Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-06
From the North Western Christian Advocate.
Letter .frem Rev. WIN. N. CooAe.

From the North Western Christian Advocate.
Letter .frsm New. WIN. n. ceeae.
BRo. EpDr-I trust you are comforta-
bic In your sanctum. Truly this has been
a season Of storms. The first encounter
ed was In your city Of Chicago. where we
parted amid the tumbling Of buildings
around US In the fearful gale. On my re-
turn in the stage. we suffered severely
from cold, and had some detention. On
the second Of December. few days after
my reaching home, we had our first severe
snow-storm In this region. This was tho
most terrible ever witnessed. The aver
age. depth was supposed TO betwo feet,
though II drifted TO such degree that Il
was impossible TO estimate Il. In many
places, the road was completely blocked.
Then, happily, / was at home with my
family. So furiously did the wind drive
the clouds Of snow. that lost my way IN
venturing less than hundred yards; and
WOO TO tho luckless traveller that was cau't
out at any distance on the prairie. On the
18th we had another-yery severe, but
with less snow. was then In the terrific
tory, above the Platte. In the midst Of
this, wrote 10 the Western Christian i'd
vocafe, and afterwards rode some ten miles
In company with one Of our preachers to
tho place Of his quarterly meeting. SO
cntanglcd were we in the drifts, and blind
cd by the driven snow, that Il would have
been impossible to keep our way. but for
tho intimate knowledge my companion
had Of objects aud localities along the road.
The weather has, with little internnission,
been stormy eyersInce, tits stated, that
within few counties on each side Of the
Missouri river, not less than ~ or II per-
sons have lost their lives, besides anumber
who have been deprived Of hands or feet.
or otherwise injured In their PERSONS
Travelling is positively hazardous to life
have just returned from visiting scene
Of suffering by special request. lgIyo the
detail as nearly rs can rceollcct them.
Mr.. David Poe, late Of the vicinity Of
Cleveland, Ohio, uncle to Rev. A. Poe, Of
tho Western Book Concern, arrived At this
place--Nebraska City.-about month
since. He was robust man Of fifty-six
years old, said to be In possession Of con.
siderable pecuniary means. On the last
day Of November, he started on foot with
bis son about l6 years Of age, furnished
with comforts, blankets, compass, KNAPP
sacks, provisions, &c., ITO hunt claim"
and fixed his camp for some days near the
Little Nemahaw. While there, the first
storm came on. This was Tuesday, the
I'd Of December. They remained In camp
until Wednesday. and then set their com.
pass homeward. Although somewhat be-
wildered, so resolute were they in their
purpose, that, finding body Of timber
that pleased them. they marked claim"
That night they spent In the timber, but
from the fiercencss Of the wind had little
benefit from 1t. Travelling through the
drift tho next day. they reached cabin,
but found II abandoned;a bed, blankets
and buffalo robe being left. Their provis.
ions were so frozen that they were unable
10 cat them, and their matches had become
wet, so that they were left without FIRE OF
food from that. time. They covered them
selves as well as they could, and passed
the night. On the following morning
their clothing being frozen 10 their limbs
they cut OF their boots In strips and thci
pants to the knees, and wrapped their blec
ding feet and limbs In parts Of their blank
cts. This operation consumed, as the,
supposed. four or five hours. Anothe
night was spent at the same place. Or
the morning Of Saturday, they determin
ed to crawl out and upon their hands ant
knees try to find some human habitation
, After progressing little way, tho DO,
I said TO his father that he could 20 n,
4 farther; he must die. They made thci
, way back to the cabin. They laid down
6 and wrapped themselves In the covering
tho father took the son In his arms, folde'
him to his breast, and lifted his heart h
: God In prayer. Soon man entered th'
' cabin, having been attracted by hearin
4 them. Assistance was called; kind o
snow-boat was constructed, and they wer
0 taken 10 house, and subsequently, bro
. TO this place. N q few days, tho son OK
. PRED. Tho father has had leg amputa
, ted. 1t is though the operation win hav
. To be repeated, by taking OF moro Of tn
tho same limb-pcrhaps the other. also. |
the sufferer can bear II. The fingers OF
both hands are coming OF at the middl
D joint, besides other frozen parts. The OLD
man expresses a perfect confidence Of &c
ceptance with God. and readiness to dc
. part Death would DO adelivorancc.
r Our quarterly meeting In this place is Il
progress with some interest; and, DO assn
/. rcd, We enjoy our Enc new church greatly
Large rs II 10. Il Is well filed. Our annu
al conference Ia 10 convene here on tn
18th Of April, making our conference yea
Of but six months duration.
D ] promised you occasional correspond
9 ence. but fear TO freeze your readers b,
/, writing from so chilly latitude. Still. Il
tho midst Of all, "claim hunters" are com
ing In, the excitement Of speculation !
Q undated. and expectation Is on tiptoe. q
Q to the prospects OF the country; and still
4 we are trying to labor for the salvation o
A In Il