Death in the mountain

The Virginia and Truckee was more mountain goat than railroad. In the 21 miles between the desert sink at Carson City and the town at the end of the rail, it climbed 1,600'. To Ken Murdrock, used to the sturdy firmness of the plains in Oregon, the journey up the mountain was a nightmare. But it was just the beginning of what would happen to him in the gold and silver madness of Virginia City.