The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-06-23
Written for the Telegraph.
SNOW EsOUNDEN THE SIERRA
NEVADAS.


The fall of 1850 found many long
trains of OK teams stretched over the vast
West, all on the way 70 the land of gold
marvellous stories of which had been
brought from thence At that time there
we're no we'll established routes Of travel
through the mountains, but each train
under the guidance OF a trapper, follow ed
a path-of his pointing out. Winter came
on, and many trains were caught by it.
sill entanged among the intricate and
narrow canons and secluded valleys OF
the Sierra Nevadas and Rocky Mount
aims.
Such was the fate Of the train to which
[ was attached, and though our sufferinrs
were less than Those Of some other par
lies, they were still great
We had crossed the vast plains east OF
the Rocky mountains without difficulty,
and had crossed that range in safety; bur
after that our troubles began Our guide
had taken rs by route known only to
| bimsetf, which lie said was shorter than
the usual one. IS frequently happens, it
prev ed the longest. series OF accidents
10 cur wagons delayed MS, and finally IA
| band of thieving Grows had run off, great
| part of our cattle, and all the horses and
mules, reducing US 80 fhree yoke of oxen
Hence we were obliged to abandon all
the wagons but one, into which we pack
cd the most indispensable Of our outfit.
To add to our misfortunes winter came
qpon US, as we were in the passes of the
Sierra Neyadas. For days we tolled pain
fully through the deep SHOWS, every day
seeming more difficult than the last, until
at last we were brought to stand-still
by a furious snow storm. 1t was imposs-
lble to make any progress while it.lasted,
for the snow flew so thick you could not
see yard through it, even if the road
were not already blocked up. We were
IN a little valley, shut in on all sides by
mountains, except narrow canonat each
end. Here we passed the day gioomily
enough, the women and children shelter
ed In the wagon, the rest under a rude
shed Of Line boughs All day long the
snow sill fell, and all night there seem.
ed no cessation. AS day dawned, a Curl
Gus sight presented itself the snow was
+ fun four feet thick all around, and as we
dug out OF our den, we could see only
the white cover of our wagon above the
snow. The oxen we're completely buried
We're they lay, only little hole over each,
kept open by their breath, showed where
they were.
With great difficulty we Aoundered to
the canon by which we had entered :. to
our horror it was drifted full high above
our heads:a bad lookout! Further cx
-amination showed that the canon at the
lower end or the vulley was in the same
condition; we were fairly trapped! There
was no use trying to disguise the truth /;
we were imprisoned for no one knew
how long. In all probability the snow
would not thaw before April it was now
early in December; four months at least,
and how were we provided for That time !?
There were about twenty of us altogether,
mon women AMI chil1rop ry;+l, ,,,o,.;
ions enough to last, with great economy
a couple OF weeks To these we could
add the six remaining oxen, but they
were mere skeletons, and but little nour-
ishmenS could be got from them. There
seemed nothing before us but death, or a
more fearful ye--can1si5azssaa, \
| shuddered as this fearful thought came
into my minds but just then the voice Of
our guide aroused me from my revere.
Come, said he, we're in bad fix ::
thar amt no doubt about tibet bat If
mout be wuss; we've got enough grub to
last till into January anyhow N afore
tibet time We may hey a thaw, N then d
freeze; n ef it duz, well walk out o
this here trap, easy S rollin off a loo
Anyhow, twoht do no good to set here
n gro~l n SWIVEL like lot O bars with
sore heads les git to work, n make.
things more conf table for the wimmenI
n the young uns, ~ above all, show EN-
q good example BY putin Il good face on
the matter"
There was sound sense in what the
guide said, and feeling somewh hat cheered
by his words, we got the axes from the
wagon, and set 10 work telling some Of
the pine trees, and preparing to build
hut. By dint of steady hard work, in