The Nevada Democrat., 1862-02-08
Notes OF a Trip over the Mountains.

virginia. It was on Monday morning, bright
and early, but owing to the severe snow storm
that was then raging and the immense bulk of
Forces knapsack, we were induced to put into
port for repairs, which we did by beating re-
treat to our respective fresiaes. During most
mart of that day, after our utter rout, we were
engaged in packing and re-packing our exits"
making them "smaller by degrees and beau
tifully less" Said exits" consisted, after con-
siderable reducing, of suit each OF our "Sun-
two mere-sham pipes, few
Of Henry Hirschman's best cigars, killikiniek5
matches and our fire arms-making something
Of a load after all. Monday, to say the least OF
it. was decidedly rough; it "snew, blew and friz."
On Tuesday morning; January 2Sth, at early
dawn, we bid adieu to the sacred SOIL OF VIZ
ginia City. The road from Virginia to Stout 5
crossing of the Truekee, with the exception OF
the first four miles from the former place, was
in good condition for walking, and we reached
the latter place about five o'clock P. M, where
we put up for the night Our supper, under the
supeyVision of Mrs. Hunter and Miss Mann,
was excefent-breakfast ditto, and blankets
warm. have an idea that Force wes "leetle
smitteu Iyt the charms Of Miss Mann, for when
she. with her silvery voice, sweetly said coffee
or tea" / could notice his weakness. 1t did
not affect me particle for naturally dislike
she sex CD The manner in which we were
treated there, with sprinkling of Col. Reeds
Jokes, made the first night out the happiest OF
our trip over the Henness Pass. II
Wednesday morning, the Truckee beng
rather rapid to be safe, and the boat on the
- # 81 N IN (HNpIiS.
a distance of seven miles, where we crossed
without trouble, and soon after took dinner
Miss O'Neil, as usual, did the honors; and II
she amt as neat and graceful a little "sewlng
machine" and as sweet too, as there is on the
Placerville route, then all have to say is, that
am no Judge of beauty and usefulness. Force,
however, don't agree with me- for he thinks she
saint as intelligent as Miss Mann" 1t don't
make any difference how deep the snow falls,
when | wish to cross the mountains III go the
Henness route, and always eat at O'Neirs,.
hungry OF not, for l must confess, (and don't
turn red when l say itO do like the old lady.
Left there after dinner, made our way over snow
and through it to Perkins House, eight miles
distant, by dark, although the snow was deep
making travelling hard. Got our "fodder" and
retired.
Thursday morning-made start, but the
snow had fallen to such depth during the
night that we could not make much headway
but finally reached the Sardne Valley House,
kopt by Frost K Triplett, about noon. Made
up our minds that "JOrdan was hard road to
travel" and without snow-shoes we could not
"make the rifle" consequently, we made ar
rangements with John Frost to build us each
pair of Norwegian shoes, which he made that
afternoon, and with some solicitation on our
part he concluded to cross the mountains with
us, During our stay at Frost and Tnplet's we
we're well provided !or and received every at
tention at their hands, Snow at that point was
about three feet deep.
Friday morning we donned our Norwegians
and with John Frost and Thos. Dick in the
lead made good time to Naples Ranch, twelve
miles distant, where we fonnd little withered
up Connecticut secessionst, the only occupant,
Except two tom-oats and a half-frozen calfO Of
the ranch. he wasgute communicative, and
while he was preparing our frugal meal told us
that we were the only men he hRdseen for thir-
ty days, with single exception, one man hav-
ing past about fifteen days before. He told us
that the only political or war news that he had
heard during the past month. was "that Lord
Lyons had been instructed to- demand of our
Government the surrender of Abe Linkin, and
that Seward. was about to give him.up." He
seemed anxious to knOwif the report was true.
We told himawe thought likely. and also told
him of the disposition that had been made of
the Stone Fleet; at which he expressed much
surprise and indignation, but he was satisfied
that England would compel the Government
to raise them stuns." He got us up a fair din
ner, threw in glass Of "tarantula juice, knew
enough to charge us dollar each, which we
paid, and off we went for Webber's Station,
three good miles from Naples, which we reach
ed little before night. This station is at the
lake, one mile and half from the summit
The snow at this point was about five feet deep,
making very goood traveling-on snow shoes.
Saturday morning got off right foot foremost
and made Steve Fenns in time for a drink and
Dick Railroads IN time for dinner After dinner
waited an hour or two for the snow to harden,
and at three o'clock started for Bowlnan's.-
The snow stuck TO our shoes, making it very
difficult to travel for the first three miles. We
foundered round in the snow, fell into gullies,
got out, Travelled up hill, then down, got stuck
in the branch, then crossed over, under and
through the Lake Ditch tumbled and walowed
in the snow so much that our bodies became
cold, and our hands and feet almost frozen.--
We were very much fatigued-Foree so much
so that it was with difficulty that he could be
persuaded not to "camp," and really believe
that had it not been for John Frost he would
have "camped" about mile above instead Of
a mile this side of Bowman's. We, however,
made point opposite the ranch at about elev-
en- o'clock, and didn't we halloo, and fire our
pistols in order that some one should come to
our relief We were heard by Geo. Maxwell,
the only person there, but he could render us
no assistance in crossing the creek, and we
were too cold TO attempt to ford it. We then
hobbled as, best we could to l. Il MitchelPs
cabin, which was kept by him. as toll house,