A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
A bitter cold blizzard blew across Wyoming on January 31, 1883 covering the landscape in deep drifts of white show, stopping trains in their tracks, interrupting stagecoach service, and killing several unfortunate people who were unable to find shelter. The newly appointed Episcopal missionary, John Roberts arrived in Green River on February 2nd. He was eager to assume his duties at the Shoshone Indian Agency at Fort Washakie, but 150 miles separated him from his mission station.
The storm had buried the roads and stages were not running, but the mail had to go through, so Reverend John Roberts and his dog hitched a ride with the mail carrier. Four stout horses were harnessed to a dry goods box outfitted with sled runners. A board across the top constituted a seat, but sitting in the bottom of the box with the mail afforded more protection from the cutting wind. John Roberts borrowed a buffalo robe from the mail carrier and the two men and John’s dog started their harrowing journey.
In those days stage stations were built at fifteen to twenty mile intervals. There, horses could be changed; passengers could warm up and buy a warm meal. In normal weather several stage stations would be covered in a day, but because of the snow the travelers were slowed to one station a day.
After a few days of travel John and the mail carrier arrived at Dry Sandy station the horror of the storm became apparent. Here, the body of another stage driver, George Rider, lay in the barn. He had frozen to death during the first days of the storm while trying to get the mail through. An eighteen year old woman, Maggie Spurlock lay dying of the effects of extreme exposure. She was hypothermic, her limbs were frozen, and her organs were starting to fail. When her stage became marooned in a snowdrift Ed Doughtery, her stage driver made a heroic effort to save her by walking to the nearest station for help. He suffered severe frostbite. Maggie’s parents had come from South Pass to be with their daughter. They would take her home to South Pass where she later died. Maggie was one of the first burials at the new Mount Home Cemetery in Lander.
William Clark also died in the storm. His body was not found for a month. Reverend Roberts officiated at his burial on March 4th.
John Roberts conducted a funeral for George Rider at the Dry Sandy station and buried the body in a snow bank. His body would be recovered when conditions allowed. In order to be helpful John prayed and split wood to keep the tiny station warm for Maggie, her family and Ed Doughtery.
Ed Doughtery would lose most of his fingers, half of his right foot and his left leg below the knee. When he recovered he returned to driving stages for many more years. His new nickname, “Peggy” stayed with him for the rest of his life.
John and the mail carrier continued their journey to Fort Washakie arriving on February 10th. The thermometer at the Fort read 60 below zero when they arrived. A journey that ordinarily took 36 hours had taken 8 days.
As John entered the Fort Washakie Post Office to warm himself he overheard, “The preacher has come.” Then the response, “That’s no preacher, he’s got a dog.”
John had finally arrived. Fort Washakie would be his home until he died in 1949. When Reverend Roberts was asked how he survived the cold. He answered, “ It was very cold but I managed to keep from freezing by shoveling snow ahead of the team much of the way from Green River to the Shoshone Agency.”
Because of the fatalities of this snow storm the mail hub for central Wyoming was moved from Green River to Rawlins thus avoiding the elevation and storms of South Pass. When the mail hub moved so did the stage lines. Mail contracts kept the stage lines financially solvent.
Photo caption: Stage driver Ed Doughtery after losing his leg in the blizzard.
Next up for the Fremont County Museums
March 7, 7pm at the Dubois Museum, “Early Dubois Residents with Steve Banks”
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
March 9, 2pm at the Riverton Museum, “Hide Painting”
Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
March 14, 6:30pm at the Riverton Museum “Carol L. Deering: Havoc & Solace Poems from the
Inland West Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
April 11, 7pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Lander in 1919”
Wyoming Community Bank Discovery Speakers Series
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution to be used specifically for the benefit of the museum of your choosing by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.
