Jeremiah Johnson//Liver Eating Johnson

[dorman nelson]

Howdy,

I am trying to figure Johnson's height as to the photo I have with a rifle.
I have one also with a Hawken. There is one in Cody at the Museum that he supposedly owned. I have handle that and photographed it.

The real Jeremiah Johnson is at www.johnlivereatingjohnston.com

Dorman Nelson

 

[Rembrandt]

As I remember reading the "Crow Killer" "Liver Eat'n" Johnson was around 6'5". A giant of a man compared to the small stature of others in the 1800's. At that size it's no wonder he handily killed over 300 Crow Indians.

Besides his size the man was a clever character....one instance he baked fresh biscuits laced with poison, left his cabin leaving the door open. Hungry Crow Indians helped themselves to the home cook'n killing them all.

 

[sctman800]

Interesting this would be brought up now. I just went by my local library yesterday and ordered "Crow Killer." Should be an interesting read. Jim.

 

[silverking]

Check out the DVD with Robert Redford as "Jeremiah Johnson". It may not be exactly correct as far as facts go, but a very good film with beautiful scenery.

 

[dmftoy1]

Check out the DVD with Robert Redford as "Jeremiah Johnson". It may not be exactly correct as far as facts go, but a very good film with beautiful scenery.

"Know how to skin griz Pilgrim?"

One of my favorite scenes in any movie.

 

[eagle45]

Check out the book "Mountain Man" by Vardis Fischer. It is based on life of the real Liver Eatin Johnson, though not totally factual I'm sure, it is still a good read. I have loaned out many copies over the years. IIRC, the movie "Jeremiah Johnson" credits this book as being the book the movie was based on.

In this book there is a section on the battle that took place after he finds his wife has been killed. How he tracks those responsible, plans and executes his attack on them is incredible.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

"It's a good rifle, it kilt the bar, that kilt me."

"It was only a .45 caliber, but damn, it was a genuine Hawken."

Jerimiah Johnson, great movie w/ Robert Redford.

 

[mike101]

"It was only a .45 caliber, but damn, it was a genuine Hawken."

Actually, "It was only a .30 caliber", etc. This was the rifle he bought. The one he found being held by one of his frozen, fellow mountain men, "Hatchet Jack", was a .50.

One of my top ten favorite movies of all time.

 

[TallPine]

The Redford movie was a mixture of two books: Crow Killer (a supposed recollection of events - Johnson was probably a bit of a tall tale teller) and Mountain Man (a novel based on the former). I've read both books (I used to have the novel but loaned it to someone and never got it back), and the movie is nowhere near as graphic as either book.

If you want to read some real history, try Andrew Garcia's Rough Trip Through Paradise. Very bittersweet true love story at the very end of the wild Indian days (1878-79). I was so moved that I even wrote a song about "White Feather" - I wish I could find somebody that would record it.