The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-02-21
A FEARFUL ADVENTURE.
AN IOWA NAIL STAGE LOST IN A
STORM ON>THE PRAIRIE.
Terrible Suffering Of the Driuer-Four
Days and Nights Without Food.
A story OfHeroIo Endurance ana Won
derfui Escape.
From Tho Iowa Norlbve,.. Febru,rv ~


from tho Iowa Northwest, February q.
On Wednesday last, we published all
that was known up to that data, of the
loss of the Western Stage, which runs
from Sioux City TO Fort Dodge. The
stage was due here on Thursday, the
24th, had got lost in the great snow
storm during that night, and as moth
ing had been seen Of it for nearly a
Week, all hope of The driver ever being
found alive had been abandoned. 1t
was known that Charles Hale, the driv-
or on the station from Twin Lakes, in
Calhoun county, to. Fort Dodge, had
started late on Thursday afternoon in
an open sleigh, with the mail for this
place. That when he left the Lakes
it was showing quite fast. That the
storm increased, accompanied with q
terrific gale from the northeast, which
became more violent every hour thro'-
out the night, and as the wind sudden
ly changed around to the northwest
the cold became intense. All day
Friday and through the night follow.
ing, the air was filled with the driving
snow, which enveloped everything in
its icy covering, piling heavy drifts in
the streets, blocking highways and
railroads, and sitting through every
crevice in our best houses. 1t was one
of those fearful. winter storms which
can only be realized in the fullest de-.
gree by the traveller on the great, tree
less, unsettled prairies of the North
west.
AS soon as the storm abated parties
started out to look for the missing
stage, but up to the time of our last
issue no trace Of the lost driver could
be found. On Wednesday night, Mr..
Rifenbary came in from Dayton and
brought word that Mr., Hale was alive,
but badly frozen, and had made his
way into the settlement five miles
west of Dayton, on Monday forenoon.
The agent at this place, Mr., Albee,
sent'a team early the next morning to
bring him into town, if be was able to
be moved. Upon his arrival he was
placed under tho care of DR.. Olney
and every thing that skill and good
care can accomplish will be done to
save his life and limbs.
On Saturday, after hehad somewhat
revived, we went over to see him, and
learn from his own lips the story ot
his fearful sufferings and almost mi
raculous escape from the terrible fate
that every winter overtakes some un
fortunate traveller on the great prai
ries of Northwestern Iowa.
| ON THURSDAY, THE 24TH OF JAN,
At half past 4 o'clock in the forenoon
Charles Hale left the station at Twir
Lakes, in Calhoun county, twenty si1
miles west of Fort Dodge, with tn,
Sioux City mail, in an open sleigl
drawn by two horses.
The day had boen very pleasant, bu
1just before he started it began to snow
The wind was in the northeast, and a
night came on it increased TO a stron,
gale, the snow falling THICKER and fas
ter, so that it soon became difficult t
keep the road, which is simply tract
across the great prairie, without
fence, tree or house TO guide the trav
Ter, for ten miles, He passed a smaI
deserted cabin (the only building G
any kind on the route) just after dark
and soon after the night became s
dark and the storm was driving S
fiercely in his face that he was unabl
10 guide his team or see any signs {
the road. He knew that he could nc
be more than a mile or two from tn
Yates settlement, and believing tbs
$ the horses would find their way to tn
: station, he left them to take their ow
course. After travelling thus "a Ion
!; time, and falling to reach the SETTLE
ment, he knew that the team had lol
!. the road, but was utterly unable to d
S termine whether he was forth, soutl
), cast or west of the station, Aware
# the hopelessness OF finding the road {
: settlement, in the intense darkhessth;
had by this time come on, he dete
); mined to turn around and try to r
Z trace his tracks to the deserted cab
'e which ho had passed.
But the storm, which had been stea
n, lily increasing with each hour, driftC
" the snow over the track almost as ia
as it was made, and Mr.. Hale 500
) found that he had lost all traces Of
Is and was wandering around on Il
or great prairie, utterly lost, His pre-
ence of mind never deserted him, al
Y, he at once determined that his on
er 1T chance for life was to keep the tea
moving slowly, that they should n
perish with cold before morning,
np ne Mr.. Hale had taken the preeauti
ng TO prepare for "a storm before he Il
the lakes. He had on two fanr
shirts, two pair Of socks, two pair
pants, two heavy coats, two pair
mittens,. "a pair of thick boots and bl
falo overshtes, and over all Of his clot
O ing was wrapped large heavy rubt
overcoat. All through that long tt
s. rible night be kept his team slow
moving, knowing very we'll that fth
,s stopped the team and driver wor
soon become chilled through, and
sleep and stupor which proceeds de'
from freezing, would seize upon th'
, 4 long before morning. All the nil
ak the fearful storm seemed to be gath
he. ing in strength and fury, and We
On. on. remember the terrible.
rs rs, FRIDAY