The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-03-23
FROM BANNACK.
Cold Weather-A man and horse frozen to
ldesth-HardShips OF miners-Want OF Postal
FacilitieS-Stock frozen at Salmon, etc.
From our own Correspondent

lde9th-hardShlpS OF mlnerS-Want OF Postal
Facilities-stock frozen at Salmon, etc.
From own Correspondent.
EDITOR PosT: Since our last letter
we have had intensely cold weather. On
the 11th inst a northeast snow storm
set in and continued throughout the
day and with increasing fury,
"Fen the snow o'er all the landscape,
Fell the covering snow, and drifted
Through the forest, round the village"
On the morning of the 18th the ther-
mometer stood at 27o below zero, anG
on the right of the same day at 47o be
low zero.
The merciIess' wind forced its way
through the daubing of the miners cab
ins their fires burned low, sleep for
sock them, and wrapt in their blankets
they tossed to and fro, longing for
morning. How Jared the poor gold
seekers on their way to Salmon ? Many
are without money, and not sufficiently
clad to protect them from the pitiless
blasts of the old storm king. No doubt
we shall yet hear many sad story OF
suffering and death. Here little hill
lock will denote where some poor foot
man, exhausted, fell to rise no more
and there horse and rider will be en-
gulphed in the same snow drift, while
others, uncovered by the snow, viii be
devoured by hungry wolves; and moth
er and sister, wife and children, will new
er hear of the cruel fate of their loved
ones.
Strange as it may seem, the 18th day
of March was the coldest of the winter
by 19o. We have had very mild win
ter up to this month. The coldest
weather of the winter months was on
Christmas-eye-27 below zero. On
the 18th Mr.. Painter, with three others.
started with three packed animals for
his ranch, 10 miles from Bannack, on the
trail To Salmon river. When within
four miles of the ranch the horses gave
out and they were compelled to aban-
don everything to save themselves. Af-
ter proceeding about a mile one of the
men became so exhausted and ihdiffef-
ent, that he refused to- go any further,
and every effort to induce him to travel
was of no avail. Mr.. Painter went So
far as to slap him in order to rouse his
energy, but the unfortunate stranger
took notice of him, and they Were forced
to leave him to his fate. He had no de
sires, only to be left alone in the icy EN-
brace of cruel Boreas. The next day lac
was found in the very spot where they
left him, frOzen+to death, and also one
of the horses, a little further on, slept
his last sleep.
To-day the lifeless stranger was brought
to Bannack, having been two nights out.
and no one can recognize him, only a.
stranger from Virginia on his way
a-foot, to the Salmon river mines. The
other two men reached the ranch badly
frozen in both hands and feet. They
took bottle of whisky with them, and
it is highly probable that it did them
more harm than good. If man expects
to endure fatigue and cold he needs but
little stimulant.
Not far from the same spot Mr.. Ram
sey was lost five or six weeks since and
has never been found. There seems To
be mystery connected with his disap
pearance, as he had but eight miles To
go to his own ranch, over q very famil-
! lar road, and besides he was known TO
have over a thousand dollars ON his per
| son.
| The coaches from Virginia and Sal
mon river are behind, perhaps in conse-
quence of the cold weather, or rather
because of the poor stock and manage
ment of the company.
Since writing the above there has
been jury of inquest held over the
dead stranger, and it is ascertained that
his name is Archibald McCurdy, and
that he is from La Fayette, Ind. He has
been an adjutant in the army and had a
recommendation from Judge Orth, OF
Indiana, and certificate of Judge Low
ell, of Virginia city. for services as clerk
of the late election also numerous let
ters, signed, Mary" There was no
money or valuables found on him, save
a fifty cent greenback.
1t is reported this morning that sever
al horses were frozen TO death AZ sal
mon, on the cold night. The weather Is
moderating.
= +. u.
I