The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-16

A HAn-SToRM on THE PRAIRIE-AN Incl
DENT OF THE YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION
The following interesting letter from the
Yellowstone expedition brings the latest
information that has been published of the
movements of the party and their perils and
adventures:
In CANT, MUD CREEK, July %, 1878.
We have only made about fifty or sixty
miles of line. and are delayed here by some
broken wagons. Clusters cavalry joined us
last night. They present a fine appearance
on the march, and the 700 look like 10000.
We had terrific hal-storm three days
since that came near costing many lives and
putting a stop to the whole expedition. We
were returning from work in the evening
when thunderstorm came up, and u.
and myself, who were together, joined the
cavalry escort. The storm became more vlo-
lent still, and it grew as dark almost as night.
The hail began to fall in larger and larger
stones, and to sting considerably. The horses
got very FESTIVE under their peltlng, and
some of them unmanageable. Suddenly
three vivid flashes of lightning struck the
earth near us, and the most terrific
hail.storm / ever witnessed fell upon us.
One of the soldiers, who had probably wit
messed something of the kind before, cried
out. "a bail-storm on the prairies! Go for
the timber like h-l!" And in an instant
the whole troop were going down hill i'll Il
full run, The hull now had attained the
size of large marbles. and every one that
struck raised lump on the flesh. Many OF
lis were thrown, and some succeeded III stop
ming their horses, dismounted, and tried 10
hold them. had succeeded in getting OH
nv horse, and was struggling with him, for
he was frantic with pain, when two rlderless
steeds rushed by, and with Il jerk he threw
me headiong on the ground, wrenched inc
bride from me. and disappeared in the dense
mist. The pelting Of the storm was terrible,
and I rushed for shelter towards little
patch OF brush, and crawled into it to find two
cavalry soldiers already there. But by get
ting my hat tight upon my head protected
it from all but the sliding stones, and shielded
my body by stretching coat on my arm
aud holding that up high. got some severe
welts on the elbow though, that left black
and blue marks. You may judge of the
force Of the falling stones when tell you
that hats of felt were torn literally to rags,
aud some stones even penetrated the brims
of thick straw hats. A silver cup thick)
which was exposed to the storm, was i'll
denied as if by falling on the floor.
| think that the heavy hail must have
lasted ten minutes. E. was exposed to it
are-headed, as he had lost his hat and held
on to his horse during most of the storm,
but had finally to let him go. E.'s head was
completely covered with bruises as big as
the end of ones finger, and his back and
shoulders looked as if some one had been
beating him with a small hammer. Our
train was on the march when the storm came
on, and you may imagine the result. The
frantic animals rushed into the deep ravines,
smashing our wagons almost to tooth-picks,
and, breaking from their harness, scattered
themselves over the face of the country. We
managed to collect all the animals though,
and have patched up enough wagons to take
ms on. Colonel Stanley, with the main out
tit. eseaped the storm, and thought the Tel
lowstone expedition would have had to re-
turn. a.,
have killed three antelopes with the eN-
nlosiye bullet. They don't 60 through, but
XIII like stroke of lightning: shot one
antelope in the back with leaden bullet
not loaded, and it made a fearful wound.
The other two shot yesterday, returning
to camp. and struck them in the shoulder.
Their Interiors were badly shattered by the
explosion, and the ragged ball ranging oack-
ward expended its force on the yitals Oh the
animals. wish all my ammunition were OF
this character. NJ. M.