IRONHAND  No 1 -- No 2 -- No 3 -- No 4 -- No 5 

     No 6 -- No 7 -- No 8 -- No 9 -- No 10 -- No 11.

 NO. 2: ON THE TRAIL   1987

ON THE TRAIL

Living in the vicinity of the Three Forks was the free trapper, Zeb “Red” Fulton, who had started out in the fur trade with Iron Hand, both being from Tennessee at the time. Red hadn’t made it to the Rendezvous of 1836 because the party of trappers that he had signed on with found trapping beaver too much work and an Indian scare or two sent them packing back to St. Louis.

But Red had made his decision when he left St. Louis that this was the life that he wanted so he was going to make it work for him one way or another. He made his camp on the Madison, not too far from the Three Forks area, even though he realized that he was in Blackfoot country. He figured that the Indians wouldn’t bother him as long as he restricted his hunting to taking only what he would need for surviving, living much the way that the Indians did.

Blackfoor hunting parties would visit him at his camp, and he in turn would travel with them on hunting and raiding parties. From these excursions, he accumulated a fine herd of horses, and also booty as his share. When he fell in love with a beautiful Blackfoot woman that he wanted for his wife, his horses and booty came in handy for buying her from Chief Brave Warrior, who was her father.

Now in this painting, circa May 1837, done by local artist Molly Fenton, we see Red striking out from his camp, heading for Chief Brave Warrior’s camp. From some of the braves in this camp, Red had learned of the fight with the three tappers, and from the description given him by those who had taken part, he thought that he recognized one of the trappers to be his friend, Iron Hand. Now he wanted to find out if there was any way that he could help Iron Hand, if he was still alive.

No 3: THE RETURN OF IRON HAND

 NO. 1: THE TRADER   1986

THE TRADER

This colorful trading scene at the camp of ‘Iron Hand’ Burt has been captured on canvas by nationally recognized artist Norman Adams.

At right is Iron Hand, a nearly seasoned man of just 18 years, who left his home in Tennessee to join a free trapper brigade headed for the Rocky Mountains. Iron Hand earned his moniker while apprenticed to a blacksmith, and it is doubtful that he would be missed by his home state of Tennessee, since the young man was known to have many encounters with the law in his attempt to live up to his name.

Trapping his way west from the Rocky Mountains, Iron Hand met his lovely bride, Morning Star, while assisting a band of friendly Nez Perce Indians in a fight with the Blackfoot Indians at the head of the Snake River. In appreciation for his able assistance, Morning Star’s father, chief of the band, presented the trapper with a beautiful Yakima blanket woven by the chief’s wife. Morning Star then fashioned the blanket into the colorful capote her husband is shown wearing.

Shortly before the Green River Rendezvous of 1836, Iron Hand’s camp was raided by the Blackfoot Indians. His traps and other necessities were stolen. Here, at the Rendezvous, Francois (left), the trader from St. Louis, exchanges for furs many of the items Iron Hand needs replaced for next winter’s trapping.

NO. 2: ON THE TRAIL

Prints/posters of these images are available at

 Fort Walla Walla Museum.

 NO. 3 – THE RETURN OF IRON HAND  1988

THE RETURN OF IRON HAND

Iron Hand and Morning Star left the 1836 Rendezvous in company with two other free trappers, heading for the camp of Morning Star’s people in the Wallowa Valley.

Their child would be born in the camp in June of 1837, and Iron Hand had hoped to be back from his early spring trapping in time for the birth of his child. But Blackfoot war parties changed his plans by raiding his camp and nearly killing him. He wouldn’t get to be there for the birth of his child, and he wouldn’t be making it back to the Rendezvous this year.

Friendly flathead Indians nursed him back to health, and loaned him horses and supplies to make the trip back to the Wallowa country to join Morning Star and their child. It was February of 1838 before he was well enough to tael, and the route that he chose would be west from Flathead country toward Fort Colville and Fort Okanogan, down the Columbia to the mouth of the Walla Walla River, and then overland to the Wallowa Valley.

It had been September of 1837 when Morning Star accompanied her father to the Columbia River to trade for salmon. It was there that she had met the French Canadian voyager, Jean Michel LeTour, and heard from other trappers that Iron Hand had died from his wounds received in the battle with the Blackfeet.

Morning Star hadn’t believed these stories, and wanted to go to the Rendezvous on the Popo Agie in search of Iron Hand, whom she believed to be alive. She had talked LeTour into accompanying her to the Rendezvous because she wanted to show Iron Hand her son.

Now, in this painting, circa 1838, nationally recognized artist Norman Adams shows Iron Hand and his new trapping partner, “Bear,” just arriving at the voyager camp of LeTour at the mouth of the Walla Walla River. LeTour had made preparations to strike out overland with Morning Star, the baby, Big Gabe and Francois, the trader who is returning to the Rendezvous for another season of trading.

LeTour had already made plans for Malcolm Stuart, “Scotty,” to take the canoe and extra supplies down the Columbia to Fort Vancouver for him. Plans may change now for a few people when Morning Star realizes that the new arrival in camp is her husband, Iron Hand.

No 4: SEARCHERS FOR IRON HAND

IRONHAND NO. 5: WAUGH!! I AIN’T IRONHAND  1990

WAUGH!! I AIN’T IRONHAND

Ironhand had become a legend. The tales about him were growing, but he remained as elusive as the legendary Sasquatch.

Obadiah Jackson and his wife, White Fawn, had gone to the 1839 Rendezvous on Green River, along with other trappers and traders, to search for Ironhand.

It wouldn’t have been too difficult to locate him at this Rendezvous, because the attendance was much smaller than in past years. Price of beaver had fallen since the process of using silk for top hats had been invented. Therefore, many of the old familiar faces were missing, since many of the trappers had sought out new occupations.

For a while there had even been some doubt that there would be a Rendezvous in 1839, for many of the traders out of St. Louis were reluctant to bring their caravans out to the mountains. Some of them did come, but with smaller caravans.

Therefore, it was easier for Obadiah to get around and talk to those who were there, and from them he had been told about the free trapper living over on Beaver Creek, not far from the junction of the Popo Agie and Wind River. This man fit the description of Ironhand.

The legend was also growing up in the Three Forks area, in the vicinity were Ironhand had had his fight with the Blackfeet. Two friends of “Red” Fulton were living in this area, and had also been considered renegades because of their raiding with the Blackfeet.

Now, in this painting, circa October 1839, done by nationally known artist Norman Adams, we see the free trapper, “Rattler” Henderson, standing almost knee deep in the river with his catch. He had just been confronted by “Sparks” Anders, who has just arrived with “Blaster” Rawlins from up in the Three Forks area. Sparks has just hailed Rattler, calling him Ironhand, to which Rattler replies: “Waugh! I ain’t Ironhand!”

Obadiah Jackson is just arriving on the scene with his pack horses from the Rendezvous, in hope that he has found Ironhand at last. But, alas, he is to be disappointed once again.

NO. 6: IRONHAND AT WHITMAN MISSION

IRONHAND NO. 9: STANDOFF IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS 1994

STANDOFF IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

As the price for beaver is in decline, many of the brave men of the mountains are out searching for a new adventure.

Some return to whence they came, others head to the land of California, and then there are the ones who still have the yearning to stay close to the Mother Earth to which they will someday return.

These men look to the mountain heights as the point to which they are closer to the Great Creator and from whom they gain the strength to carry on.

This painting, circa 1940, painted by nationally known artist Norman Adams, shows a mountain man, let’s call him Hugh (because the painting conjures up a historical account of the life of Hugh Glass, Mountain Man Extraordinaire).

Hugh, after working the streams of the Rockies, is looking to the peaks and streams of the Pacific Cascades, knowing that there is on more challenging set of peaks he must cross … the Blue Mountains! At the same time, “Ole Ephraium,” who has thoughts of a gourmet diet, is searching a downed long on this fine, sunny day when Hugh and his traveling mates, Sally and Ben, come into view. Not, a “standoff in the Blue Mountains.”

Although there is no historic evidence that grizzly bears were in the Blues, we leave this scene for you to ponder.

NO. 10: CHANCE MEETING 

IRONHAND NO. 6: IRONHAND AT WHITMAN MISSION 1991

IRONHAND AT WHITMAN MISSION

Ironhand’s reunion with his wife, Morning Star, and infant son, Strongarm, at the mouth of the Walla Walla River in 1838 brought great joy to both of them. Now he would take his little family and move to the beautiful Wallowa Valley, home of his wife’s people, the Nez Perce. There they would live out their days in the peaceful serenity of the valley and surrounding mountains.

But their happiness was to be shortlived. In the early fall of 1839, Ironhand decided to take his wife and two-year old son with him on a trapping expedition. He wanted to trap the tributaries of the Snake River as far south as the mouth of the Boise River, and return to the Wallowa Valley before the real bad winter weather set in.

While he trapped the streams, Morning Star and Strongarm remained in the temporary camp awaiting his return. One day on his return to camp he found his camp destroyed and his wife and child dead. They had both been badly beaten, his wife raped and stabbed. Tracks and evidence around the camp told him that the killers were six in number and were headed north. They were on horseback and had taken his three horses. He was left to trail them on foot, packing with him only his weapons and some food.

He had tracked them as far as the Whitman Mission, passing very close to the place where he had been reunited with his wife and son just about a year and a half earlier. It was already mid-November, and he was cold and tired from tracking in the rain and snow. With heavy heart he abandoned the search and headed for the mission. Dr. Whitman, learning that he had been a blacksmith, persuaded him to stay for the winter and set up a sorely needed blacksmith shop.

Ironhand, being very useful with his hands, set up a lean-to, built a bellows and fashioned a forge from adobe blocks. He acquired an anvil and a minimum of supplies from Fort Vancouver. He made the decision to stay at the mission for now and work at his former occupation of blacksmith, hoping that one day he would learn from some passing trader who the men were who murdered his wife and son. When he did, he would again take the trail and hunt them down and take care of them in his own way.

In this painting, circa November 1840, painted by nationally known artist, Norman Adams, we are viewing a scene depicting the end of an era known as the fur trade.

Ironhand is at his forge at the mission, where wagons driven by mountain men Joe Meek and others have arrived. The small caravan of three wagons was led by Doc Newell, bringing families and stray travelers, including “Soretoes” Short, who is inspecting the repair on one of the wheels.

Joe Meek’s wife, Virginia, together with Alvina Short, are showing much interest in the trade good offered by Tinbender. He is letting them make up their minds while Dr. Whitman points out to him and Joe meek the best trail to travel from the mission to the Willamette Valley.

Off to the right we see that the rest of the wagon caravan has set up their temporary camp.

The question remains: Will Ironhand ever learn the identities of his wife and son’s killers?

NO. 7: THE GREAT FALLS OF THE PALUS

IRONHAND NO. 7: THE GREAT FALLS OF THE PALUS 1992

THE GREAT FALLS OF THE PALUS

It is spring in the Oregon country. The members of the Touchet Valley Fur Company have spent several days working their way up Lewis River and rested at the mouth of the Palus River. After a long climb out of the canyons that stretch back towards Lewis River (now called the “Snake”), the members of the Company are shown the falls by their traveling companions from the village of the Palus. Captain “Dutch” declares a brief holiday on President Monroe’s birthday, April 28, and celebrates by firing the large bore blunderbluss named “Big Thunder” over the falls. “Crazy Legs” squats at the Captain’s side as “Cherokee” stands behind the Captain keeping a sharp eye for any game that moves at the soundof the thunder gun. “Crawdad” uses the spyglass to check for deer and elk that run when the blunderbuss speaks.

In the background, the Company’s Chief Clerk, “Scribe,” makes a journal entry about the origin of the falls as told to him by one of the native traveling companions, “White Eagle.” The legend revolves around a giant beaver who, in its death throes, pushed the rocks and earth into a large dam that now prevents fish from migrating up river. “Firecat” looks over Scribe’s shoulder to make sure he gets the sign language interpreted properly. The Company’s Chief Packer, “Cottonwood,” tends to the horses loaded with valuable trade goods and provisions. “Bald Eagle” Johnston is seen only as one small fingertip as he hangs onto a sagebrush growing from the cliff at the Captain’s feet. Bald Eagle, having celebrated most of the previous night, slid over the cliff and is hanging onto his life with one hand and his jug with the other.

No 8: FRIENDLY CHALLENGE

 IRONHAND NO. 10: CHANCE MEETING  1995

CHANCE MEETING

With the seasons in the Fort Walla Walla regions about to make its long-awaited change from winter to spring, activity at the Fort was a flurry of excitement with the opportunity to get out of the cramped quarters of a long winter stay.

Spirits running high, a scout is dispatched to the Mountains in search of the possibility of game, and to dispel the rumor that the local Natives were massing together for a possible run on the Fort.

The massacres of the Whitman’s still fresh in the minds of those assigned to the Fort, and the Treaty of Fifty-five just signed in the summer past, all those at the Fort still know that any rumor can be a serious threat and the order is still in effect that settlers are not permitted in the region.

The Fort, located on the Mill Creek at the Nez Perce Trail head, is a short travel of the Blue Mountains, a US Army Post established to maintain peace in the region. The scout dispatched, heads for the mountains and in this scene, depicted here in a painting done by nationally known artist Norman Adams. The scout has now become the hunted, even for the best trained, nature can still spring a sudden surprise.

The scout and his fine Steed have just experienced a “Chance Meeting.”

No 11: EYES FOR QUARRY

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