Wrong guide credited at Rainbow Bridge 

   In a Deseret News story by Barbara Ekker she notes that it was Jim Mike, a Paiute Indian who died Sept. 28, 1977,  who first told whites about the Rainbow Bridge.  He had learned about the great natural bridge from his father, and had discovered it around 1900 when he was herding horses with two other Indians in the area.  He then told others about it and he and Nasja Begay visited the arch.
  
Jim Mike, Ute Indian of San Juan County was over 100 years old when he died.  He was the discoverer of the Rainbow Bridge, and was never given credit until 1974 when he was given a blanket and $50 for his services as aa guide.  In 1982 there was a small plaque set up in his honor.  In 1984 a larger plaque was placed at the arch.  (San Juan Historical Commission Photo)
        In 1908 Jim Mike worked for William Boone Douglass as an axeman.  He told the explorer about it and on Oct. 7, 1908 Douglass reported the information to the General land Office (predecessor of the Bureau of Land Management).  They in turn instructed Douglass to investigate.

   Ekker reports: Douglass and Jim Mike set out in December 1908 but the canyon was blocked by snow, so they returned to Wetherill's Trading Post at Oljato.  Douglass's attention was then turned to investigation of cliff dwellings in the area, and eventually they were designated for protection as the Navajo National Monument in March 1909.
 

The discovery of Rainbow Bridge

   Later that summer of 1909, Douglass organized a Rainbow Bridge expedition with Jim Mike as a guide.  They left Bluff on August 9.  In the group were John English, head chain man; Jean Rogerson, second chain man; Daniel Perkins, flag man; Douglass; and Jim Mike, guide.
 
Jim Mike was a guide for the Rainbow Bridge Discovery Party in 1909.  He was honored by a small plaque in 1982 for the discovery of Rainbow Bridge.  (San Juan Historical Commission Photo)
       Ironically, on the very same day, another group was organizing at Oljato about 70 miles south, in search of the same bridge.  This group was organized by Dr. Byron Cummings, dean of the University of Utah College of Arts and Sciences, an archaeologist.  Earlier that spring, Jim Mike's friend Nasja Begay had told Cummings of the great arch, located beyond Navajo Mountain.  Cummings decided to meet the Douglass group at Organ Rock, so they could make the discovery together.  Douglass on the other hand was very condescending toward our party.  Douglas said, We might go along if we wanted to, "a wonderful privilege under the circumstances."

   Nasja Begay in the meantime was off herding his father's sheep, but a courier was sent with instructions for him to meet the group at Navajo Mountain.  Douglas wrote, From this point we proceeded as one party all under the guidance of Jim Mike. Later we were joined by an additional guide of Cummings' party, Nasja-Begay.
  

Visitors at Rainbow Bridge National Monument stop and take the time to admire a plaque set up in honor of Jim Mike, who discovered the arch.  (San Juan Record Photo)
       From that point the expedition turned into a "A Raiders of the Lost Arch" drama, with both parties hoping to be the first to reach the bridge.  Douglass actually reached the bridge first, with Cummings some 100 feet in the rear.

   Art Cloutier, chief interpreter at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, stated in his most diplomatic way: To Jim Mike is due the credit of giving the world the first knowledge of this remarkable monument.  But to Nasja-Begay the credit is given, at least on the official National Park Service Plaque at Rainbow Bridge, for having revealed the bridge to the world.

   However the Park Service did give Jim Mike recognition in 1974 for discovering the bridge.  He was also given $50 and a new blanket as delayed payment for his guide service. However, this did not appease his friend Clarence Rogers, who continued to prod and agitate until Jim Mike was given equal recognition for the discovery in 1984.

Barbara Ekker lives in Hanksville, Utah, and was a long time reporter for the Deseret News.

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