The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-03-30
Persisted BY THE STORM.
Return Of Thomas Y. Talbot From II. y.
Orr's Ranch.
He Brings With Him the Body of One
Of the Victims.
Who Proves to be a Citizen Of Battle Creek
Michigan.

Thomas +. Talbot, who was deputiz-
ed by Coroner Goldacker to go to the
Chug Water and hold an inquest over
the bodies of Sylvester Rees and Geo.
p. Burial, returned yesterday evening
with the body of Geo. p. Burial. The
deputy coroner found on his arrival
there that the body of Rees was in such
a state of decomposition that 1t was
not practical to bring him into town.
He vas therefore buried after the in
quest, and the body of Geo. p. Burial
brought to the city and lodged in a
room provided for that purpose at the
court house. In both cases the Jury
found that the parties named came to
their death by exposure in the great
snow storm of the 9Th and 9th inst.
1t seems from the facts and evidence
adduced in the testimony before the
jury, that the victims were hunting for
game near Mr.. II. n. Orr's ranch on the
Chug, about five miles above the stage
and telegraph station when o~vertaken
by the storm. They were provided
with blankets and a tent, but being To-
Gated in a ravine the snow drifted on
the tent to such a depth that 1t gave
away, forcing its inmates to seek other
shelter. 1t then appears that Burial
started up the creek for Mr.. Orr's
ranch, ard got within a short distance
of that place, where he died and was
found on the 26th inst, very near the
creek with one pair of blankets in his
arms and another pair II short distance
from him, while Rees took n different
course and was found one and n half
miles from Orr's camp, on the open
plain, where he laid exposed to the sun
until found OH the 25th inst. 1t was
known at MI. Orr's ranch that these
men were encamped near the creek,
and on the Monday following the storm
Mr.. Orr sent one of his men to see il he
could learn anything concerning them,
but no traces could be found.
On Tuesday Mr.. Orr continued the
search, and found a pony belonging to
the parties standing on n snow bank,
with a lariat about his neck, which had
got fastened and held him fast, while
the snow continued to drift in about
him until only about eighteen inches
space remained between his nose and
the snow. The search was diligently
kept up by Mr.. Orr until Sunday, the
Gath, when the tent was found and dug
out; but no traces of the men could be
seen and not until the 25th did Mr..
Orr's men find Rees, and on the 26th
Burial.
Papers found on the bodies of the de-
ceased show that both parties hail from
Battle Creek, Michigan. Little infor-
nation can be Cleaned concerning the
past career of Rees further than that
he has been in the Black Hills and is an
intimate friend and companion of Bur-
rail-. Papers found on Burrall's person
show that he is an honored member of
the Odd Fellows Lodge, Encampment
No. 90. He was commissioned Depu-
ty Grand Patriarch in the lodge. Every
thing goes to show that he was a man
of considerable ability, and was highly
esteemed by all who knew him. On
the 4th inst. he commenced Il letter to
his "wife and family" giving his loca-
ton, pursuit, etc, but did not finish it.
He also lad on his person pictures sup
posed to be members of his family, and
a very small sun of money. He had
too u receipt from Freund &c Bro, of
this place for ammunition, etc, dated
january 18th, 1873. His family has
been telegraphed to know what dispo-
sition shall be made of the body, but up
to this writing no word has been re-
ceived.