Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-01-06
The Difference.
LATROBE, Pa, Dec. -, 1880.

LATRoBE, Pa, Dec. -, 1880.
70 the Editor of the Herald
70 measure the difference between the
temperature of the winter climate in Mon.
tana and that of the winter climate in West
ern Pennsylvania | know of no better way
10 test the contrast than TO do as | did in the
present month OF 1880. The I'd day of De
cember will long be remembered as ,One o.
unusual severity, as well Oh account of the
cold. which registered % degrees below zero
as on account of the fine drifting snow which
was kept in violent agitation by the wind
blowing as it were direct from the North
Pole This short description is but mild
reminder of the day on which started from
Montana to visit friends in Pennsylvania
Although the day tested TO the utmost the
endurance of the famous Montana stage
driver, it was not too cold to intimidate the
Division Agent, John Davis, and Lew Wash
burn, of Gilmer & Salisburys stage line, who
enough for their six-horse turnout and mer-
ry sleigh bells Under the direction of these
noted Jehues | started with six passengers
from Helena, Montana, Oh the day aforesaid
bound for the States The journey to the
Boulder on runners behind such horses and
such drivers was a conflict with the cold,
that was sharp, short and vigorous. At an
early hour we reached Trotter's for dinner,
where, after a refreshing meal and Il hot
brick under my feet, and various others un-
der my hat-well tucked in by the veritable
and kind-hearted Jerry Smith-we were
transferred to wheels for the balance of the
way to the terminus. | have found out that
being well buckled up amid robes and blan-
kets in one of Montana's three-seated coaches
surrounded by the latent choler of several
passengers when the mercury is down to 20
and 30 on the outside, there is no such thing
as freeze. But it has always been wonder
TO me how the stage driver could crack his
whip and even be merry during the long and
solitary hours that must pass before he
reaches home station" at sixty miles with
out even brick in his hat" or one at his
feet The mystery probably lies in habit.
After rapid drive by Jack Hamilton to the
! home station" we were handed over to the
tender merccs of f. e. Brooke at White Hall,
where the division agent prudently COM
manded halt for the night.
\ short stay and a refreshing sleep, with a
good hot breakfast in the morning in our re-
I HspectiTe "bread-baskets," enabled our stage
load TO start for another station in the best
possble trim. The cold still continued, and
the coach wheels sung their crispy sharps
#and flats along the snowy track, while the
1driver announced each succeeding change
with his welcome "Yip! yip yipw till the
Nstars sparkled bright ''in the Silly night"
and twenty minutes drive from the Point
kpf Rocks brought us safe with Jehu Joe to
he town of Dillon, the winter terminus of
the Utah and Northern railroad, 127 miles
From Helena, the Capital of Montana. 1,
The stages from Butte and Helena furnish
host of the passengers for the railroad at
this point and contribute no small number.
Who, at this season, seek the States for mild
Weather and the society of old friends.
Among the passengers for the Utah and
Northern were three miners from Deer
lodge county, whose aggregate absence from
fhe old folks at home would make seventy
nc years-that is, Mr.. Henry Curtis, of
hacktoot, went to Illinois after an absence
OF 81 years, and Eugene Cowlan and Con.
Dhly, from Washington gulch, after each had
spent - years on the Pacific slope
At Dillon the thermometer registered IA
Ifgrees below zero when we pulled out for
keden, where we arrived in good season to
Nlhd that the Central Pacific from San Fran
Nsco was three and half hours behind time.
ihe first winter in which the Utah and
Northern has been enabled to test its capacity
contend with the snow on the Rocky
fountains is the present one where they
Dpve just completed its line across one of the |
4ghest ranges (the Pleasant Valley Divide)
an altitude of over 5000 feet. 1t afforded
#e great pleasure to stand upon the rear
htiorm on my late journey and observe the
pck across this mountain; how free it was
m the snow that from the "early days.
ckaded at this point all transportation
m December till May.
n Monida, the summit of the main range,