The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-10-24


winter with two small ox-sleds to bring
home loads, taking with him a neighbor's
boy. lad of about IL years of age.
They reached the stacks, loaded the sleds.
and, it is supposed, were about to re-
turn, when violent storm came up
what we in the West call a blizzard. It
was impossible to see yard ahead in
any direction. Thinking it would soon
blow over, they dug holes in the stacks
and crept in. But the storm ragged for
nearly three days without abating jot
of its fury. On the morning after their
departure the two oxen were discovered
standing in the barnyard with their har-
ness on, but without the sled. During
the day an effort was made to visit the
stacks, but the relief party became lost
themselves, and found their way back
with difficulty. It was believed, more
ever, that the man and boy would remain
in the stacks until the storm ceased,
which was hourly expected.
On the following day the storm abated
somewhat, and, in the afternoon, a larger
and more determined party set out for
much difficulty, but the man and boy
could not be found The holes which
they had made in the straw, and into
| which they had crept, were plainly visi-
BILE, but all traces of their departure were
hidden under the drifting snow. Search
was made until night closed in, when it
| was discontinued. On the following day
| it was resumed. In the forenoon the
body of the boy was found lying under
| the snow at distance of about eighty
yards from the stack. He was, of course,
frozen stiff. At distance of half mile
the mans coat was picked up, but days
of search revealed no traces of his body.
It was apparent that they had left the
stacks in an effort to find their way home.
But the positions of the boy and coat
were directly opposite to the route which
| they should have taken. In the latter
part of April some half-breeds, wander
ing over the prairie, found the remains
of the man sitting at the foot of a tree
on the bank of small stream, about six
miles distant from the stack. The body
was entirely destitute of clothing, save a
pair of trousers. The man, without
doubt, had become insane, and had cast
off his garments as he wandered on. His
shoes, hat and shirt were afterward found
between the tree and the stacks. Throw
ing away their clothing is a common act
with the lost, and always betrays in
sanity.
A man may easily become lost on a
prairie trail, or even broad highway on
the plains, if he has no other landmark
to go by. In the old days of overland
travel to California it frequently hap
pened that parties who had camped over
night at short distance from the road
took the back track in the morning, un-
der the firm belief that it was the right
one.
It is astonishing how quick men will
get lost on prairie. They seem hardly
to have time to get out of sight. Some
Two young Canadians went up the Red
river valley, few summers since, boae.d
for Fort Garry. They had joined in the
purchase of pony and rickety old cart
at Fargo, and journeyed together. One
evening about dusk they went into camp
on the banks of Goose river. After sup
per one of them started off on the prairie
to look after the pony, which had been
hobbled and turned loose. He failed to
return. The pony came in all right In
the morning, but the man has not been
seen to this day. It is probable that
when he left the camp he went in west
erly direction. If he did SO he might
walk to the Rocky Mountains without
seeing human being.
As said, people disappear suddenly
on the prairies and are never heard OF
more. But it occasionally happens that
people are found also, or, rather, their
remains are. The most singular find OF
this kind coming to my knowledge was
that of two half-breeds who had been
hunting buffalo in the winter. They had
wandered far out upon the plains in
search of game, and, being laden heavily
with meat and hides, night overlook them
before they were able to regain the shell
ter of the timber. Toprotect themselves
from the cold they lay down in the snow
side by side and wrapped fresh buffalo
hide tightly around them, with the green
or feshy side out. While they slept the
overlapping sides and ends of the hide
froze fast and imprisoned them like {
wise. Tightly wrapped as they were they
| could not extricate themselves, and SC
died of starvation. When found the two
skeletons, shrouded in the stiffened ani
half-decaying parchment, showed thu
, manner Of their death.-N. Y. San.