The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-01-30

The Milwaukee Sentinel has the follow
ing letter from Capt. Jas. H. Dodge. of the
Oh Wisconsin Battery. 1t is a thrilling
account of journey across the plains:
FoRT LARNED, Dec. 4.
On Saturday morning, Nov. 23th, We
started from Fort Lyon for Fort Larned, ex-
pecting to make the trip 1.-THE distance being
$40 miles, in the usual time of four and
half days. Our party numbered six.
The first day we came about As miles at
night made our bed on'the bare ground, aud
in the morning found six or eight inches Of
snow covering US, and the wind blowing
fearfully, as it can only blow across the
plains. On Tuesday came another fall d
snow, and Wednesday we travelled only sew
en- miles. During that whole week we were
only able to thsw out our provisions, not
even making an effort to cook anything, for
on the whole route there are no habitations.
| Until Saturday morning we were obliged,
every little way, to shovel the stage out of
the snow banks. and finally, when we were
about SO miles from Larned, We gave up the
! idea of proceeding farther in that way.
! Hearing that there was a small Indian
camp not far from where we were embank-
| ed, | concluded to leave the stage and go on
TO find it, and get some dried buffalo meat.
forour supplies were exhausted, as we had
only laid in a stock for a -dav trip
The Indian camp, however, proved to be
farther off than we thought, for l walked
fifteen miles, with the snow up to my knees
nearly all the way, before the huts came in
sight. When within mile or Whereabouts,
of them, one of the drivers overlook me and
reported that the mules had given out en-
tirely and he had started to 90 to the fort
for help. The camp being close by, told
him to go on and get something to eat and
would be along. found him there with
his hands and feet badly frozen, so I told
him to stay there and I would go to the fort
myself-thirty five miles. Istarted at three
o'clock P. M. The mule carried me until
shutdown and would not 60 any further.
had with me, fortunately. buffalo robe, SO
taking the saddle for my pillow, and tuck
ing the robe close about me, to try and keep
awake till morning. l was then twenty
seven miles from the fort and the cold was
so intense that one of the mules had frozen
to death the night before. When morning
broke l was thankful to the kind Providence
which had kept me from all harm. l had
nothing to eat, but saddled the mule, which
had not strayed more than six rods away.
and started again. The poor animal, how
ever, would not carry me more than three
miles and laid down. Without hesitating
one instant, stripped him, p led the saddle,
bride and robe together, and in less than
i've minutes was wading through the snow
up to nay knees. knew, probably, l would
have to be out another night but there was
no such thing as turning back, for there
were left behind six human beings whose
lives depended upon my exertions. When
within ten miles of tue fort l had to cross
a stream and leave the Arkansas river, strik-
ing across a rolling prairie. The snow was
here from one to three feet deep, and the
track entirely filed.
. l had not been over the road but once,
except in a covered stage, and had no par
tcular idea of the direction. l only knew
that the fort was on a creek with trees grow
ing along it, and the best I hoped for was
to reach the trees that night. l kept two
objects in view SO as to make straight line
l walked all day and just as the sun was
two hours or so high l saw the trees. Two
miles, or about that. beyond me saw lone
tree, and that was the last object l had made
up my mind to reach, but when within hall
mile or thereabouts of the tree l saw what
thought was the fort, and took courage
[ walked on at the rate of a mile an hour.
Before l reached the tree knew for a GER
tainty that it was the fort | had seen, and
saw that sleigh had started for me. They
were coming on a gallop; could see them
one or two were standing up looking tow.
ard me. They were whipping their horses
and the snow was flying in all directions;
| knew that / was saved and my strength
gave out; could go no farther and sank
down 10 the snow. When they were almos,
to me I saw Lieutenant Crockett driving
and heard him say, GOOD Lord it is
Dodge -
Dr.. Clark jumped out with a bottle Of
whiskey in one hand and pie in the other
l was in no mood to refuse either. They
had been looking for the stage with glass
and saw me as came over the last roll o
the prairie, and ordered up team to 60 ou
and help some one, they did not know
whom.
In half an hour they had two six mule
teams and one two mule team going after
the stage, with refreshments for man anC
beast. They came back in twenty-foul
hours and say that saved their lives. On
ly two were frozen, one very badly, and ht
will probably have to lose his foot. On
man was with US who had been IN this
country for thirty-two years, aud in all tina
time says he has never seen a worse storm
and that he had made up his mind coult
I not possibly live through it. Those VIII
: went out after the stage say that they neve
saw more rejoiced lot than they whe
e they knew of my safety.
One of the fair daughters of ton was re
: cantlu sinninr q fashionable air ut a hiU