Missing traps. Here is a tale (most likely stretched some, as Beckwourth was one of the most prolific story
tellers of the mountain men) about a missing beaver trap and the lengths he and Bridger went to to retrieve it.

but one of my traps was missing. I sought it in every direction, but without success, and on my return
to camp mentioned the mystery. Captain Bridger (as skillful a hunter as ever lived in the mountains)
offered to renew the search with me, expressing confidence that the trap could be found.
We searched diligently along the river and the bank for a considerable distance, but the trap was
among the missing. The float-pole also was gone — a pole ten or twelve feet long and four inches
thick. We at length gave it up as lost.
The next morning the whole party moved farther up the river. To shorten our route, Bridger and
myself crossed the stream at the spot where I had set my missing trap. It was a buffalo-crossing,
and there was a good trail worn in the banks, so that we could easily cross with our horses. After
passing and traveling on some two miles, I discovered what I supposed to be a badger, and we
both made a rush for him. On closer inspection, however, it proved to be my beaver, with trap,
chain, and float-pole. It was apparent that some buffalo, in crossing the river, had become entangled
in the chain, and, as we conceived, had carried the trap on his shoulder, with the beaver
pendent on one side and the pole on the other. We inferred that he had in some way got his head
under the chain, between the trap and the pole, and, in his endeavors to extricate himself, had
pushed his head through. The hump on his back would prevent it passing over his body, and away
he would speed with his burden, probably urged forward by the four sharp teeth of the beaver,
which would doubtless object to his sudden equestrian (or rather bovine) journey. We killed the
beaver and took his skin, feeling much satisfaction at the solution of the mystery

Members of the American Mountain Men's Rocky Mountain Outfit on a ride.

That is quite a story and a bit of detective work on their part.

You always have to take Beckwourth's tales with a grain (or barrel) of salt.

Two barrels might be better. The only part I would be willing to say with certainty happened is that he lost a trap. Sure makes for a good story, though.

A Great Read!
Enjoyed it much!

I wonder how much the Crows like Jim's story telling. I understand he married into and was adopted into the tribe and became fluent in the language.

For both the Mountain Men AND the Indians story telling was a chief form of entertainment for those long winter evenings and I think the good story tellers were held in high esteem by both.

I can understand the importance of not losing equipment and how important it was to find it but find this story a bit much. Entertaining and a good read but still a bit much.

That's James Beckwourth. Entertaining and a good story, but always a bit much.

The stories are based on truth. He likely lost a trap, and even found it later. The rest, is a LONG stretch of a yarn.

As a fellow BS'er I love the man's style. Joe Meek too.

Joe Meek was a master of twisting the truth and stretching a yarn.

Beckwourth flat out fabricated stories. Good stories, but hardly based in fact.

Hey a good yarn is always entertaining, keep em coming. Thanks.

I found that story extremely interesting; quite a way to come across your trap. I’m listening to Meateater’s American History - The Mountain Men right now and Steve Rinella just told that story on a previous episode.

Quite the life they had back then!

Joe Meek's brother Stephen, gives us this little funny while he was back home for a bit:

That winter I went to Independence on horseback, carrying the annual express.
Having ten days to spare, I went to Lexington to see my brother and sister. While there I called on
some young ladies, to whom I related many incidents of my mountain life, which so startled their
worthy mother that she exclaimed:
“Law sakes! Mr. Meek, didn’t you never get killed by none of them Indians and bears?”
“Oh, yes, madam,” said I gravely, “I was frequently killed.”

And on a more serious note, when Joe Meek was back in Washington DC visiting his cousin President Polk and requesting help for the Indian uprisings (Whitman massacre) some of the women at a high brow DC social function asked Joe if he was married; to which he replied in the affirmative. "Well isn't your wife afraid of the Indians he was asked?" To which Joe replied: "Ma'am, not especially as she is an Indian herself".

great read thanks for sharing