Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-06-22
Going to the 70 Semitic.

Making stereoscopic views is not
altogether pastimc, as will be seen
from the following letter, penned by
the veteran photographer of e. & II.
7. Anthony, T. G. Roche, who dur
ing the rebellion frequently found
himself and camera baptized i'll dirt
while engaged in his peaceful habit
of taking the enemy:
70 SEMlrE, April -, 1871.
Dear Siys:-I arrived here on Mon
day at midnight. All my things are
at Big Oak Flats, waiting for pack
train TO bring them over the moun-
tains to this place. ! will not be
able to get them, provided it does
not storm, before Monday or Tues
day next. We had a terrible time
in getting here. No stages run far,h-
er, at present, than Chinese Camp,
on account of the bad condition OF
the roads. 1t stormed at Chinese
Camp for two days and a half. When
it cleared up we started on horseback
with All Indian guide. We travelled
until eight p. NJ, and met the begin.
ming OF snow on the mountains. Mr..
Hutchings then tried to camp for the
night, and feed the horses at 4 noun.
tain cabin, but we were disappointed;
the man who lived in it was a mem
Der Of the hog family, and would no,
let us stay; SO we had to 60 on five
miles farther. After gong some
three miles up the mountain, We lost
the trail, and had to travel up and
down the rayines, through snow
knee deep; no provisions Of any kind;
horses used up-had to lead them.
This we kept up until one o'clock in
the morning, when we all had to
stop, being perfectly exhausted
conld so no farther. We could not
tell where we were. It froze very
hard all night. and we had to do the
best we could until daylight. We
broke camp, with cold, wet feet, and
used up horses, at four A. NJ, to
look for our lost trail. We found it
At eight, and after six miles walking,
the horses, we got to little
cabin, the owner Of which opened his
door and his heart. AS it was Sunday
and being used up, We concluced to
rest all day with the good man. On
Monday we lett 4. daylight, and got
On very fast until about eleven, when
We struck deep snow. Our friend
with whom we stopped on Sunday
old us that it would be almost i'm
possible to pass over on account Of
I; but we had suffered so much on
Saturday night, that we thought we
could stand more, better than to
urn back some forty or fifty miles.
Well, the Indian being ahead, and all
,ands walking; driving the horses be-
tore us, when suddenly our guide
;ank in the snow, and next the horses
we're covered b, kicking and plung-
ng, in trying to get out. 1t was
rying moment. for if we lost our
lorses we never could get through.
n an instant, Mr.. Hutchings sang
mt, Every man look out for his
lorsc or he may lose his life Y There
we're four Of US. We got into the
now the best way We could, to
lold the horses and keep them from
'lunging. We then had to trample the
now down, SO that the horses could
taud; and. when this was done, we
anne to the conclusion to send some
me ahead TO trample track or pass
ge-way for the horses to go through.
We did so; but sometimes horse
will fairly roll over, the snow was so
leep, and could not again get up I'M
il we trampled all around him. This
We had to do for over three miles.
We were bout used up, and could |
lot have gone much farther, when |
Ir. Hutchings sent the Indian tor
ward to see how far this deep snow
extended. lie came back in half an
'our, and said, "One half mile more,
10 big snow, but SO muchee,' point
ne to his knee. We pushed with all
'ur might in one desperate effort, and
lot out, finding rest for man and beast
or half an hour. The horses were
90 tired to ride; SO we put on all
he power Of locomotion we were
apable Of; first up hill, then down
MO deep ravines; up again, then
Town, until we could hardly stand
hen we had another resi-, and squeez-
d out the cold water from
,ur clothes and socks, and then
tarted for our last climb, be
ore going into tie valley. The hill
up before us three thousand
eet. We got on top at seven P. NJ,
nd were surprised to see a log cab
Il. We went for 1t, to find it occu-
lied by two men who were chop
ing timber. They gave us an invi-
alton to some supper, such as they
rad, which to US was the best meal
We ever ate, as we were completely
tarved out. They told us we would
cave the snow in two miles more.
We managed to get down TIE
rail in the dark, over rocks, with
ew growls and broken shins, and
struck the valley at nine, reaching
Mr.. Hutchngs' residence at about
Midnight.
The weather in the valley is fine;
10 snow at present. The water IS
good. There are no strangers in the
ALLEY; no mail running; l have no
etters from you. The Indian guide
goes out tomorrow, SO I send this.
t the weather keeps WARM, the trail
will open in few days.
Yours, respectfully,