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Thosten Thompson              John (Snowshoe) Thompson
them, so he boldly went through their line on his way. They turned
and watched him for some time but did not attack him. They
undoubtedly would have done so had he shown any fear.
In his capacity as mail carrier, "Snowshoe" Thompson fre-
quently rescued other travelers from death by exposure. As his pay
had been small, Thompson resolved in 1874 to go to Washington
and present additional claim for his services. His train became
snow-bound in the mountains of Wyoming. so again he set out
on foot and walked to Laramie, a distance of 35 miles. Here, also,
the trains were snowbound, so he walked on to Cheyenne, a dis-
tance of 65 miles more, or 100 miles altogther.
By doing this he achieved additional notoriety as one who had
beaten the railroads in getting through the mountains. While on
his trip to Washington in 1874 he visited his old home and his
brother in Springdale for the last time. Going with his brother to
the town election in Springdale and meeting old friends there.
His trip to Washington was not very fruitful of results and he
returned west and settled on a small farm where he soon after-
wards (died, following the death of a young son.
Some years ago the pioneer society of Los Angeles unveiled
a memorial fountain erected in honor of "Snowshoe" Thompson,
the early Springdale pioneer and heroic mail carrier who for a
time was the only agency of communication between California
and the States east of the Rockies. So ended this early pioneer's
life's history.