Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-02-22
FROZEN TO DEATH.
Fearful Suffering Of an Immi z rn mt
Family-Thrcc Children Perish with
Cold.

One of the saddest cases we ever
heard of came to our notice yesterday,
and We give it to our readers as it was
given to us. About five weeks since
Mr. Henry Burdette anti family stalte
from a small town in the lower part of
Illinois to come to this state, where q
brother of Mr.. Burdette had already
pre-empted homestead. The family
were in destitute circumstance, possess
ing only the outfit with which thev
started, and barely clothing enough to
cover their bodies and keep them worm
IN good weather: 1t seems that neither
he nor his wife had any idea of the diff
ticulties they must encounter in trip
such as they had undertaken in mid
winter, else, as Mr.. Burdette expressed
it, they would have fought poverty at
home till spring and then started.
Everything went we'll till they got upon
the prairies of Iowa, when their money
gave out, and they were forced to rely
upon the charities of the citizens of
that state, who lived along the route
they had taken. The extreme cold
weather of q couple of weeks ago forced
them to stop and seek shelter in the
house of sympathizing farmer, and
though they were advised to remain
until the weather had moderated, they
concluded to 60 on.
That night terrible storm arose, and
SO binding was the storm and so fierce
the wind that the emaciated horses re-
fused to proceed, aud it became neoes-
sary to camp where they were, some
miles from any habitatlon. Besides MIR.
and Mrs. Burdette there were five chill
dren, ranging in age from six months
to eleven years, and there was nothing
to protect them from the cold but q
couple of pairs of blankets and the
wagon cover. The suffering that night
was terrible. By dint of great exer-
tion the children were kept from freez-
ing, though their hands and feet were
frost-titten. The next morning the
storm had not abated, and it was deter
mined that Mr.. Burdette should take
one Of the horses and ride on for food
and clothing, rs the only means to save
the lives of his family. Not
being very well acquainted with
the road, he soon lost himself,
and for hours wandered about, as it
was afterwards ascertained, in circle.
About dark the snow ceased falling,
and taking q new course he turned the
now exhausted horse loose, and started
on foot toward column of smoke he
saw in the distance. After walking an
hour he came to the house of a farmer,
and there procured assistance for his
family. The farmer hitched up his
team, and with a good supply of blank
cts and provision, started with Mr..
Burdette to find the sufferers.
All that night they drove, first in one
aud then in another direction, Mr.. B.
having no distinct idea where he had
left his wagon. The next morning, as
they were about to give up in dispair,
the neighing of horse directed them
to the spot. What terrible sight met
their eyes is best told by Mr.. Burdette
in the following language: my Oldest
boy, my only girl, and the baby lay
under the quilts frozen stiff while my
wife was just succumbing to the
cold. She had given up even
seeing me again, snpposing that I
dren had suffered so from the frost that
for days we did not expect them to
live. The wagon was half full of snow,
though my wife had done everything to
keep it out, even to pinning her apron
against the front. She says that after
I left the children began crying aud
complaining of the cold, and she then
laid down side by side and wrapped
them up in every bit of clothing at
her disposal. The baby went to sleep
directly, but the others slept none un.
til near morning. She found it neces-
sary to rub. her limbs continually, but
exhaustion from continued labor and
want of food ensued, and she laid down
to die" It is very probable that the
little one froze almost Immediately,
and the others during the night.
The whole were put in the sleigh and
driven to the home of the farmer, where
everything was done to make them
comfortable. They remained there a
week, and then started on with full
supply ofprovisions and clothing. The
family arrived here yesterday, and
stopped at the Howard House until
this morning, when they resumed their
journey. Mrs. Burdette is not able to
walk, and the feet of the now Oldest
boy are in a bad condition. While
they were here, DR.. Tenant attended
them, and did all in his power to anne
iorate their sufferings. Jimmy Van
Deniker: the proprietor of the Howard
House, also should be named in this
connection for his noble-heartedness in
placing his house at the disposal of the
family.