Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1871-04-12
CoRREsPoNDENCE.
A TRIP TO MONTANA TFRRITORY-THE
PERIIjS OF STAGING. -l.
A Letter from Judge Murphy.


Through the kindness of Col. NJ. I'LL
Patterson, the efficient Clerk IL Master of
our Chancery Court, we are permitted to |
make the following extracts from private |
letter from Hon. Jno l.. Murphy, well |
known to our readers, giving "A graphic ac-
count of his trip to Virginia City, Mon /
tana Territory, where he now resides as
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. !
Under date of the oath of March he writes
! am thankful and happy, almost be-
yond measure, to inform YOU of our arrival
here, and our location for the present at
d the "Closby House, the best hotel in the
city, and kept by w. III. Rodgers and SON
in-law, the former of whom is cousin of
the late Judge Rodgers, DIR, James Rodg-
ers and the whole Rodgers family of Knox
villeand vicinity. He is pleasant gentle
man, and makes us feel like an old friend,
coming from Knoxville and knowing his
people as we do. We have suit of front
rooms on the I'd floor, with large veran-
da for the children to play on.
We are all as we'll as could be expected
Tho children stood it better than we. All
have colds, bruises, sleepy-heads and are
much fatigued-completely worn out, but
all much recruited and feeling much bet
ter this morning
We left Corrinne-the Railroad for the
Stage-last Saturday at II NJ, and travelled
day andInight, arriving here at 8 l.. NJ. the
Wednesday following-day before yester-
day evening. Fortunately we had but six
inside of the Stage, besides the children
having persuaded two passengers to remain
at Oorrinne for the next one. Once started,
you must go on or run the risk of lying
over for weeks before you could get vacant
seats, as every stage is crowded to its ut
most every day, aud many are delayed at
that. Thus, we have been compelled to
keep right on for days and nights, cramped
up, no chance to stretch limb or body
hold the children CAREFUL all the time
and no opportunity to sleep wink
changing all times of the night, as roads
are bad, and from closed coach to open
sleigh. And in the last range or main
divide of the Rocky Mountain we had
great difficulty and much anxiety. The
sleigh road is a narrow-beaten track, on
top of the snow, made by the sleigh. and
not extending more than about six inches
on each side outside of the runners. So
you can see how difficult il must he to
keep precisely on the track, and yet they
do 1t with perfect ease, even if the track Is
covered with new snow, and that at
full speed if nothing has interfered with
the track-it being staked OF. Then it
storms almost daily and the temperature
changes often very suddenly and wonder
fully. We started out in q storm, but
fortunately it subsidized till late in the eve
ing.
Some twelve or fourteen miles from our
station or any habitable place, we met q
wagon on the track, which Is unbelievable.
This was just turned over in the snow,
horses and all for us to pass, but unfortu-
nately the wagon had been on and off and
greately injured the track beyond. Now
began our trouble. The sleigh went off and
off. The driver, assistant and passengers all
worked hard. Horses plunged in and out
of snow which ranged from two totem feet
deep: and thus we toiled till men and
horses were almost exhausted-night fast
pproaching-stormr ising-getting colder
fast, ESTIMATED Is to 20 degrees per hour)
road ruined and impossible to go back,
and seemingly no chance to go forward
al alarmed-ne frantic for the safety OF
nay wife and children. Just think of il [!
OF most tremendous and violent snow
storm. If stay we must, our trust was in
God, and our hope that we might keep
from freezing to death and perishing in the
snow; il, not, we would all die together.
Mr.. Johnson, the agent for that division,
: happily, was driving us, and if he had moi
been the most patient and reasonable man
for the night and probably been lost. II
he had ever lost his patience and once got
out of humor with the horses, we would
have been gone. If L thought prayer OF
mine would ever be heard above for any
one it would be freely given for that man.
Hisname viii live forever in the sad but
now rejoic9d heart of every passenger on
board. When nothing else could be done
the baggage was all thrown out on the
snow and Buffalo robes spread Fand Viola
Julia and the children were put Out
and wrapped up on the snow and
for all night The horses, trembling and
hardly able to stand were taken out and
got safely ON the track, then the sleigh was
lifted and pulled up by hand for long dis.
lance. Finally the horses were able to go
and with all our baggage left on the snow,
the men walking and holding on, we were
able to keep the sleigh with great difficulty
on the track. Ultimately we were all able
to get aboard and, half frozen, wrap up in
robes and blankets. After several more
hours of dread and anxiety = shivering in
the night storm, we reached the station
found a good, cheerful fire, nice room
and supper, and sympathetic and hearty
welcome. ,..-
That snow-clad and barren place and old
log cabin was hailed by all as paradise
and Il palace. f
We are now out of the greatest danger
and soon are rolling on our wearisome and
tedious way. This, Colonel is the dark
part of our long and eventful journey.
gave the light part in letter on the train
The passengers were all friends, and felt
for'us. Too much praise cannot be given
to Col. Wall, of Iowa, Superintendent o.