The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-12-14


Story.
W. y. OstrOm, who Is well known
In Denver, having formerly resides
here, started last week with bis wifi
and eight children from 8 ranch In
Pine Grove Gulch, in Jefferson cOun
/ ty, upon which he has lived for the
last few years, for 8 distance Of about
twenty miles to a small park on the
South Platte. where he expected to
spend the winter. Mr.. Ostrom had
previously visited the park, and had
butt house for the prote etion Of his
/ family. He had removed most Of bis
effects, aud last Friday morning start
ed with his family and few articles OF
household furniturs aud wearing ap-
parel. When the travellers were about
three miles from the place where they
intended to stOp, the wagon was over
turned and Mr.. Ostrom was killed by
the accident They had passed over
the toughest portion Of the road, and
about four O'Clock came TO q small
stream over which q man could step
with ease. the teSm was composed
Of 8 pair of mules, and one Of them
shied, throwing the wagon TO one side
and upon an obstruction. The shock
was so great as To overturn the
wagon. The party aboard consisted
Of SIR. Ostrom, his wife and seven
children. Mrs. Ostrom and the chill
dren were thrown or some distance
to one side. Mr.. Ostrom, thinking
they would be hurt, threw himself un-
der the wagon to prevent its falling
upon them. ne was borne to the
ground and was caught squarely un-
der the erOssbtr of the wagon bed.
There was q weight Of fully 1,5O0
pounds upon him, aud Of course he
could not move.
Mrs. OstrOm aad children were
thrown of amid the heavy rocks that
lay around, and all of them were
bruised, but none seriously injured.
She got upon her feet as soon as pos
sible and found her husband in the
condition as described. His face was
very pale, ald the lady was, Of course,
frightened. She hogan to cry, as did
the children also. He was unable to
speak, and he assured her that he was
not greatly hurt. He told her to get
q lever and pry the wagon of him.
Che tried, but could not move 1t, the
weight being far beyond the capacity
OF = strong man. She did everything
In her power, but to no Gvail. He
grew paler and paler, and in less than
i've minutes after the accident Oc-
CURED died.
At this time the oldest sou, who
was driving q COW, came up. He and
ftfd anfhar rnnuhlsa ~
move the load frOn. the body ct the
husband and father. And they we're
compelled to uucOuple the wagon and
drag it off with the mules. No means
would avail anything TO restore life.
There ReTa tue poor woman and her
eight children fifteen miles from hu-
man being in the heart Gf the Rocky
Mountains, and night then upon
them. The oldest of the childre
was but fourteen, and the others were
very small. Right here bears and
mountain lions abound, and an old
hunter told reporter Of the Tribune
that he would consider staying In this
place during night a very hazardous
Undertaking.
But there was no alternative. The
nearest house that could be reached
was fifteen miles back over the same
road-thrOugh the mOuntAins-that
they had travelled during the day.
So, with the dead body of her hus-
band lying in q sheet beside her, and
her children, and the beasts OF the
mountain Wilds to keep her COM
to spend the night
A -
were made as comfortable as possible.
But at this season OF the year it is
very cold in the mountains, and do
what she might, the little ones suf-
fered. She never thought Of her own
comfort, and she and her oldest boy
kept the lonely vigil through an al
most endless and very cold and very
dark night. The mountains rose
thousands Of feet all around them,
but their dark shadows only served to
render the scene more dreary.
At last the morning dawned, and
with the first ray Of light she began
to make preparations for her return.
The wagon was coupled togeth-
er, and the team attached. The
children and the dead body of the
husband were put on the wagon, and
the party began to Ietraee their foot
steps. The body had frozen stiff du-
ring the night. The road was 50 bad
that they did not reach any house I'M
til o'clock Saturday night. Wm.
Fleming's ranch was first reached,
and thu corpse was taken charge Of
by that gentleman. A coffin was i'm
provised, and Mr.. Fleming started
for Denver Sunday with the remains.
He reached this place yesterday
morning, having travelled all Sunday
night and a great part OF the day pre-
vious through the snOw-storm, Mrs
Ostrom followed, and arrived yester-
day, bringing her children with her.
Mr.. OstrOm came from Mobile, Ala,
to Denver in 1869. He was = carpen-
ter, and was q first-class workman.
! He was q man of refined manners,
and very popular. About three years
ago he moved to this ranch, and has
since resided there. On account OF
the grasshOppers he did not prosper,
but left food and clothing fer his fam
lily TO last during the winter. he
was about forty-five years Of age.