The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-18
She Had the Good Grit of
A True Blue Montana Girl

In a binding snow storm on the
d~esolate rolling plains of Northern
Montana. 2 o'clock in the morning. the
thermometer 20 degrees below zero. a
young lady Of is years. alone In the
stage coach, the driver not to be seen
all these unpleasant reflections have
made their annual visitations upon a
lady who has made Butte her home
for 10 years. The heroine of his story,
founded upon facts. was at his partic-
ularly interesting period OF her life. a
school marin. The fact tina she was
a Montana school marin Is ample proof
that she feared nothing. and u was to
this fact alone that she managed to
weather the terrific storm OF 20 years
z next New Years eve and arrive
safely in Helena after a fearful jour
ney OF two days and one night out
from Fort Shaw.
Belle Johnston had been teaching the
young idea Of the Chestnut valley, and
be ng unable to visit her home in Hell
ena on Christmas, concluded to sur-
prise the folks by her appearance on
New Years day. Under favorable con-
ditions the journey could have been
made In about II or IA hours. She was
the only passenger to board the stage
coach at Fort Shaw at Z o'clock In
h evening. cal" the well known
stage driver. threw up his hands in
amazement when he saw the young
lady emerge from the house and step
into the coach. Holy smoke. girl:
surely you don't propose to attempt
this trip. Why, there're Tour men IN
that house now who positively decline
to even think OF going over TO Chest
nut in this terrible storm, across that
treacherous prairie. Don't do IL. girl.
I'd never leave this house In such a
storm IL It wasn't for this blamed old
mail pouch
Admon'tions counted for naught
with Belle, who had fixed her mind.
The start was made, after Cal had
drawn the curtains and buttoned them
closely TO make the girl as comforta-
BILE as possible and protect her from
the wind. As he mounted the box ne
said: Young lady, you've got grit.
and ] like you for il. but this liz a very
unpleasant undertaking"
II vas a 25-mile drive from Fort
Shaw to Chestnut 6now Cascade on the
Great Northern). After passing Eagle
Rock, about lO:30 o'clock. the coach
came 10 a sudden halt. The wind
vh'stled through the openings in the
coach. and the awful d~esolateness 81
tnt scene sent n tnrOug1 t1e
lone passenger. Soon she heard the
unwelcome announcement: This Is a
devil OF a fix. out OF the road. by
darn" muttered the driver. He
crawled down OF his seat and. stepping
to the curtained entrance TO the
coach. said: Lady. were To hell and
gone from nowhere. Were on the
road. I must strike on afoot n hunt
for it-but whatll you do? Those lead
ers Of mine are nervous and won't
stand In this awful storm"
Turn their heads from the wind.
Cal. and I'll get up on the box and
hold them while q take your lantern
and cut across TO the road, Go ahead.
i am not cold"
Belle mounted the box and held the
four re'ns while she watched the Ian
tern as its light grew DINNER and
DINNER. until IL was finally lost
to view entirely. The night was dense
ly black and the wind was piercing
cold. The leaders pranced and
champed. but Belle coaxed them To
partial submission to the conditions.