The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1867-02-20


longer struggle for life was almost hope
less. But finding that he was still able tc
move, he turned his face to the east
knowing that his only hope now was in
being able to reach the DesMoines river
along which he was sure to find settlers
All day Saturday he toiled on through the
deep snow, suffering intensely from hun.
ger, cold and loss Of sleep. Whenever
his strength gave out, and he stopped for
a moment, he would fall asleep and tum.
BILE down in the snow, again awaken, rise
up, and again push on. Night came on
once more, and found him still out on the
great prairie, with no shelter in sight
Again did he pass night-the third one
on his feet, walking, stopping, falling
asleep, tumbling down, awakening, rising
up, and toiling on again. Lost, starving
and freezing, but still undismayed, he
watched patiently during the long hours
of the ght for the rising of the sun on
the morning of
SUNDAY,
the fourth day out. The sun rose bright
and clear, but it was intensely cold, the
mercury at l60 below zero, with keen,
cutting wind from the north. He had
now, strange as it may seem, ceased to
suffer from hunger; and nerving himself
for one more effort, he turned his face
eastward, and again struggled on. His
progress was very slow, but at about / l a.
IN. his courage was enlivened by the sight
of a yrore an the distance. Hope, which
had not at any time entirely deserted him,
now grew strong, and all through the day
he struggled with almost superhuman ex-
ertions, to reach the timber before dark,
feeling that he could not survive another
night on the prairie. But his strength
was too much exhausted, and, although
struggling with the energy of despair, he
saw the sun go down and night close in
a gain, while the friendly trees were vet be-
yond his reach and hid to his view. III
be travelled on he was fearful of missing
the grove, and knowing that in his cond- !
ton ne could not pass the night on his |
Feet, he sought a huge snow-drift and with
his hands dug large hole therein buryins
himself for the night-seeking rest. He
soon fell asleep, and slept for several hours,
dreaming of safe arrival at Fort Dodge |
md relating to his companions his adven-
;ures and escape from freezing. But, up
On awaking with the early dawn he found |
nimself buried in the snow. out on the
bleak prairie, so weak and exhausted from
lis exertions through the three preceding
lays and nights that he could hardly rise
rom his icy bed. By great effort he gain
ID his feet, and saw Lost Grove about one,
nile ahead. When he tried to walk he
ound his legs had lost their vitality, and
le could only move forward by reaching
lown with his frozen hands and lifting
lis feet from the snow and alternately
'lace one before the other. He thus strug-
lied on toward the grove. His energy
every obstacle, he reached
he grove finally, but only to find it cold,
heeress and uninhabited. No signs Of
ife, food or shelter could be found. Still
his iron will again nerved
lim up to make one more great effort for
ife.
Beyond the grove, at distance of II
niles, he saw house. Having by this
lme almost entirely lost the use of his
eet and legs, he began to crawl on his
lands and knees through the deep snow
or the house. Sometimes he would rise
0 his feet only to fall again and struggle
n as before. AT last he reached the
ouse, having been from daylight till p.
n. going p miles. This house was the
esidence of Mr.. Hicks, miles from Day.
on, and about 80 miles from the point
'here he lost the road He had been out
rom Thursday at 4 p. m. until the next
londay at 2 p. m, in the severest storm
f the season, with the mercury ranging
bout l4o below zero, and had been on his
eet all the time but about II hours. He
ad gone 4 days without eating, with no
rink but snow. He had slept only about
hours in days. When we saw him he
Tas almost helpless, and very weak from
is terrible sufferings. His face is turned
lack, and pieces of flesh are pealing of.
lis feet are terribly frozen, but the doctor
opes to save them from amputation. He
ill lose some toes and one ear, and be
adly crippled for life.
We doubt whether there is another case
n record of such fearful suffering. heroic
ndurance, determined energy and cool,
nainching courage, as has been suffered
nd displayed by this stage driver.
The sleigh, containing the mail, has
een found about miles south of the Fort
lodge road, and about half way between
his place and the Yates settlement. One
+ the horses was found near it, frozen to
cath, but the other has not been found.