The daily gazette., 1881-03-05
From N. Y. Star.
FROM LOG HUT TO BROWN
STONE FRONT.

THE ADVENTUROUS LIFE OF NEW
YORK WOMAN WHO HAS JUST BE-
TURNED TO THE CITY.
Mrs. Frank Ray, who was the first
white woman that entered Leadville,
has lately returned to this city. Her
father was Mr.. John MoMahon, who
lived for long time at Sixth avenue
and Forty ninth street. On May 8,
1866, she was married to Joseph Ord
way in st. AIMS Church. Soon after
yard they went to Lawrence, Kansas,
whore Mr.. :ordway died. In 1852
Mrs. Ordway married Frank Ray, q
Texan. Mrs. Ray and her husband
were with the train that was attacked
by indians at Snake River. She gives
a graphic account of the massacre and
other subsequent life:
1t was about II o'clock in the FORE
noon at July 10, 1862, and we had
been out about two days from Denver,
Colorado, when the Indians came up
en- US. They killed and scalped many
of our train before we got our horses
and wagons in square. When the
fight was over was the only woman
who was able to move. Poor Mrs.
McMahon has never yet fully recover
ed from the shock. Her husband was
killed and scalped in her presence.
My clothing was almost gone. had
torn it in strips to bandage the wounds
of our men, while l stood by Frank
and fired my rife as fast as / could.
After we got out or the canon, and a
relief train from Salt Lake overlook US
on the following day, was somewhat
unnerved, but kept up.
after the massacre we took up our
home in Bauneok City, Montana. We
remained there one year. In 1868,
the great finds In Virginia City set
every enc on the road crazy to reach
that place. My husband and l wont
there. We established ourselves in
little hut, and Frank went 10 work.
He fell in with . man who was called
Bummer Dan. He, Dan, and others
located some of the richest mines in
the Territory about Virginia City,
My daughter Cora was bora in Vir-
GINA City, and in our hut we had more
than three times her weight in gold.
We used TO hide oar finds, for the
road agents were very numerous and
daring then. They would come right
into the city and rob the houses. /
saw Plummer, Slads, and other road
agents hanged in virginia City.
"After three years sojourn in this
place, Frank sold out and bought
large farm III the Gallatin Valley, Mon
tana. We built house, and had the
farm well stocked. High water and
grasshoppers came. Frank started
on Trip East. He died in Buffalo
l was then with my child Cora on our
farm in the Valley. After a three
years fight win the water and the
grassboppeis l had to move. | re-
turned to Denver in 1863, penriless.
had to be done so placed
Cora with the Sisters in Denver, and
started out. A piece of ground given
TO me in Alma by Mr.. Dexter and Mr..
WolcotI held me there. ! built lit.
tie cottage ON it, and took in washing.
While living in Alma / got a place as
cook for Mr.. Meyers and his men.
They were sixteen miles away, work
ing holding. | put up in Meyers's
hotel. There were few people there,
but Meyers's luck brought in many,
and l Thought | ought to lay off
claim and strike out for myself as well
the rest. | located behind Tabor's
place. Digging out the snow, | put
up some logs, first thawing out
the ground with hot water to
make plaster of the mud to stop
up the chinks, and over these logs
| stretched sheets for roof. Then |
took in boarders and washing, and whom
spring cane 1 found myself located 10
Leadville, corner OF Harrison AMI State
streets. had some trouble battling for
my rights, but succeeded in court and
out OF 1t. That square Is now covered
with buildings, and 10 known as Mrs.
Rays block. Ny daughter was well
grown then, and 1 took her from the
Sisters when i located in Leadville, and
saw was making strike. Having
a desire to give my dear child an educa
ton and 10 remove the little Mexican
waif whom found abandoned in Rebin-
sons Run, came East"
Mrs. Ray has taken q brown stone
house up town. She IL delighted with
the CITY after her long absence.