Contributed By Kiniksu Kid
10-23-11
Hugh Glass
Hugh Glass was originally from Pennsylvania and began a career of sailor on a merchant ship. Having served in that capacity for several years, his ship was captured by pirates under the lead of Lafitte. The policy for captives was to either join the pirates and follow their lead or immediate death. Glass quickly chooses to join. After a season Glass was unhappy with the life of a pirate and while their ship was secluded off the coast of Texas he and a comrade jump in the ocean and swim to shore. As they are working their way inland the pair is captured by Pawnee Indians. The Pawnees decide to burn them at the stake and Glass’s comrade was the first to be killed. As the time approached for Glass, he reached into his shirt and gave the chief a package of vermilion, an item the Indians valued above all else. The chief cut him lose and led him to his teepee and together they shared a pipe. Hugh was treated as a member from then on and traveled with the Pawnee for several months. As they were camped near St. Louis, Glass was able to escape and fled to the city. It is here that Glass joins with Major Henry of the Ashley/Henry fur trapping company.
Besides the cited work by John Neihardt there are several other accounts one being the “Chronicles of George C. Younnt” who spoke with Glass at a yearly rendezvous. And there is a novel, Lord Grizzly written on this event. In the early ‘70s there was also a movie,” Man in the Wilderness” based on the Hugh Glass saga. We know that Glass was literate as there is a letter from him to the father of John S. Gardner in Virginia telling him of his son’s death in an attack by the Arikaras. The letter is in the Museum at Yellowstone National Park. Whatever lack of details there are, this was one amazing man.
Last Modified 10-23-11