WESTERN INCIDENTS. 19

IIf.

SNOW-STORM IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS—-EMPIRE CITY TO IDAHO, CEN-
TRAL, GOLDEN AND DENVER CITIES—VIRGINIA CANON—RUSSELL
GULCH—QUARTZ MILLS AT BLACK-HAWK—JUNCTION RANCH—GUY’S
HILL—-CLEAR CREEK CANON—-ENTRANCE INTO DENVER, ETC., ETC.

Denver Crry, Cotorapo, Thursday, Sept. 20, 1866.

On the morning of September 19th, we awakened at
Empire City to find that we were in the midst of a
Rocky Mountain snow-storm. The weather for several
days previous had been delightful—even on the day
before, during our visit to Berthoud Pass, not a cloud
had bedimmed the sky until after sunset, when thin, hazy
clouds began to settle below the mountain tops around
us, all which, we were told, foreboded a storm.

As our venerable driver had not succeeded in his
attempt to impose his old mules upon our worthy host of
the Empire House, in exchange for a pair of horses, we
were compelled to address ourselves to our return jour-
ney behind these much-abused animals ; and he to resume
his powerful persuasives of the previous two days. The
snow had not accumulated to any great extent upon the
roads ; but it was falling fast, and prudence enjoined us
to be early on our way. Our hitherto guide, and most
intelligent and agreeable travelling companion, Mr.
Brown, remained at Empire, for the purpose, when the
storm abated, of rejoming his surveying party in the
neighborhood of Boulder Pass.