Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-21
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AmI01Ea HaIl 6Sfage Lost I'm a Storm
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IFrom the Iowa Northwest February 81, sg'5g1 s'5f
On Wednesday last, we published all that
was known up TO that date ct the loss of
the Western stage, which runs from Sioux
city TO. Fort D0age. The stage which was
due here on Thursday, the 24th. bad got
lost i'm the great snow iistorm during that
night, and as nothing 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 driver
on the station from Twin Lakes in Eafhotfn
c0uutEate FortTD Dodge, had started late on
Thursday afternoon in an open sleigh with
the Lakes, it was showing quite fast. That
the storm Increased, accompanied with "a
terrific gale from the northeast, which be-
=. came more violent every hour through the
nights and as the wind suddenly changed
around to the northwest, the cold became
intense. All day Friday and through the
night Following, the air was filed with the
driving sn0W,dwhich enyeloped eVerything
in its icy covering, piliDg heavy drifts in /
the streets, blocking highways and ratl-
reads and sitting through every creyice in
our best houses. 1t was one OF those fear-
fnfWintef storms which can only be real
ized in the fullest degree by the traveller on
the great bleak, treeless, unsettled apraiTies
OF the Northwest. ~ sSIees ~ - ssieS-ftitk.t
AS soon as the storm abated parties start
(: ed 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. b Onf Wednesday
night, Mr.. Rifenbary came in from Dayton,
and brought word that Mr.. Hale was alive,
butbadIy frozen, and had made his way into
the settlement five miles Westof Dayton, on
Monday afternoon % The agent at this place,
Mr.. Albees sent a team early the next
kmorning to bring him into town, if he was
able 70 he moved. Upon his arrival he
was placed under the care of DR.. OIney,
and everything that skill and good care
can accomplish, wia be doneto save his life
and limbs. % SO 1ss.a ;ets 81 ~
ION Saturday, after he had somewhat re-
Vived,gW we went over to see him, and learn
from his own lips the story of his fearful
sufferings and almost miraculous, escape
from the r. rrible fate that every winter
Overtakes some unfortunate traveller on the
great pTairies of northwestern Iowa. Aho
0N THuRspAY ( THE 24FH OF JANUARY, -, Z
at half past four o'clock in the. afternoon,
CHARLES Hale leftthe station at Twin Lakes,
IN Calhoun county, twenty-six miles west
oi Fort Dcdgs; with the Sioux !, City mail, in
The day bad been very pleasant, but just
before he started itFbegan to snow. lIhe
Eswind was in the northeast, and as night
came on isiinereased TO strong gale, the
Snow falling thicker and faster, SO thatit
:: soon became afficult to keep the road,
NAAltSAH ~ Plt4B41ra1 tAdCAf All OSS
prairie. without fence, tree or house to
guide the traveller, for ten miles, He pass
ed a small deserted ca bin theonly building
of any kind on theronte) just after dark,
and sO8i after the night became so dark
and the storm was driving so iercely In his
face That he was unable to guide his team
=. Cnsee anysigns ofthe noads HE knew that
:. he could not be more than a mile or two
from the Yates settlement, and believing
that the horses would find their way. to the
station, he left them to take their own
course. After travelling thus long time,
and falling to reach the settlement, he
knevt that the team had lost the road, but
wis utterly unable tOudeeermil6S whether
lie was north, SOUTH east or west Of the
station. 81 Aware of the hOpelessn ess,i of
finding the road. or settlement, in the ia-
tense darkness that had by this time come
on, he determined to turn around and try
t0.EeEEace ms tracks to the deserted cabin
which he had passed.
But the storm, which had been steadily
increasing with each hour, drifted the snow
over the track almost as fast as it was made,
and Mr.. Hale soon found that he had lost
alTtraees of it, and was wandering around
on 1.-The great prairie, utterly lost His
presence OF mind never deserted him, and
he at once determined that his only chance
fertile was toikeep the team moving slow
~, that they should not perish with; cold
before morndngs snsTtsgi ,.BlitEssd sgFta q
Mr.. Hale had taken the sprecautiOn to
prepare for Storm before he LETT the
lakes. He had on two, flannel shirts, two
pair of socks, two pair of pants, two heavy
coats, two pair Of mittens, a pair of thick
boots and buffalo oyershOes, and over all of
his clothing was wrapped a large heavy
rubber overcoat. All through that long
terrible night he kept his team slowly NOV
ing, knowing very well that if they stop
ped the team and driver would soon be-
come chilled iLhtSugh, and the sleep and
stupor which preeedes death from freezing
would seize upon them long before morn
ings All through the night the fearful
storm seemed to be gathering in strength
and fury and we'all remember the terrible
that followed. Business in town was en-
tirely suspended No stages. left the sta
lions, streets were blocked up, railroads all
over the country were buried beneath the
great drifts, cattle perished with cofd..s.And
ont iinsthe midst OF a great bleak prairie,
alone and lost the driver of the western
stsioe watched anxiousiy for daylight.
When morning came the storm darkened
the sky SO completely that he could not dis
Germ the direction Of the sun at any time
Ea1ly "a the day the horses, which had
been travelling through great drifts for
Abont eighteen hours, gave out, and could
0oLilo fIirther Mr.. Hale hesitated not
moment, but unhitching them from the
sleigh, he, turned them loose. that they