The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-01-13
,xIoaIdI s. bOl' i6stIx c6sr;itable 3

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lrselyes 10 move on, and now, es-
ecally As the clouds looked threat
ming, and we had reason to fear
|ie foads would become impossible.
he day was pleasant, notwitll-
the season of'the year, and
re hoped to reach our western
ZONE by the next Thursday, in case
10 accidents occurred to prevent.
All went we'll, and on Thursday
It three o'clock we crossed the
Missouri river at Nebraska City,
which was, at that time, a mere
handful Of poorly bull houses, but
we were still forty mics from our
end. After q hearty din
ner, we concluded to try to mach a
tavern or ranch, called "Robber's
Roost," about twenty miles distant,
ever a bleak prairie. The other
team was to take the lead and
break road. About halfpast four
the wind changed to the northeast,
and we were soon cnycloped in fly
ing snow. q
Persons who have lived on the
plains will understand what is meant
by a Irregular northea>tcr," for
such this was When night came
Oh we had still five miles to 60.
The driving snow, fortunately, came
from behind us, but filled the sir so
that we could but just sec from ole
Telegraph pole to the rcxt. Not a
star was to be seen, and our situa-
ton was fast becoming seriously un-
pleasant, as the cold was growing
still more intense. The team ahead
OF us seemed to be less jaletl than
ours, aud was soon beyond hearing
distance.
Our horses could now no longer
follow the tracks Of the advance
team, ard we found the telegraph
poles the only guide lcftus lsiall
never forget that memorable night,
nor do | ever want to experience
another such. Suddenly the wind
seemed to veer round and blow
directly in our faces. The drifting
SHOW had filled up every little
gulch, and after stumbling around
awhile, the team came toa halt
evidently they were lost. This did
not look at all favorable, SO, hand
ing me the lines, my husband got
out to look for the lost course, tel
ling me to answer every shout, and
thus prevent his getting lost from
the wagon.
After considerable time spent in
walking around, calling constantly
and always receiving an answer,
which tested the capacity of my
lungs, he came back and was com
PEELED to confess that We were on a
wide prairie, twenty miles from tim
Der and any habitation save the one
We were seeking, and lost. Ispoke
Of the sudden change i'll the wind,
and asked if it was common oc-
cureilce. He said it was, except
in case of severe storms like the
present one. Suddenly a thought
presented itself, and STOPPING he
commenced feeling aronnd on the
ground, and announced that the
wind had not changed, but that We
had turned around and were going
back towards Nebraska City.
Strange as it seemed, yet it was
nevertheless true, as was shown by
the little drifts of snow around the
weeds and other obstacles.
Turning around again with the
wind almost directly behind us, we
started anew, and were soon reward
ed by coming again to the friendly
telegraph poles. We now hoped
our troubles were over, and that
our stopping place for the night
would soon be reached. That such
was not destined to be the case, the
reader will soon see.
Three miles had been traverscd
when suddenly, withouta moments
notice, we were precipitated over o
cliff into a snow bank, some six feet
below the horses, wagon and horses
badly mixed up. With extreme
difficulty we extricated ourselves
from the debris, but only to find
that one of our horses was. SO
badly injured as to be unable to
proceed farther. Now we were in
. predictment, when, oh joy, a light
was seen in the distance, and we
knew that help was rot far distant.
As the snow was too deep to allow
Of my walking, the plan aAsEor me
to remain with the wagonwhile my
husband went for help, Itelt some
miFgivings about conceding to this
plan, but there seemed to be no
other feasible one; 50, reluctantly
consenting, my husband mounted
the uninjurcd horse and was soon
out Of sight, while l was left alone
in q wide prairie, at night, in a
terrible storm. l said alone, but |
soon found | was not, tor my atten-
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