Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-02-25
A Terrible Tale-Lost and Frozen to
Death on the Prairies.

The st. Paul's Minnesota and Times, 10th
instant extracts from the r'icester, published
at the Red river settlements, n sad narrative
A party, including Mr. Mackenzie, started from
Georgetown, at the mouth of the Buffalo river,
to cross the prairie to Fort Larry. They start
ed December 23d, taking mules. The latter
gave out in three days, distance only half done,
and provisions getting short Here they were
helpless, in the heart ola vast, dreary, unknown
prairie, in n cold, bleak month, far beyond the
reach Of NIL sympathy and aid, with starvation
staring them in the face.
On Thursday, the goth, Mr.. Mackenzie resoly-
ed to reach Pembina, and send back succor.--
The engineer accompanied him. The day was
cold and stormy, and bitter blast from the
North drove them back They all camped to-
gether that night near Pine river, about 30
miles from Pembina. In the morning Macken-
zie started again alone. He had presents
ment that he would not get through. He wol
but ore thin coat, and was lightly clad through
out, wishing to be as little burdened 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 Monday morning David
TAFT pushed lead, and reached Pembina the
same evening. Mr. NJ had not been there,
Two men were sent, and they fell in with the
remnant of the party shortly after midnight on
Tuesday, and, after supplying their urgent
needs went off in search of Mackenzie wed
nesday they came upon traces which brought
them 10 his corpse. After leaving his COM
panions, he seemed to have followed the trail
| for considerable dist ,nce, and then to have
lost his way. Night came upon him, and, be-
wildered by the growing darkness and the DRIFT
ING snow, he made towards clump of trees,
with the intention, probably, of kndling hire.
| IF such was his object, he seemed to be unable
| to accomplish it, and his beaten track showed
| that, TO keep himself from freezing, he had
spent the hours of that lonesome night in rum
ming round in circle
With the break of day, he again started across
I he Il tclless waste, every step that he toOk
| CARRYING him further and further from the spot
/ which he was straining every nerve to reach
| Another weary day of frutless travel was fol-
| lowed by second night even more dreary than
the first. Again he had managed to stave on
what he must have felt to have been the houi
of his dissolution by long hours OF ceaseless ac-
tiyity. A third days journey brought him &c,
wards Lac des Roseaux. Here he attempted
to run round as before but the strength and
courage which had heretofore sustained him
| now forsook him.
He dragged his tired footsteps through the
loose snow towards tree, from which he pluck
| ed a branch and hung thereon a shred OF hi!
tattered coat, as a signal to mark his disma
resting place he next tore of another branch
eff the same tree, which. he placed as pillow
for his cold bed, and then laid upon ii hi
weary head and died. His right hand was oil
his heart, and his left hung by his side, firml,
holding a compass. The body gave indication
of having undergone great suffering. Som'
portions Of it had been frozen and thawed man,
times in succession, before death interviewed
and released it from further anguish.