Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1873-02-07
Four Days In a Snow Drift---Terri-
BILE Suffering and Death.

YESTERDAY there arrived in this city by
the Wilmar train, one of the poor suffer
ers by the late terrific storm. This man,
whose name is Charles O'Neil, was taken
to the Sisters Hospital, to undergo the
operations of amputation of both feet and
an arm.
His story, as gathered by Press report
er, is substantially as follows: On the
morning of the terrible Tuesday, party
of five men, Charles O'Neil and his broth
ers John and Stephen, and Mike and
Thomas Holden, started from Beaver
Falls, Renville County, with five loads of
grain for Wilmar market. Wilmar is dis
tant from Beaver Falls about thirty-five
miles of open prairie, twenty of which are
without settler. Quite early in the after
noon it began to snow, but the wind was
light and the party pressed on, anxious to
reach Wilmar with no delay.
When within about eight miles of Will
mar the wind began to increase, and blew
directly in their faces. They viewed the
situation with considerable dismay, and
about half concluded to turn about and
retreat to house about eight miles in the
rear, and fortunate would it have been
had ethey done so. But, about mile
ahead, was the house of Mr.. Meagher,
and the party finally determined to press
on to this refuge.
The storm continued to increase in vio-
lence, however, and the wind hurled the
falling and drifting particles Of ice against
and about them until they were obliged
to turn their faces from the storm and
trust to the instincts of their animals to
keep the right direction. Drifts began to
meet them, and their horses could
scarcely founder through them. 1t was
now too late, and equally too hazardous
to take the back track, and they pushed
on into the bitter hurricane in the hope
of reaching Meagher's. But now their
horses gave out, and became stalled in a
succession of deep drifts. 1t was found
impossible to extricate the sleighs. and
the1only alternative was to build the best
protection their circumstances would al
low. One sleigh-box was set up edge
ways, turned from the wind, and another
was leaned against it to serve as cover
and brace About this insecure and
flimsy shelter sacks of grain were packed,
and inside the five men were crowded,
after having first cut loose the horses.
This was about four o'clock Tuesday, and
OF course they had no food, and but a
meager supply or blankets. The snow,
orlVen across the prairies like stunning
darts OF lightning, was forced through
every creVice, and packed against and
above the little shelter, and in
upon the men, and with such force was it
blown that 1t was packed firm as sheets of
. ice. Tuesday night passed, and Wednes.
: day Mike Holden announced his intention
of seeking Meagher's house. He tried to
persuade the others to accompany him. but
they considered themselves safest where
they were, and declined. Mike started
!, out and scceeded in reaching the house
having both hands frozen on the way
The storm continued so severe that no at
tempt could be made to rescue the others
at that time. They, in the meantime
were suffering all the pangs of cold anC
hunger, and it is quite probable that sew
efal of them became delirious, for whel