Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1895-03-30
A PLUCKY GIRL RIDER
WORK OF MINERVA EvERsoLL
THE MAiL-cARRIER.
twice Week She Rides Over a Lonely
Mountain Road at Night with Her
Mall Bags lac Kind Of Girl That
fiourlshss ia California.


Fresno les Burrough valley. cleft in
the Sierra Nevada at an elevation Of
z'OOo ieet above the level OF the sea.
out surrounded on all sides by higher
nils which shut II In from the rest ~
the world. The inhabitants of the
valley number perhaps dozen famI-
lies, all farmers or raisers of noun
tain apples. The only means Of com
muhlcation with the outer world Is by
wagons along a narrow road. or. more
commonly, by horseback, for most ~
the people travel in that way. The
valley Is nearly circular. some three
miles across, and from its elevated mo-
sition u remains green till late in the
summer. Near the center stands a
white school house. and dotting the
valley are the houses OF its peonle
nearly all surrounded by groves Of
oaks, which give the valley the an
pearance OF one immense orchard
Tor long time the people tried 10
secure post Office and a mail route
into their settlement but without sue
cess. TIL short time ago. The stage.
on Us bi-weekly trips 10 the sawmills.
fifteen miles beyond, passed with the
mail within five miles Of Burrough
valley, and that was the nearest point
70 which the letter-bag came. Some
time ago, after much petitionlng, a
post office Was established In the val
Icy and route authorized from that
point 10 tho toll road. FIVE miles away.
One carrier after another was en-
ployed 70 take the mail to ana from
the valley, and one after another gave
up the job after a few months ora few
weeks The pay was small. the path
across the range OF hills was rough.
leading through the woods most OF
the way, and except in the longes;
days Of summer the whole trip had 10
be made Ia the night. and often
through rain and snow The conse-
quenee WAS that none OF the men In
the valley could be found willing to
carry the mail, and the prospect WIS
that the route would be- discontinued.
But after all other resources had
been tried In vain carrier was found
In the person Of Minerva Eyerson.
schoolgirl Of IL. who had lived nearly
all her lie IN the valley and who vol
nnteered 70 carry the mail. not 50
much for the meagre wage as for the
sake Of having any mail al all From
that time 70 this she has made regular
trips twice a week on horseback, rain
or shine. and the mail is never late on
her account
The girl mail-carrier's parents are
well-to-do people. and they were at
first inclined 10 oppose the plan be-
cause Of ;hc exposure and danger, but
she argued her case so successfully I
that permission was given. The I'M 4
der;aking + ono that takes some
courage. but il cannot be said 10 be-
dangerous. That country Is on the I
frontier. and no settlement lies beyond .
except for the scattered cabins Of .
miners and hcrmits among the higher 4
ranges Of the Sierra Indians are .
up there. and although 4
usually peaceful enough. they are not I
10 be wholly trustci. especially when 4
drunk. a. they often are, But these
half savages have always kept a re-
special distance from the brave girl
whom they see galloping along the
path hurrying TO catch the
stage They probaby do not respect
her 80 much a. they do the revolver
which they know she always carries
in readiness. and which she knows
how to use with deadly effect
Tho country is the home Of noun
tain lions and panthcrs and although
they seldom attack a human being
they are not pleasant companions for
1ne who passes at night through the
woods where their dismal voices are
often heard uncomioriahly near the
path.
Miss Evorsoll will graduate this
year from the district school, where
lie Is at the heal OF all her classes,
,avs the san Francisco Chronicle.
While very fond OF out door life she
s vcrtheless great reader, and Is
. leader in the small literary society.
which is one OF the best 20 be found
N country district anywhere. Its
weekly meetings are for social inn
and in this IL has been
The people OF Burrough
alley have little world OF their
,wn. and to them the meeting of
heir literary circle, the Sunday
,hool. the monthly sermon by the
tinerant preacher, the occasional
ance at the school house, and now
nd thon a death or wedding are
he chief events OF their lives. The
.irl mail carrier Is foremost in all
Kings. whether it be picnic or the
unday school. Her leadership among
he young people is accepted without
question.
Miss Eversoll Is a magnificent
for one so young, and is ,,
! fearless as she is kind and sociable
'ften the young beaux of the neigh
orhood volunteer TO carry the mail
" her when the weather is stormy
nd the nights dark. but these offers
70 never accepted She is a model
health. never having been sick a
nv In her life. She weighs 1870 .
onnds. is FIVE feet four inches tall,
as blue eyes, blonde hair and
ultless complexion She is as ambi-
Ia, aud