Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1871-12-27
A SAD, SAD INClDEST-T"O
LITTLE BOYS FOUND FRO
ZEN TO DRATu.


We grieve to record the sad fact that
two little sons Of Robert Jones, tho
weil-known milkman, whose milk
ranch il situated at American Flat,
were frozen to death on the Ophir
Grade during the late heavy snow
storm. They were at Mr.. Jones' ranch
In Truckee Meadows, and their father
sent a letter telling them they might
Come Home 10 Christina.
And have 4 good time. Their names
were John, aged ten years, and Henry,
aged about thirteen. They left the
ranch at the Meadows last Saturday
morning, on horseback, driving two
cows and two calves before them. 1t
was a very stormy day, but notwith-
standing the chilly rain and snow
which was falling, the s]tout-hearted
little fellows thought they could make
the trip. The streams along the route
were swollen, and the road so bad that
their progress was slower than they
expected, and they only reached
Browns ranch, in Steamboat valley,
where they staid that night. Next
morning Sunday they started ont
again, going by way Of Steamboat and
around by the Ophir grade, although
It was still
storminK Heavily.
It seems strange that tho people at
Browns station or ranch, should have
allowed these two little boys to 20 for
ward in such n storm, attempting what
most meu would have considered too
great a hardship to encounter. But
the little fellows were thinking Of
home and the Christmas pleasures
promised them. They passed out Into
the storm and wore
Seen No More Alive.
Yesterday the anxious father, fear
ing that perhaps his dear little sons
might have made the attempt to come
through tho storm, or at any rate, do
sirous of visiting them, started for tho
Truckee Meadows BY way Of Virginia
and the Geiger Grade. He heard Of
them whom he got to Browns, and
Immediately started following up the
route they had taken. Hoping to find
them at some place OF shelter they
might have sought, he eagerly i'll
quired, but could get no trace Of them.
More and moro eagerly he pressed for
ward his tired steed through the deep
drifts Of snow up tho Ophlr Grade
from Washoe Valley, and at length
about Z o'clock this morning saw a
horse some distance ahead standing In
the road. He recognized the animal
at once, and fearing tho worst, hast
ened to him. There, near the faithful
animal, close beside the road. lay his
two little boys locked fast III each
others arms,
Frezcn to Death.
No trace Of the other horse or Of tho
COWS and calves they were driving
were to DO found, and appearances In
dicated that they must have left those
animals behind, and both were riding
this horse, which was the strongest
OF the two, the other one, perhaps,
having given out entirely. Both boys
wero we'll clothed, the eldest having
on q long pair of stout winter boots.
The youngest wore n pair OF gum
boots, which he had taken off and lay
near by. He had done this, perhaps,
to empty the water out Of them, with
the assistance OF the brother, and then
both being overpowered by the cold
and fatigue, had flually laid down to
die.
Great Drifts Of Snow
Were along the grade, but where they
lay was q bleak place, swept clean by
tho driving winds, and no snow COW
cred them. Their wet clothes were
frozen fast to the ground. They have
ut last reached home, but, alas, not to
gladden. it with their childish Joy. The
chill hand of death has silenced for
ever their bright hopes and joyous
-kstnoktnno