The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-02-28

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bring him TO town, iFhe was able 70
be moved. Upon bis ARRIVAL he was
placed under the care Of DR.. Oihey,
and everything that skill and good
care can accomplish will be done 70
save bis life and limbs t'a1' a'a
On Saturday, aftor he had somewhat
revived, we went over 70 see him, and
loarn from his own lips the story ofhis
fearful suffsringS and almost miraou :
lous escape from the terrible fate that
every winter overtakeS some unfortu-
nate traveller on tie great ptqifics Of
northwestern Iowa.
ON THURSDAY, rue 24rH OF JANUARY,
at hslfpsst four o'clock in the after
noon, Charles Hale left the ststion at
Twin Lakes, in Calhoun county, 20
miles west Of Fort Dodge, with The 81
oux City mail. in an open sleigh drawn
by two horses '' ''''' I''' Or ~
The day had bosn very pleasant, but
just before he started it began to
snow. The wind was in the rortheast
and as night came on i. inoronsod 70 a
strong gale, the snow filling thicker
and faster, so chat il soon beoalae diff
cult to keep the road, which isnpiply
n track Rorost the great prairie, Will, ,
ont a fence, tree or house TO guide the
traveller, for ten miles Ho passed q
small deserted cabinS(the only build
ling OF any Kind on tho rout) just after
dark, and soon after the night became
so dark and the storni was driving so
fiorceIy In his face that no was unable
10 guide the team or SEQ any signs OF
tho read. Ho know that ho could not
be more than mlls or two from the
Yates settlement, and believing that
the horses would end thsir- WAY 10 the
station he loft them to take their own
course. After travelling thus q long
time, and failing 20 reach tho settle
ment, hs knew that tho team had lost
the road, but was utterly unable toyds-
termipe whether. no was north, south,
east or west of tho station. Aware Of
the hopolessness Of finding tho road or
settlement, in the intense darkness
that had by this time como on, he. de-
tOrmined to turn around and try to re-
trace his tracks to tho deserted cabin
which he had passed. .t uI #ra.-
But the storm, which had been stead,
ily increasing with each hour, dnfted
tho snow over the track almost IS fast
as it was made, and Ar. Hale soon
found that he had lost all traces Of it
and was wandering around on the
great prairie utterly lost His pres
enoe of mind never deserted him, and
be etonco determined that his only
chance for life was TO keep the team
moving slowly that they should net
perish with cold before morning.
Mr., Hale had taken the precaption
to prepare for storm before he left
tho lakes. He had on two flannel
shirts, two pair Of socks, two pair of
pants, two heavy coats, two pair Of
mittens, pair Of thick boots and buff
talo overshoes, and over all Of his clio
thing was raped a large, heavy rub
Der ovOrcoat. All through that long
terrible night he kept his team slowly
moving, knowing very we'll that If
they stopped, the team and driver
would soon become chilled through,
and the sleep and stupor which pre-
codes dSGth from freezing, would soize
upon them long before morning All
through the night the fearful storm
seemed to DO gathering in strength
aud fury, and we all remember ths
terrible 4.sll--al yd t.piseo sff
'lsdf} sbrri5- FRIDAY 3 trso aat .ovo
that followed. Business sin town WaH
entirely suspended. No stage left,the
stations, streets were blocked up, rail
roads all over the country wore buried
bOnoath the great drifts, cattle perish
cd with OOld. And out in the midst Of
great bleak prairie, AIone and lost
the driver Of the western stage watch
ed'aHxiously for daylightJ When NOR
ming ,OaMe, the storm darkensd ltheslty
so cemplStely that he could not discern
the direction efthS sun at any tlms
during the day. '9di 3a baa yloii,7aj
Early in tho day tAsr horses, whieA
bad boen travelling thro great drifts