Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-04-26
~ stella l,ca II i
A Fearful Adventure.

On Thursday the 2ith of January last,
AT half past four o'c!eel in the afternoon.
Charles Hale left the station at Twin
Lakes, in Calhoun county. Iowa, twenty
six miles west ui Fort Dodge with the
Sioux City mail, in an open sleigh drawn
by two horses.
The day had been very pleasant, but
lust before he started it began to snow.
The wind was in the northeast, and as
night came on it increased toa strong gale,
the snow falling thicker and faster, 50 that
it soon brcan, difficult to keep the road,
which is sinply II track aesoss the great
prairie, without fence, tree or house to
Guide the traveller for ten miles. He pass
ed IA small deserted CABIN. the only build
mg of any kind on the route, jnst after
dark. and soon after the night became so
dark and the storm driving So iiercely i'll
his face that he was unable to guide his
team or see any sign OF the road. lie
knew that he could not be mere than II
mile or two from the Yates settlement, and
believing that the horses would lind Their
way to the station if left to themselves, he
let them to take their own course. After
travelling thus a long time and failing to
reach the settlement, he knew that the
team had lost the road, but was utterly
unable to determine whether north, south
east or west of the STATEN. Aware of the
hopelessness of finding the road or settle
meut, in the intense darkness that had by
this time come on, he determined to turn
round and try to rctracc his TT ,eks 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 all traces of it, and was wandering
around on the great prairie, entirely lost
His presence OF mind never deserted
him. and he at once determined that hS
only chance for life was to keep the team
slowly moving that they should not perish
with cold before morning.
Mr.. Hale had taken the prccantion to
nrcparc for storm, before he left the
lakes. He had on two flannel shirts two
pair of mittens, two pair of pants, two
heavy coats, a pair OF thick boots and
bnifalo overshoes, and over all his cloth
ing was wrapped large heavy ovcreoat'
All through that long terrible night he
kept his team slowly moving, knowing very
well that if they stopped the team and
driver would soon become chilled through,
and the sleep and stupor which Precedes
death from freezing would seize upon them
lons before morning. All through tie
nig6t the fearful storm seemed to be gath
erinr in strength and fury, andas the wind
suddenly chan. ed around to the northwest,
the cold became intense. All day Friday
and through the night following, the air
was filed with the driving snow. which en-
velopcd everything in its icy covering, pll-
ing heavy drifts in the streets, blocking
highways and railroads, and sitting through
every crevice of our best houses. 1t was
one of those fearful winter storms which
can ONLY be realized in the fullest degree
by the traveller i'll the great bleak treeiesS
prairics of the Northwest. business III
town was entirely suspended. No stages
left the stations, streets were blocked up,
-aihoads all over the county were bnried
beneath the great drifts, cattle pcrished
with cold, and out in the midst OF a great
bleak prairie, alone and lost, the driver ot
the Western stage watched anXlouSly for
daylight. When morning came, the storm
darkened the sky SO completely that he
could not discern the direction oi the sun
at any time during the day.
Early in the day the horses, which had
been travelling through the great drifts Tor
about eighteen hours gave out and cohld
go no futher. Mr.. Hale hestatcd not
moment, but unhitched them from the
sleigh and turned them loose that they
might. if possible. reach some settie'hehl,
He was now left entirely alone, III the most
terrific storm of the winter. the snow Two
feet deep, and lying in immense drifts miles
and miles from the nearest habltataon, with