Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-02-09
Winter Travelling I'm Colorado

Tie train discharged us Helghs INTO
dozen coaches. which set CT for the
mounlniu pass that lies between Norton
and Leadville; they rattle of through
the whirling snow towards .he range
of IN ountains, which Is already thick
with stolms. Our owp way lies across
the South-Park towards a lower part OF
! the Arkansas Valley; for ten miles the
four herses hurry the light open wagon
over tie snowcOyered pain. through
the binding snow that flies before the
blasts rushing down from the mOuatain
raviues. Then we find our way upon
the regular lreighting road leading in .
devious course through the mounlaiu
gorges to Leadyille. 1t is way for
,hich little has been done except by
the wheels Of the endless trains OF
wagons; but Nature meant this land
for road; the scant foliage and slight
ram tdll lcdNc CdCu vi tilc ld'hiSo q
natural road, and the frost has now
bound mud aud stones together. Every
nile of lhls trail was occupied by =
long caravan Of the irclghtng leans
hat carry in provisions and take Oul
bullion. The ordinary train consists o.
many teams each composed of two
wagons. the hinder one being without
a tongue, and the two coupled together
as closely as two railway cars. Some
times there are three wagons in the
string. Eight or ten mules and a
single dryer supply the motive power
With this outfit one dextsrcuS driver
will drag about ten thousand pounds o
freight at the rate of twenty-five miles
day. Some Of these trains are in.
diyidual ventures, but commonly a
dozen teams are under one wagon
master, who fixes the marches and
determines the places where the train
shall halt to pass the tides OF wagon
that set the other way. These cara
vans give US the most picturesque as
poets oil this mountain life; the drivers
ale strange selection from the ylgo
rous frontiernen. The labor is ex-
tremely arGuous and the life of the
rudest, but the profits are very large /;
many of these teams earning from thirt,
to City dollars per day act for half
year at time. The men live and gen.
orally sleep with their animals, even in
this fierce cold. They are silent, ill.,
defaligable fellows, brutal 10 every out.
ward aspect, yet Withal singularly
patient with then difficulties and help.
iul Of each Olher. unless The other is
'grcaser.' A. courteous word or two
will always get their aid In passing
through the perplexing blockade, wher'
trans going in opposite directions meel
on narro" dcfle. Their life is one o.
trials. We are rarely out Of sight OF
dead horses or died from ovework, and
every frecipice along the road shows
the wreck of wagons that have slipped
over the edge into the gorge belsS. IL
two hundred miles travel with them |
did not hear a brutal word from ore
man to another, aud | was indebted to
them for many cOnsiderate acts. The,
are a marvelously proiane lot, but their
swearing has a curi0usly impersOnal
character. In his difficulties With th,
teams a man will lift up his voice and
address the Infinite in diabolI; homill
that would beft Millions Satan, aud
then, subs ding like a geyser, remain
silent fer lhe rest Of the day. A.
night, when gathered around the FIRE, IL
the low walled. turf covered ranches
they are perfectly mute; thew sit Oh the
benches rs still az mummies, until they
slip down upon the floor aud snore un-
til morning. They seem wrapped up in
their own thoughts, or in the place
where their thoughts ought TO be. They
often camp alone by the roadside; in
deed, many of them seem TO prefer ths
absolute isolation that they 6Dd in
bivou .cking in the scrub woods ten
miles from Dsighbors. Oie night |
sought directions from one Of these
solitary men. He was huge, grizzle-
bearded fellow, whom l surprised cook
isg his supper by little fire in niche
10 the rocks near his team. His ugly
vlsage stood out in the blaze of bis
bacon, which he was loasting on
stick. He gave me sufficient answer
without looking I'D TO see who !: Was
shouting al him out OF the darkness.