Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-09-05
FROZEN TO DEATH.
A Nebraska Sketch.

State of Nebraska, lives a widow. whom
for convenience sake, I will-ca the wild
ow Grey. One is not, and two Of the oil
der are seeking their fortunes in more
western locality. The other two are
blooming maids, just verging into woman-
hood. .,... ,-,.
The widow Grey is known far and
near, on account of sad calamity that
befell her family the frst year of her
pioneer life. The author of this knows
truly Of the circumstance whereof 1t is his
intention to here relate. 49, 80
1t is some fourteen years since Adam
Greylef the State Of Missouri, and with
his family crossed the Big Muddy, and
struck into the vast wilderness of the then
unsettled Nebraska prairie, to seek for
himself and family home After ira
versing over large portion of Southern
Nebraska without finding a desirable Ioca-
tion, he turned northward, and came up
on beautiful stream of clear running
water, with lovely but narrow valley of
rich alluyial soil. silently inviting the
pioneers to take possession, and convert
into blooming fields of waving grain: A
continuous though narrow line of timber
stood on either bank, now in the middle
off heavy foliage.
Such was the appearance Of this lovely
place. and Mr.. Grey selected it for his fu-
ture home, and now began the settlers
labors, or cabin was to be elected, the
prairie was to be broken. on which the fu-
ture sustenancc of the settlers family was
togrow 1t was past the middle of the
summer, when the Grey's landed here,
and nothing could be grown for their sup
port that season, but all their provisions
had to brought from the adjoining State
cf Missouri, some eighty or ninety miles
distant. With what they brought with
them and one load after they had got
settled il their new abode, they had a
sufficicncy to last until late in the fall,
and that part of the season had now ar
rived, the provisions werd getting scarce
ard another trip had to be made. a
good sleighing snow had fallen, and Mr..
Grey concluded to take his sled and two
yokes of oxen as it would be much better
than hauling with wagon.
K was bright frosty morning, about
the middle of November, that Mr.. Grey
with his eldest son, Henry,..a lively boy of
fifteen, started for Missouri to get his win
ter's supply Of provision. There wasjust
enough on TIE grouhd to make it good
slcigiiing, aud our settlers, with light
hearts, pursued their way, and without
any incident worthy of record, reached
their destination, procured tLeir load.
Returning, they crossed the Missouri
river, just at night, and camped on the
bluffs, that always skirt one side c- he
otlcr of this great river. Tie wcathc.
been very mild for the past two days, and
there was danger of the SNOW all going off,
thus making hard teaning with a sled.
But who can portcnd the'future." In
he night the wind changed suddenly to
the northwest and grew colder, and in the
morning the snow was lightly falling.
"Come Henry" said the father. "let's
be on our road. 1 fear its going to be a
regular storm, and it viii take us into the
night to reach home"
Alas! the settlers fear was only too
we'll grounded, for onward blew the fierce
wind. and faster fell-thc snow, while the
cold was all the time growing g.unore intense.
Yet ihcy kept up brave hearts. and hur-
rying the team, were fast lesscninS the
space between the river, and their home.
BIT late in the day, on aosount of the
fierce storm, and drifting snow, they got
out of the road, which was but an Indian
trail, and knew not, except they relied on
the direction of the wind, whether they
were travelling right or wrong.
Darkness settled around them, the cold
was paralyzing their limbs, their team was
wearied, and could scarce be urged for
ward through the deep snow Henry
could not be kept awaked and the awful
re-lity forced itself upon the poor father
that they were slowly but surely freeing
to death. He thought that if they were
travelling yet in the right direction. that
they could not be far from home, and
could only trust to the natural instincts of
the oxen to take them right, but poor
brutes. they were now so nearly tired out
that they could not go much further, and
soon, in crossing q hollow, they were
nearly buried in the deep drift. The
sled stuck fast, and there remained.
The peor, half frozen father, finding
that the load could be got no further,
loosed the oxen from the sled and thinking
he could not be far from home, covered
Henry up as slightly AID warmly as he could
With bedding they. had with them, and
bidding him to keep awake for a little
while, and that he would look around and
see If he could see any sign of their home.
which he believed was not far off.
Ahi poor fellows, we must leave them,
and take look at the home they were
striving to reach.
A snow storm on the western prairie
was no light event. and Mrs. Grey well
knew that if her husband and son were