Life among the Mormons, and a march to their Zion, to which is added a chapter on the Indians of the plains and mountains of the West, by an officer of the U.S. Army.

Life among the Mormons, and a march to their Zion, to which is added a chapter on the Indians of the plains and mountains of the West, by an officer of the U.S. Army - Page 80

58 FROM GREEN RIVER and came to this country with the army of Gen. Johnston, and has been the sutler at Fort Bridger since its establish ment. For thirty years he has been with the army, and I found him a perfect encyclopedia of information concern ing it. Mention the name of an officer of the old army and he will give you his whole history. We found him a high-toned, intelligent, and hospitable Virginia gentleman, uni versally popular" with all who associated with him, and de servedly so. His store contains a larger assortment of every variety of goods and wares than any similar establish - ment west of the Missouri River. I was informed by good authority, that his purchases in the East last year amounted to $ 180,000. This large trade is by no means confined to those at the post, but is principally with miners and emi grants. His success in business has doubtless surpassed his most sanguine expectations. I have seldom met with a more hospitable gentleman than Judge Carter, and there is always a plate at his table for a visitor at the post or a passing friend, the pleasure of entertaining a guest is the only remuneration he will receive for his liberality, be the entertained friend or stranger. Living on the reservation is another character, almost as generally known as the Judge. I refer to an old trader and mountaineer named Robinson, but passing always under the sobriquet of u Uncle Jack." He has been living on the frontier for nearly forty years, and has adopted many of the habits of the aborigines, several of whom he has as wives. During the summer months his abode is an Indian lodge, and in the winter he is ensconced in a log cabin, a few miles from the fort. Uncle Jack, though for so many years without the bounds of civilization, has acquired none of that rudeness of manner, which it would seem must always nec essarily follow his associations and mode of life. He is al ways polite, kind in his feelings, and very entertaining in his conversation, having an exhaustless fund of incidents in the life of a mountaineer. He is generous, also, to a fault, and has accommodated persons with cattle and money amount ing to many thousands of dollars, of which he will never