Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-01-24


His aims in the present instance
arc definitely laid down, and the
attainment of any one Of them will
in itself richly repay the outlay and
adventure. +
Saved by Dog. -
From the Omaha Bee, Jan. 81
On the 18TH day Of last December
man named Andrew Peters left
his home in Canada and came West
in search of work. Upon arriving
in Omaha, he. proceeded to Plum
Greek, on the lihe of the Union Pa
cific Railroad, and upon reaching
that place he wished to go to the
farm of 4 man living eight miles
from the village. Not being ac-
quainted with the country, he en-
quired the way, and was directed to
go across the creek, and follow
certain line. On the oath day Of
December he started on his short
journey, having but little idea that
in so shorta distance he would stare
death in the face. After proceed
about four miles, he made the
alarming discovery that he had sud-
denly lost his way in the binding,
drifting snow, which had swept
away all traces of the road, and all
the landmarks lupon which he de-
pended, the wind having arisen
after he had set out from Plum
Creek. What to do he did not
know. There he was in the midst
of a dreary waste, with no house or
place of shelter in view, and yet he
knew he was not more than four
miles from his starting place. Then
his wanderings began, he hoping
all the time that he might accident
ally observe some friendly habita-
tion where he could gain shelter
and information. But alas! as each
hour passed, his hopes failed, and
hunger, against which he had not
thought it necessary to provide,
increased, and at the same time he
suffered terribly from the cold.
Each minute seemed to him an hour,
and each hour day, as he contin-
ued his fruitless walk, which he
was obliged to keep up in order to
prevent his freezing to death. Three
days and three nights he thus wan
dred about, without food, without
rest, and with but poor protection
against the bitter cold and the
piercing winds. At last hope,
which is said never to leave the hu-
man breast while lite remains, en-
tirely deserted him, and he laid
downupon the snow and prayed to
God Almighty that help might
come, as he was completely ex-
hausted. He soon sank into in
sensibility, and remained in that
state he don't know how long; but
it couldn't have been any great
length Of time, for he was aroused
from his insensibility by something
that seemed to warm him up, and,
upon opening his eyes, he discov-
cred large Newfoundland dog
licking his face and his hands. In
an instant hope returned to him,
and, gathering all his energies, he
made All effort to get upon his
hands and knees, and succeeded.
The dog then commenced jumping
around him in playful manner,
and set up joyful barking, and
then made short run as if to in
dicatc to Peters that, if he would
follow him, he would lead him to
a place Of safety. Peters began
following the dog, sometimes upon
his hands and knees, and other
times at hobbling gait. After
proceeding half-mile, he discov-
cred, sure enough, farmhouse in
the distance, which he finally
reached. He was taken in by the
farmer and his son, and, briefly
telling his story, he received their
kindest attentions. They pulled
off his boots, and as they did so
portions of the flesh of his feet,
which were frozen, came off with
them. His first and third fingers,
thumb, and palm Of his right hand,
and his left ear were terriblylfrozen.
The farmer and his son gave him
all the assistance in their power;
but there was no doctor at hand,
and consequently they could not do
much.
The farmers son bought Peters
boots, as he had no further use for
them, and then brought him to
Plum Greek, he having determined
to return home. He had but little
money, but with the amount real
lied from the sale of his boots, and
other little sums collected for him,
and with supply of provisions
given him by the inhabitants Of
Plum Greek and the passengers, he
managed to reach this city yester-
dav on the Union Pacific train from
the West, after having suffered un-
told agonies.
On his arrival here his case was
mentioned to Captain Payne, and
he at once furnished him quarters
at tho Emigrant House, where he
now is, but from which he will
probably be taken to Mercy Hospi-
tai, as it is not likely that he can
survive. Peters himself thinks
that he cannot live. His home is
in Canada, not far from Detroit,a ,and
he has a wife and two children, and
also a brother at Grand Junction,
near Detroit. He is entirely PEN
niless, and wishes to 60 to his home
and die there, If die he must.
The story Of his wanderings, his
sufferings from hunger and cold,
his dropping into insensibility, and
his rescue by the dcg-as thrill.
ingly told by himself-was 3 most
interesting narrative, and one that
at times would make the very blood
of the listener run cold. 9a
Slavsry's First Defeat.
Perley, the Washington cores
,>or1o,t oc tho Rnofnu Io,.~nuI