Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-03-20

boots underneath my bedding were
frozen stiff. | warmed them little by
rubbing them rapidly in my hands, and
finally forced them on my frosted feet
NV fingers were frozen, too, and, as my
ears were frosted last winter and in the
winter before by the Rocky Mountain
cold, am getting somew hat unanimous,
so to speak. My boots on, | jumped up,
but refused to 60 on, as we searched
in vain for the road, and the
storm still ragged in all its fury, and
we could not see fifty yards into the
storm, nor look at all against it; and so
we all jumped under our bedding again.
The Judge was so cold that he came
and laid down upon my bed, pulling his
robe over him, fairly groaning in his
suffering His hands were white with
cold, and he was warming them in his
mouth, trembling and shivering from
head to foot. AT nine O'Clock he and
Connolly again started, promising, if
they reached the cabin, to send out
guide with food to take me in. This
time they left for certain, and. going to-
ward the mountains, found the road at
last and reached the cabin. An hour
after they had gone, noticing that the
storm had lifted little, took out my
compass in bed, and, getting the course
to Errett's from my notebook, got the
bearing as closely as could. Getting
up quickly, put on my overcoat, but
was unable to button it. 1t was so in
tensely cold that my hands were by that
time powerless, and / started off on a
Il n L.
err l took along my dog, which was
living under the foot of my bed, with
me, but left, as did the others, horses,
mules, bedding and guns.
Faithful dog, mans true friend in dis
tress! He is the same "Dash," a red
Irish setter, that went south with Steele
with Merritt's command TO rescue the
besieged Thoru burgh's command in the
pits ut Mill Creek, and was there re-
cognized during the Indian firing, and
brought back by Captain Lawson to
Fort Steele Finding the direct line to
the cabin was full of snowdrifts that
was too weak to cross, took to the left,
over hills from which the snow had
drifted off-my dog leading me. running
ahead, and then returning As if to hurry
me on. Now and then, where the snow
was soft and very deep, he would
founder helplessly and moan, as he did
during the storm and the long hours of
the night, and then follow behind me.
But, finding was too slow, he would
hurry ahead and then return for me.
Too weak with frosted hands to button
my overcOat-for, as the snow touched
my gloves, it froze-I went on with the
wind; but, when had to partly face it
to turn toward the cabin, so great was
the gale that it blew me down, and
there was no way but to crawl at times.
And so, through the deep snow
and over ridges, l finally
reached the baystack, less than
half a square from the cabin. The
latter could not see, for the air was
thick with drifting snow. l therefore
Law down beside the fence until a lull in
the storm let me discover the house,
which reached as soon as possible, to
the surprise of all inside, for a party
was about to start out to hunt me. Our
stock and bedding were subsequently re-
covered; and, the pack-train not arriv-
ing at camp, left for Fort Steele for
more rations and a new outfit, intending
to return after thawing out fingers and
feet. 1t was the worst night but one
that / have ever spent in the Rocky
Mountains, and the Judge says he
wouldn't pass through another like it
for million dollars"
Hence Horace Greeley's advice
should be modified thusly: $50 West,
Young man; 90 West!"- but not till
the springtime comes, gentle Annie,
or the s.beautiful snow" hath gone.
Your affectionate son,
c. A. H. Nc.