The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-11-27
Terrible Experience Of a Colorado
Mining Party In . Snow Storm.

Mining fSruy III SuV" CtVIm'
A CORRESPONDENT OF the St. Louis
Globe Democrat writes from Animas
City, Colo, under date Of Oct. Il:
A party of miners have just arrived
from the Needle Mountain. The story
of their escape from the snow blockade,
caused by the recent great storm, may
be of interest.
Chicago, Philadelphia, New York
and other Eastern cities have had repre-
sentatives in the Needles, rich mining
camp, about thirty-tive miles south Of
this place, during the past summer, and
early in October most of the men had
completed their work for the season,
and were preparing to leave the noun.
tains. On the 18th inst. 4 snowstorm Of
unusual violence burst upon this section
for three days, held the miners prison.
ers in their cabins and tents, while their
horses stood shivcring and unfed, ex-
posed to the full fury OF the pitilcss
storm. On the morning of the 18th, J.
J. Heffernan, Robert Dickey, J. ID. Pat
terson, Thos. f. Barrett, Thomas Bar
rett, George Frost, A. II. Patterson, J.
+. Doherty and George llichins, who
occupied a cabin in Hcffernan Gulcll,
near the head of the east fork of the
Florida, determined on an effort to es-
cape, in order to save their horses and
burros, rs we'll as those Of their friends
who were further up the gulch, and
others in wilkins Gulch, about two
miles and u half away and separated
from them by high ridge, the stock
having all been gathered at the lower
camp before the storm commenced.
Leaving Thomas Brown, who was I'M
able to move On account of rheumatism,
in the cabin, with Thomas Clark to wait
upon him, both well supplied with wooo
and food for $50 days, these nine reso-
lutte men plunged into the snow, which
had already fallen to a depth of four
and half feet, and had in many places
driftcd to a much greater depth. Armed
with shovels and axes, and provided
with one pair of blankets to each man
and with food for six days, they, by al
most supcrhllman efforts, advanced
about u mile before ightfall. The snow
was shoveled away for camp, a fire
lighted and supper cooked. Then tired
nature commenced its battle with the
elements for the rest and sleep so greatly
needed. The morning of the 18th
dawned at last upon the weary watchers,
and after gathering their animals that
had wandered to some distance from
the camp during the night, and partak-
ing of hasty breakfast, their labors
We're resumed, and another day of un-
ceasiny toll added another mile to their
advance down the mountain. During
this days work they had found it neces.
sary to leave their blankets, overcoats,
saddles and a part of their supply of
food behind, so that the second night
was passed more miserably than the
first, though the storm had cleared dur.
ing the day, leaving them only the cold
winds to contend against. BY building
a rousing fire upon one side of their
camping ground, and allowing it to burn
until the ground became heated, and
then removing it to another place, then
covering the hot embers with boughs of
the spruce, they made bed upon which
they could, by turns, secure few mo-
ments' sleep. On the third day their
advance was more rapid, as the snow
was no more than from two to three
feet deep in the lower altitude of the
mountain, which is very steep, and when
night again overlook them they had
made distance of eleven miles. A new
difficulty had, however, overtaken them.
The dazzling rays of the sun shining
upon the spotless white of the snow had
nearly blinded several of the party, and
nearly all the labor of breaking the trail
had fallen upon those who had escaped
the painful atlliction. Two of the bur-
ros had been lost in the deep drifts, and
the horses had become so weak as to be
scarcely able to walk. The less hopeful
of the party urged the necessity Of kill
ing the worse than useless animals, that
they might be saved the trouble of keep.
ing them in the train, but the more res.
olute determined to save their dumb
friends, and the bread they sorely needed
for their own sustenance was cheerfully
divided with the starving brutes. The
animals were kept alive until the fifth
day Of the perilous journey, when they
reached a point where they could paw
away the snow-then not more than a
foot deep-and feed upon the luxuriant
grass beneath. Another night OF pain
full unrest was passed in weary watch.
ing, and the fourth days journey was
taken up with courage undated, but
with steps grown weary by constant tot
and almost fetal absence of sleep
About the same distance was made AZ
on the third day. The fifth day brought
them to within few miles of the settle
ment on the Florida, and there they
were overtaken by another party Of FIVE
who had followed in their trail. On tn.
sixth day, soon after noon, they al
reached Animas City, looking for all tn,
world like party Of shipwrecked mar
liners just rescued from the dangers o
the Arctic regions. There are still ii
the mountains, besides the sick man
Brown, and his companion, the follow
ing persons. Their fate is unknown
Joe Meminger, John Mcintosh -
, Bowman and - Wilson. They wer,
.. entirely without food, and could onl,
have saved Themselves from death by
GOODNESS and sagacity that only the mos
experienced mOuntaineers can be ex
pected to exhibit. They will be rescue'
If it is in the power of man to accom-
: plish it. A. H. Peterson, one of tn
Heffernan party, accompanied by Geo
, Cooper. has already started on his re
, turn. They are provided with snow
shoes and everything necessary for re
: lief. and whatever can be accomplishe'
5 may be expected of this brave and ex
e perienced couple.