bivian

Updated: May 17, 2025

It took us nearly all day to get out of the snow on the other side, thereby taking us three days to cross the mountains. I traveled with the train three days after crossing the mountains, and then I left and rode on to Virginia City, knowing that Boone and Bivian would be anxious for information.

William F. Drannan - Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains : An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West

This was the last hanging we had that winter and spring. In the latter days of April Messrs. Boone and Bivian employed me to cross the mountains and take letters to the wagon-master, and also to assist him in crossing the Rockies, so taking one pair of blankets, ten days provisions and a pair of snow shoes on my back I started afoot and alone across the mountains.

William F. Drannan - Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains : An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West

I thought it doubtful whether or not they would be able to cross the mountains this winter, but I went on, and met them between Fort Hall and Soda Springs. I gave the wagon-boss a letter which Boon and Bivian had sent him, and after reading the letter he asked me if I thought they could cross the range this fall.

William F. Drannan - Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains : An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West

One day while I was at Virginia City two men, Boon and Bivian, who owned the only store of any note in Virginia City at that time, came to me and said that they had a train of twenty-two wagons some where on the road, but just where they did not know, and they wished to employ me to go and pilot it in, as their men with the train were all inexperienced in that line of business, and not acquainted with the road, not having been over any part of it before, and they were afraid that through carelessness they might fall into the hands of Indians.

William F. Drannan - Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains : An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West

One morning in the latter part of January I went out after a bucket of water at daylight, and happening to cast my eyes up a hillside I could see sentinels walking to and fro I could not understand it. On returning to the house I mentioned the matter to Messrs. Boon and Bivian. They smiled and said: "We understand all that," and they explained the whole thing to me.

William F. Drannan - Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains : An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West

We abandoned our snow shoes and procured conveyance to Virginia City. Messrs. Boon and Bivian were glad to know that their train was safe from the hands of the hostiles, but they said they would lose ten thousand dollars by not getting it across the mountains that fall.

William F. Drannan - Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains, Or, the Last Voice from the Plains : An Authentic Record of a Life Time of Hunting, Trapping, Scouting and Indian Fighting in the Far West