Old Missoula

Missoula Girls Run Packtrain Up Rattlesnake

Edith, Mary and Viola Paslay[1] Do Work Very Unusual for Women

Stove Over the Hills

Heavy Range Among Material Transported to Workers of Water Company

Women, in the past few years, have entered what were thought of as men’s fields exclusively.

Some have chosen business – others have sought adventure and have found it.

But it remained for three youthful, pretty Missoula girls to do work, which, so far as is known, is unique for women even in a section where packing is practiced commercially.

There probably are many who have loaded a string of horses and set off into the “hills” with them, once, perhaps twice – but there are few who ever chose the field as a means of livelihood.

It remained for the three daughters of H. C. Pasley of 725 Holmes street to show the way into this field of work for girls and women. They are Edith, aged 20, Mary, 17; and Viola, 15.

Vacation time came after the school term ended last spring, and the girls sought something which would bring in spending money. About the first of July their father took the contract for packing supplies overland into the Rattlesnake lakes basin, where the Missoula Water company is carrying on a large development program.

He needed an assistant packer – that gave the girls their chance. They talked their father into the proposition that they should join him in the venture, the three to take the place of the assistant packer at a salary of $4.50 a day. This would give each a little more than $10 per week.

Do not let it be understood that it required the three girls to do the work of one man, for each one, except perhaps, the younger is perfectly capable of handling the assistant packer’s work. There might be some question concerning the younger, Viola, who is only 15 years old.

First Trip Back in July.

The first trip was made on July 11, when the material for establishing the camp was hauled over the mountains. All three girls made that trip in order to acquaint themselves with the trail. The country is rough and the climb to the top of the first ridge is long – longer in distance than the descent to the lakes, but not so difficult.

Therefore, at least one of these girls accompanied her father and his string of 10 pack horses on each of the 100 or more trips that were made over the hills and back each day during the summer and fall. And many times the girls made the trip alone. The trip from the camp the Pasleys established in Spring gulch to the lakes and back is 20 miles over the trail – not more than 10 miles as the crow flies.

During these 100 trips, one ton of supplies was carried daily – 100 tons during the season – and their record is that not one thing was lost. A small amount of oats were spilled during mid-summer when the horses jammed together and split two sacks. That’s the only mishap.

Among the things they handled on their trips was iron pipe, 12 inches in diameter and eight and 12 feet long – exceedingly cumbersome. Two immense valves, one weighing 220 pounds and the other 180 pounds, were taken to the lakes. It was the transportation of this sort of material on horses’ backs, which was most difficult.

Packing in a Stove.

For instance, imagine loading a large range on a horse and carrying it over a narrow trail through mountain country, and getting it uninjured to its destination in order that men working so far from civilization may eat warm meals? That is what the Pasley girls helped their father do.

The camp where the packers spent an enjoyable summer is near the head of Spring gulch, a tributary to the Rattlesnake canyon. The camp consisted of a tent large enough for its two rooms. The kitchen was under an awning. Close by was a corral where the horses were loaded and fed. The camp was neat and the surroundings were devoid of any hint of slovenliness.

Many thrills came to those plucky girls who tackled a man’s job and got away with it. No, they were not necessarily enjoyable thrills, though the girls like to look back over them and count them as a part of a delightful summer.

The Packtrain is Stampeded.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous of all the thrills occurred during a stampede of the packtrain.

The trail, when it is about two-thirds of the way to its end, leads close to the edge of a precipice. On the other side, the slope to the headwaters of Grant creek, far below, is very steep – enough so that were one to fall downward it would be next to impossible to stop.

It was at this point, when the train was under the direction of Edith Paslay, the eldest, and Mary, her 16-year-old sister, that the horses became alarmed for some reason and started their rampage. Mr. Paslay was not along that day, and it was up to the girls to use their own wits.

Edith, who was in the lead, allowed the three lead horses to take their own course, while she did her best to hold the remaining seven. It was a ticklish job, but she did it and soon the horses quieted own and the march continued. The horses which had broken away soon came back to their companions and the caravan drew into the workmen’s camp with all members present.

Another ever-present danger was the fright that a bear can throw into a horse. It is doubtful, however, whether the horse is more frightened than the bear, according to details of their trips.

However that may be, it was always necessary to keep both eyes open, not so much because of any danger that might come from what predatory animals might be encountered as from the danger of the horses’ stampeding. A good many stampedes were experienced by the girls during the summer, but none in such a precarious spot as the one just mentioned.

The trail is on what might be called level ground only at one place, and that is where it crosses the “saddle” at the head of Spring gulch into the mountains above the headwaters of Grant creek. The remainder of the trip is made on steep hillsides with many steep ascents and descents.

The most difficult part of the trail is encountered on the last descent where the packtrain must carry its burden down an almost precipitous slope for well over one thousand feet.

The trip normally takes about four hours when the horses are loaded. At the end of the journey the packers always found a good hot meal awaiting them. The return trip took about three and a half hours.

Trips Made in the Snow.

Throughout the summer, when the trees were green and the wild flowers were blooming, the trip was perhaps one of the prettiest that you could find anywhere in the United States. The girls thoroughly enjoyed it. The last trips were made in snow, however, which added to the difficulties. The footing at times became so slippery that the horses literally slid down the grades.

With the beginning of school, the youngest, Viola, discontinued the work and entered the Sacred Heart academy. Edith and Mary, however, stayed with the job until their father made his last trip, when he brought out of the lakes basin the materials which were not to be left over the winter.

“This summer has been the best I have ever spent,” said Edith in telling of her work. “I think it is great and I certainly intend to do it again if I have the chance. I love horses and I love the hill. And I am happy when I am with either. Therefore you may realize how much I enjoyed the summer.”

The above article appeared in The Sunday Missoulian on November 4, 1923.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/352380916

 

Sadly, the girls’ father, Henry ‘Cal’ Pasley, died not long after this article appeared. An article regarding his death appeared in The Missoulian two years later:

 

Spotted Fever Attack Takes Life of H. C. Pasley

Fourth Victim of Dread Disease for Present Season.

Spotted fever claimed its fourth victim for the season yesterday afternoon when death came to Henry C. “Cal” Pasley at a local hospital. The end came at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Mr. Pasley was brought to Missoula early last week from the Worden ranch at Lolo which he had been operating, but the disease had gained such headway that nothing could be done to save his life. The body was taken to the Forkenbrock undertaking place where it will remain pending the completion of funeral arrangements.

Mr. Pasley was well known in Missoula and western Montana as a cowboy, rancher and packer. He was born in Missouri, 54 years ago and came to Montana when still a small boy. He came to Missoula with his family in 1909 and the home of late years has been 725 Holmes street. For a time Mr. Pasley was a member of the police force but had to resign because of the effects of bloodpoisoning. Later he was employed by the Missoula Light and Water company. Most of his packing operations were in connection with the forest service.

Mr. Pasley is survived by his widow and six children. The children are Margaret, George, Amos, Edith, Viola and Mrs. Sam Silver, all of Missoula. There are also two grandchildren. His father and two sisters reside in Washington.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on April 16, 1925.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/348659698/?terms=pasley%2Bspotted%2Bfever

 

Tragically, Henry Pasley’s widow, Mary, died in 1929 from burns she incurred from an accident in her home. Her death involved another interesting story that included the famous Missoula pilot, Bob Johnson.

 

Death Wins Long Race With Plane From Garden City

Mrs. Pasley Dies From Burns Before Her Son Can Be Brought to City.

An airplane and death engaged in a race yesterday and the plane lost.

The contest started when Robert Johnson, Missoula airplane pilot, departed from the Missoula airport for Great Falls, where he was to meet W. A. “Dutch” Pasley of Havre and start home in an attempt to deliver Pasley in Missoula before his mother, Mrs. Mary Pasley, fatally injured, died.

A delayed train from Havre to Great Falls lost the race, the train arriving too late for the return to Missoula, and the airplane was forced down at Cascade because of darkness . . .

Dies From Burns.

Mrs. Pasley died as the result of serious burns sustained yesterday morning when flames shot from a kitchen stove in her home, 727 South First street. The accident occurred at 7:30, when Mrs. Pasley was using an oil substitute to encourage a fire in the stove. The liquid falling onto the hot coals shot flames from the door of the stove, instantly igniting Mrs. Pasley’s clothing. Mrs. Edith Maddox, and Viola Pasley, who were in the room with their mother, wrapped the woman in blankets, smothering the flames. G. C. “Pat” Pasley, a son, who was sleeping, heard the call of fire and assisted his sisters. Dr. Will Thornton was called immediately and Mrs. Pasley was taken to the hospital where her injuries were treated. Mrs. Pasley died at 7:20 [that] evening, just 12 hours after the accident. Her body is at Forkenbrock’s funeral home pending funeral arrangements.

Word Sent to Son.

Word was sent to her son, W. A. “Ducth” Pasley of Havre, early yesterday, of the seriousness of Mrs. Pasley’s injuries, and relatives here made arrangements with Johnson to fly from Missoula to Great Falls. Mr. Pasley was to meet Mr. Johnson there at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and fly to Missoula in the hope that he might be able to reach his mother before her death. The train was delayed and Mr. Pasley did not reach Great Falls in time to return to Missoula yesterday. He and the pilot were reported to be at Cascade and are expected to arrive here this morning.

Mrs. Pasley was the widow of the late H. C. (Cal) Pasley, who died here April 19, 1925, and was for many years a member of the police and fire departments.

Mrs. Pasley came to Missoula with her family in August, 1908, from Twin Bridges and has lived here ever since. She was 53 years of age and a member of the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers.

She is survived by five children, G. C. Pasley of Missoula, W. A. Pasley of Havre, Mrs. Edith Maddox of Missoula, Mrs. Mary Farlin, Modesta, Cal., and Viola Pasley; two brothers, R. O. Hooban of Florence and Frank Hooban of San Francisco; and two grandchildren, Patricia May and Mary Jean Pasley, Mrs. Marguerette Landre, another daughter, died here in May, 1928.

This is the second time within a year that Johnson[2] has used his plane in a race with death. Last year he flew to Wallace to secure a supply of gas for the lungmotor owned by the Missoula fire department and which was being used to sustain the life in a new-born baby.

The above article appeared in The Sunday Missoulian on March 10, 1929.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/348713830/