Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1860-03-01
Frozen to Death on the Prairieg


The ST Papl's Minnesotian and Times of
February 10th extracts from the Nor'wester
Published at the Red-river settlements, . sad
narrative. Aparty, including Mr. Mex engie
started from Georgetown, at the mouth'of the
Butfa!o river, to cross the prairie to Fort Lar
nv. They December 23d, takingmules.
The latter gave out in three days, the distance
only half done, and provisions getting short
Here they we're helpless, in the heart of a
vast, dreary, unknown prairie, in cold. bleak
month, far beyond the reach of all sympathy
and aid, with starvation staring them in the
lace. On Thursday, the 29th, Mr.. Mackenzie
resolved to reach Pemt,ina, and send back sue
cor. The engineer accompanied him. The
day was cold and stormy, and bitter blast
from the north drove them back. They all
camped together that night near Pine river
about so miles from Pembina In the morn
ing Mackenzie started again alone lie had
presentiment that he would not get through
lie wore but one thin coat, and was lightly
clad throughout, wishing to be as little bur
dened with clothes as possible, as he intended
to run most of the way. a bit of pemican,
the size OF his fist, was all his food. On Mon.
day morning David TAFT pushed ahead, and
reached Pembiaa the same evening. Mr.. NJ
had not been there. E Fs rs.E
Two men were sent, and they fell in With
the remnant of the party shortly after mid
night on Tuesday. and, after supplying their
urgent needs, went off in search of Macken-
zic. On Wednesday they came upon traces
which brought them to his corpse. After
leaving his companions, he seemed to have
followed the trail for a considerable distance,
and then to have lost bis way. Night came
upon him, and, bewildered by the growing
darkness and the drifting snow, he made to
wards clump OF trees, with the inteption,
probably, of kindling FIRE. If such was his
object, lie seemed to be unable to accomplish
II, ana his beaten track showed that to keep
hit9s9't 'Forl ifeezlpg be pad speat the hours
OF that lonesome night in running round in
circle. With the break of day he again start
ed across the trackless waste, every step that
pc took carrying him further and further from
the spot TlIlch he was straining every nerve
to reach. AnothQr weary day of fruirless
travel was followed by a second night even
more dreary than the first Again he had
managed 10 stave off what he must have felt
to have beel tie sldGr of his .aissalatjon by
long hoprs of ceascless activity A third
days journey bought him towards Lac des
Ruscaux. Here he attempt to run round as
before bat the strength and courage which
had heretofore SUSTAINED him now forsook
him, lie dragged his tired footsteps through
the loose snow towards tree from which he
Plqqessed branch aqd lung thereon SHRED
OF his tattered coat as a signal to mark his
dismal resting place; he next tore off another
branch of the same tree, which he placed as
a pillow for his cold bed, and then laid upon
it his weary head and died His right hand
was on his heart, and his left hung by his
side, firmly holding compass The body
gave indications of having undergone great
suffering. Some portions Of it had been fro
gen and thawcd many times in succession be.
fore death intervened and released him from
further aaIngaish. . ...