Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-08
st. cIairsvilIe, Ohio, March s.
AWonserfal story.

daughter being lost on prairie during the
storm-of Tuesday and Wednesday Of last
week:
On Tuesday afternoon, the 18th inst,
Mr.. h. L. hunnien, Of this town, visited
Jacksonville, eight miles distant, on bust
ness, and on retursing. called at the resi-
TO sec his darsb sbter, Mrs P. B. Weed AZ
ter supper, Mrs. w. resolved to accom- pany
herifsthsr home, and, hastily clad herself
for the purpose. Leaving Mr.. Weed in the
house, the father and daughter proceeded |
to whore the horses had been tied, and found |
them gone, but yet in sight. Pursuing the
team for some distance, and finding it i'm
possible TO svertake it, Mr.. Runnion i'm.
plorea his daughter to return home, while
he would make his way home alone. This
she would not consent to do unless he should
accompany her and remain for the night
This was between seven and eight o'clock.
Tbs weather was then comparatively mild.
They pursued thsir Journey for time with.
out difficulty, but the nigh. being quite
DARK and the snow having oblitsrated the
track, they lost the road. Beth were con-
sciousthst they were lost, yet neither breath
ed it 70 the other, during the long hours
from their departure from Mr.. Beach's
house until l2 o'clock The storm which
bad eeca gathering now burst forth in fear
ful fury. Benumbed, lost upon the track
less waste, their steps followed by pack of
prairie wolves, whose quick sharp bark fre-
qusltly rose above tho bowling wind, each
was cor 'cious of their peril, yet encouraged
each other At last, exhausted nature could
DO no more, both we're tired out, and lay
down bonesth q drift of snow to watch for
daylight. Mrs Weed wore beaver hood,
scarf about her neck, shawl, and blank
ct which she had thrown on her arm when
leaving the house.
The dawn came, and with it the fury of
the storm Increased. Nr Runnion knew
himself TO be on Plum creek, and resolved
to strike for the nearest house, some two
miles distant but Mrs. Weed was so chilled
that she could net walk. and after being car.
risd some thirty or forty rods she begged
her father to leave her and seek assistance.
Tb;y sat down and calmly talked the matter
over, she freezing oil the while To leave
ms child thus was bitter thought. Know
ing that she must perish unless succor came,
ne sought place TO leave her breaking
ths ice as hs, supposed of little bayou,
from which the water had receded, and ma.
kinsa cavity OF some two feet in depth and
sutncient ieaRth, he la i'd her in it, wrapped
tee blanket and shaw around her and the
scarf shout her face. They kissed aud part.
et. Then covering her with snow, mark
ing the spot with willow twigs as best he
could, he made his way to the house of Mr..
Caey, about hl:ls from town, arriving
there near o'clock, A. NJ "wednesday J,
exhausted, with hands and face frozen, and
nearly frantic. His story was soon told
snd' shnough the storm was raging fearful
ly, And tho hope Of finding the poor girl,
soGs three miles distant ON the bleak prai.
RE- seemed Ike hoping against hope, a team
Was narnsssed and Mr.. Gilbert Vincent and
Mr.. u. NJ. Utlcy, with Mr.. Runnion, started
for The rescue. Finding tho place where
'ths party had lain beneath the drift during
tho night, they searched in vain until about
3p. n, passing almost directly over the
spot where she lay. Finding the search
vain, and Mr.. Runnion fast fainting from
exposure and exhaustion with heavy heart,
the party returned at evening. Mr. Run
mon was taken to the house of Mr.. Utey
where bc.h Mr. and Mrs. Utley wore as
sidaous 10 administering to his comfort.
IharsGay morning the storm had abated;
tss sna shown clear and bright over the
driven snow; the mercury had fallen from
4 the day before to % below zero, Mr..
kunnioa was brought home by Mr. Utley,
and bis fearful story few from house to
horse brave hearts and willing hands were
nor ssat'ng: Several sleigh loads of men,
accompanied BY DIR. MIer-who was care,
idi 10 nave ersstoratiyes-weros swiftly on tho
>sssfSa. The party reached the supposed
iooahty where Mrs. Weed was left by her
father, aud the search commenced. Passing
on either side Of the creek, noting every
track and mark aud twig-with only the
vague certainty that they might be near her,
they persevered guided alone by such in.
structions ~ ir. Runnion in his enfeebled
and oewidered stats was able TO give. AT
aoout II O'Clock, one of the party, stepping
directly over, fell though the snow into the
cavity where she lay She WAS found and
ALIVE! A joyous shout rang out-over.
coats and shawls we're spread upon the snow.
shofeh procured from a sleigh, and she was
raised, insensible, from the SNOWY bed, where
she had lain FOR TEIRTY HOURS Placed
In Sfleigh, the party drove with all speed
70 the nearest houss-that Of Mr.. Jolly
wners the skiil aud unremitting efforts Of
DE- Mixer were crowned with success.
We found she had moved but little from
where her father had placed her. The ice
upon which shs had boon laid had melted
from her bodily heat, and when found she
lay 10 the bed OF the creek, nearly every
part OF het clething being saturated with
water. Her feet were doubtless frozen in
the saorning before her father left her, and
toths Proyidential fact of their ceming in
contact with the water may bs ascribed' moi
merely the safety Of her limbs, but the pre-.
setya,ion Of her lie.
Mrs Weed was conscious while in ber
snowy prison house, Of day and night;
heard tho bless wiuds az they moaned above
her, hor greatest fear being lest her father
had perished; but hope never once forsook
her; sho heard her rescusrs tramping above
and around her, but was too weak 10 apprise
Them Of her whereabouts, and when found
had been using all her remaining strength
10 sndosveiing to dig to tho surface, and
had saeeeedea in removing the snow several
Inches FROM beneath tho spot upon which
the person finding her providentially ttep.
Mrs. Weed has been married but n few
weeks Her miraculous escape from death,
and her present unhappy condition. have
ssesed most profound sympathy in her
THE Newark American, referring to the
jutilations of the Copperheads over the