Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-06
A Suow.s,orn IN Nebraska.

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We pitched our tents carelessly, intending 20
for our expectations! During the night q
strong wind set In from the northwest, and,
about q. m. 1t began to snow. None of us
blaska, and our guide did not suspect anything
serious, for the ''oldest inhabitant" could not
recollect blizzard In october, and it was now
and the drivers believed, that the storms would
cease at IL M, and we, OF course, trusted to
their Judgment. But. instead, the storm grew
flereer, the snow fell more rapidly, and the
northwest gale increased In fury. Before night
so much snow had fallen that II II had lain as
II fell 1t would have been at least one foot deep,
but now 1t has been piled into drifts so that
our poor mules stood with their feet nearly as
high as the wagon tops, and the stove and fur
nlture In our COOKS tent were completely hid
den from view.
We had two light canvas tents, In each OF
Which slept four men, with just blankets
enough to keep them comfoI table In ordinary
weather. But now we must provide for the
guide, two drivers and porte, who had usu-
ally slept In the wagons, and as they were
but SHINY provided with clothing, we must
share our stock with them. SO into the larger
tent we took them. There was but little sleep
In the tent that night, for the cold was intense,
and the wind was SO terrible in its effects that
We feared every moment the larger tent would
fall, though we had strengthened 1t by poles
and cords in every conceivable way. With the
morning light 1t seemed as If all the spirits OF
the air were let loose, and all day long The
storm roared with everincreasfng fury: The
snow had so beaten In that when we awoke we
found ourselves buried beneath 1t, and now we
were obliged to gather all our bedding into the
through. No man could long endure the storm
outside. and we stood huddled together from
morning till night, stamping our feet to keep
from suffering. Even then We could not keep
comfortable. For hours together we stood with
our backs braced against the tent to keep 1t
from giving way under the great weight OF the
snow and the terrific force OF the gale. l know
of no language which can be used to convey to
sny person Inexperienced In such time any
adequate conception of the fury of the storm.
During the second day we succeeded In digging
our little stove out OF the snow. drift and, set
ting it at the entrance to our tent. we managed
to Keep little fire through the rest OF the day
and the night. But our store Of wood was very
SMALL and there was no more to be
had within we knew not how many miles. The
other tents company had no stove and no fire.
During the second night OF the storm 1t was i'm
possible that all should sleep at once, even If
they could sleep despite the cold for what with
the stove on one side, and all our provisions.
brought In from the wagons On the other, there
was not room for all to lie down. Besides it
was necessary TO keep the fire going, lest we
might all perish together: So we stood bending
over the stove all night. two at time, while
the others tried to sleep. 1t was an awful night.
To add TO our anxiety, the guide and drivers
declared that the horses and mules were likely
to perish: They were ptttfll sight, indeed.
Two OF them had no blankets and the others
were little better Off At times it was difficult
to conceive that the creatures before US were
horses, so literally covered were they with a
coating OF ice. After two days and two nights
the storm ceaSe1.
1t was row Sunday morning We knew not
where we were and we doubted Ii the guide
had more definite knowledge than We. Every
man was desperate. Some declared 1t danger
Gus to attempt to move through the snow, and
that cur only safe course was to remain, and, Ia
case of necessity, use the wagons for fuel and
the horses for food Others declared their pur-
pose to move at all hazards and without delay.
Finally we determined to move. We threw
away all luggage that could be dispensed with,
and in grim silence started in che direction
which we thought would bring us to the nearest
hut. 1t was difficult travelling through the
drifted snow, and 1t was bitterly cold. But all
day long we pushed on, never stopping to feed a
horse. breaFtng through the drifts with our
ponies so that the teams Could follow, till about
p M, when We came in sight of hay stacks, In
the vicinity OF which we knew there must be a
ranchmans hut. l never saw happier set of
men than were these when 1t became certain
that what we saw were hay stacks, and not the
terrible sand hills which had SO often deceived
us duh ng the day. Grave men, merchants Of
Worcester, swung their hats alOft and shouted
FOR 10Y, IL had been march for life.