New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-01-03
KANSAS.
A WINTERS STORM on 4 SURVEYING
PARTY.

WYASDOT, X. T., Dec. -, 1856.
If the exploring parties sent out BY Go9ernneaI
among the Businesses and hidden valleys OF the
Rocky Mountains occasionally meet hard fate,
sometimes a lees adventurous band of Surveyors
nearer home encounter difficulties and dangers
scarcely less imminent. haze just seen and con-
versed with some members OF TWO surveying par
Ties that have recently been inyolsed in all tie hor-
rors of a winters storm. Two OF there companions
were frozen 10 death, every member OF both par
tea had frozen limbs or feet, and all of them, save
two suffered severely.
For some reason-the Incidence of clerks, the
negligence of the Department or for political rea-
sost-,he preparations for surveying IN the Terri
tory were made so late that little could be done.
Thus mapy who had contracts for surveying sui
fercd severely in q pecuuary way, while waiting
for their instructions. From these causes many
surveyors started late i'll the season; and among
them the two companies of which write, Han
AID Colburns left early in October to I'LL contracts
for surveying townships away 10 the northwest,
close 70 the northern or Nebraska line, on the LII
tle Blue Behind them were several other cOmpd-
MES sectonizDg.
II would be needless 20 say that all of these par
ties suffered considerably for week or two before
their Iabors were so starIingly brought to close.
With all the appliances that can be had, and even
| more than is generally had, jewellers IN tents
have sorry time of it when the cold rams or the
drifting sleet and snow begin to visit the earth::
| The Winter set in much earlier than usual, and
thinking its commencement but an advance STORM,
and being anxious to complete their TASK. they "eul
| o. -, ,o,
| The circumstance occurred on the 10th inst. A.
| I have said the two parties were surveying near
| the creek or stream called the Little Blue IL Is
| LARGE creek: takes It's rise IN Nebraska, ana IS
tributary of the Big Blue 1t has for some distance
a bottom nj es wide, partly rich meadow
and there is for considerable distance belt OF the
fuest timber from one to two miles WIDE along the
stream There are several falls, where there III Sht
| no mill seats; but as vet few, settlers in the
| valley Between this stream, its tributaries and
other streams there are high and bare prairie MUS
or divides sometimes with many miles oil rlcn
rolling prairie on the tOp sometimes rocky ana
sandy; but there is little no shcltering timber on
these high grounds, and the winds sweep 10 them
and over them from the mountains.
Ii was on these divides that the parties were
at work on the day In question.
The morning though wlntry, was pleasant and
no extra provision WAS made. In the afternoon the
Storm began The snow fell thlckly, and whitfield
in bewildering drifts As the evening advanced,
the wind rose slmost 20 gale, aud the frost GOV
moe intensely Keen. Snow stil fell, but finer,
|
face. Through this storm the two surveying par
tie. then ONLY few miles apart and both near the
| Nebraska line hurried TO seek the camplng-grOund
they had left that morning where there were fuel
and shelter from the wind. Neither party reached
il MI HaA's party, finding the storm increasing,
sought rayne in the prairie; Il was marrow and
deep and there they plichedtheir tent. The snow
was drifting into this hollow, aud was some lhree
feet deep IA il where they pitched their tent. The
tent was a strong one. They had wood-sled
with stove and other articles, beside foOj, on it,
They erected their stove in the tent the pipe run
pipc I'D through ard above IT, Having nothing
else to burn, they broke the wOod-sed, and, hay'
inc cooked what little they Lad to eat, prepared ID
con paIstve comfort 70 spend the nighI. Inc!
,lept on. AID the snow dritted on. About day
br,ak they we're awakened, each man having diff
culty Of breathing. The force OF the wind drove
tte NOW with such force that the drifts were very
firm and compact and il had filed the narrow ho
low in which they had taken refuge until II covered
the tent and wbrled over Il VITA lis Peary cover
the snote beng three feet Orer The top Of me tent ;
long "a the top of the stoye-ppe remained uncOS
ored the canning parry had yentilatOr and air
receiver: but the snow drited over it before day
break and the Lalfsmotnered sensation this caused
Avoke the sltepers. With considerable difficulty
they extricated themselves from their quarters and
prepared to seek their old camp. They had SUI
ered little curing the night. but the afternoon De
fore aud that morning most OF them got thelr lee
badly frozen, and some had their ears and hands II
the sane statr.
Il Jared not so we'll with the other party Cangb
in The high prairie, without fuel and no shelter
they eudeayored 10 raise their tent. With eohsld
ersble effort they succe eded, and budding beneati
its ira protection, without fire, they prepared t
pa,s tie night. The storm increased and IN
sleety snow drose with icy venom on the blast
Fsry in the night the tent blew down, and lei
them exposed 10 it, fury After it fell, two of tn
inmates refused TO get from beneath it. where the
| we're, preterriDg 10 remain under It. The 0the