking around for my associates there
was but one in sight and he was up a tree. Reflecting upon my
narrow escape and the character of my support, I resolutely
decline to serve on the inquest of that bear and have charitably
hoped the wound was not fatal.”
On July 7, he recorded “passed the headwaters of Yellowstone
undoubtedly the confluence of the Shields River with the Yellowstone
and struck those of the Gallatin.”
By the 9th the Madison River was reached and on July 10, he
finally recorded: