Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-03-15
" SnOw.Sm0e Thompson"
THE EXPERIENCE OF A CAIIrOENIA MOI,

THE EXPERIENCE OF A CAIIrOENIA NOUN
TANNER.
Everybody in this state has heard of
Snow-Shoe Thompson" the man who
has carried the United States mails over
the Sierra through the storms and snow
drifts Oftwentv winters when the noun
tain passes were only to be travcrsed bv a
strong man on snow-shocS. but very few
probably know his history or the Difficult
ties and dangers he has met in the govern
ment service.
John A. Ihoml son-for such is his real
name-was born at Upper Tins, Prestiield,
Norway. in 1877, aud is consequently.
forty-Eine years of age. His height is
nearly six feet, his weight one hundred
and eighty pounds, while he has the blonde
hair and beard peculiar to natives of
northern climcs, and u peculiarly piercing
eye. He came to this country when ten
years of age and settled in Illinois with
his father, and in 1871 be crossed the
plains of California. living first at Placer
Vile rs 4 miner. and then cnraninr in
ranching at Putah Creek. Sacramento Val
ley, during 1871 and 1S55 During the
early winter of 1876 he heard Of the diff
cultieS experienced in carrying the mails
brancc of the snow shoes used in his own
country suggested to him that they could
perhaps be utilized here. He accordingly
constructed a pair ten feet long and four
teen inches wide, upon which he crossed
the mountain TO Placervillc, then the
principal town Oh the road over which the
mail was carried.
His first trip over the mountains was
made ,tho, H.,
from Placcrvilc to Carson Valley. Il dis
tance of ninety miles carrying tie mail
bags strapped upon his back and gliding
on his long Norwegian snow->hocs over
fields of snow from ten to fifty feet deep.
Having successfully made the trip and re-
turned, he continued to cary ihr mails be
tween the two points al that winter. the
weight of the bags being generally from
sixty to eighty pounds. but sometimes
over one hundred pounds The distance
between the two ninety miles
he traver>ed in two dav> On his return.
but required three DAYS in roinr. owing
to the great amount of uphill travel. On
his trip he seldom saw u human being.
as there was not 4 house on the route and
the entire country vas / perfect Siberia of
snow. He never carried blankets or wore
an overcoat, while all Lis food was pre-
pared so that he could eat it as he ian.
For his drink he would scoop up a hand
ful of snow OF take dr:Iught from some
mountain stream. He campcd at night
wherever darkness overlook him. keeping
warm through thu drcarv hours bv a
blazing fire at hi, feet. and sleeping
peacefully upon 4 couch of hemlock
boughs. and with Iii, head pillowed upon
the mall-ba->. When able. he campcd
under shelving rocks. and at n place six
mile. from Strawberry Valley he had
cavern IN the shape of an oven in which he
slept as often a> possible, with 4 fire blaz-
ing Ut its mouth.
About Christmas of 1>.JG h. saved the
life of James Si>>on. who had laid in an
old deserted cabin in L1Ae Valley twelve
days. with his feet frozen. >ub>i>tinr on
flour all that time, and drew him to Genoa
on a land-sled, where both his feet Were
amputated. Before the operation Thomp-
son walked to Sacramento for chloroforn
Thompson seemed TO be proof against cold
and exposure; he never had his feet or even
his fingers frozen, and thou h camping
out several nights without any fire. he
never suffered any Inconvenience, but
slept rs well as usual.
He is BOW thinking of retiring from the
fatigu no business. and Il petition is beng
circulated by his friends asking the gov
ernment to pay him 5000 for his past
>ervice>.->,,U Fru.ci>cp E4icfiR.