The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1903-04-10
S0RROWFUL VISIONS
OF WEST VIRGINIA
wLDs OF FAR AWAY IDAHO
SHIPS

Idaho City, Idaho, April 3, l9os.-Ida
no City is the county seat of Boise coun.
~, and in snowy section. The snow is
only about four feet deep; some places
deeper. Well, in this section the road or
mail routes arc kept open. Here they
rig mp on snow shoes and tobcggans.
the toboggans are 10 to 90 feet long,
about two feet wide and turn up in front
that they may pass over the SNOW On
the bottom on the sides are two strips
y of nm inches wide of iron the full
length. These arc put on in order to
keep the toboggan from slipping side
wise. Then on top they fasten two
wooden strips SO that they can have
something TO fastcn their loads to. The
top and bottom is sheet steel. Loaded,
dogs are called and neck collars put on
with straps attached, and rs horses they
are fastened to the toboggan, and now
the man, with his snow shoes ON, starts
for camp. The snow shoes are about
five feet long, diamond shape and web
bed like tennis rnckets. Any kind of
worthless ours are taken for n tobog-
gan trip, yet the stag hound is most de-
sired on account of their strength. These
are too slow for me. The prospectors
use skees. These skees are about four
inches wide and from to IL feet long.
The toe turns up like a sled, and near
the center is n heel rest. Just in front of
the heel rest or brace is n strap which
fastens over the instep. This done, we
are ready to go. You have seen nice old
men on roller skates. Well, roller skates
are not in it, rs they will leave you on
the floor, and the skees will land you
head first into snow with your heels up
for a flag staff Once learned on the
skeeing business, one can travel ut a
great rate of speed. There are ladies'
who can sail off down the mountain side
with their short skirts on, and guide
pole in their hands, and run u mile in
less than two minutes, but when one
starts up the mountain you get your
moneys worth. Tie rope around the
skee to keep it from slipping back and
just rs a farmer would place chain
around his sled sole to hold from push
ing down on to his horses. Well, now
the prospectors climb these mountains
with those eleven foot boards on their
feet and from so to $50 pounds on their
backs. Crossing the gulches or draws
in many places one is on snow more than
100 feet above Mother Earth. One can
travel between here and Thunder noun
tain) all day and not be closer than six
fat 10, fhn saxhk
ST very cold, they shovel the snow away.
build fire. warm the earth, shovel fire
out, pitch their tcpce, roll up in blan-
kets and sweat.
Prospcctors travel TO and from their
claims in winter to do assessment work.
and often in making the trips the poor
prospector Is buried in n snow slide. One
has no warning as these snow slides
come down the mountain Mt lightning
speed. taking trees and everything down
IN its course to the stream below. Here
the snow is packed to ice. One pros
pector failed "a show up in camp
searching party went out. \ dog was
found digging IN the snow below where |
his faithful master was found. Indeed |
here the dog seems to be an Indispensable |
animal. They are always with their
master always on the alert. aud will |
fight for their master under all eircum-
stances. Even though the mountain lion !
Is near. the dog viii stay with YOU. In /
deed. the dog seems 60 he n desirable I
companion Pro-pectors 20 out into the
mountain 100 miles and more from civil
ization. pitch their little tcpce. fry their
meats in a sheet iron pan. cook bannoclSS
with few hot Goals ON onc side and the
heat OF The cauip drc on the other. lay
me down to slecp. the coyotes howling
and bob eats trs;ns the test Of their