Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-01-13

during the nli,nt u strOng vino s0t IN
frum the northwest, aud about q. m. it
began to snow. None Of rs could judge
well of weather indications In Nebraska.
and our guide did not suspect anythinG
serious, for the oldest inhabitant could
not recollect blizzard In October, and
| Il was now only the 18th of the month.
lieved that the storm would cease at -
m. and we, Of course, trusted 70 their
Judgment. But, instead, the storm
grew fiercer, the snow fell more rapidly,
and the northwest gale increased In fury.
Before night so much snow had fallen
that II il had lain as Il fell IL would have
been at least one foot deep, but now Il
had been piled into drifts 50 that our
mules stood with their feet nearly -
high as the wagon-tops, and the stove
and furniture In our cooks tent were
completely hidden from view. b.
The night shut in upon us gloomy and
awful. We had two light canvas tents,
in each of which slept four men, with
just blankets enough to keep them COM
Portable in ordinary weather. But now
we must provide for the guide, two
drivers, and porter, who had usually
slept in the wagons, and, rs they were
but slimly provided with clothing, We
must share our stock with 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
it by poles and cords in every conceiva-
BILE way. With the morning light it
seemed as If all tho spirits OF the air were
let loose, and all day long the storm
roared with ever-increasing fury. The
snow had so beaten in that when we
awoke we were obliged to gather all oar
bedding into the middle Of the tent to
keep it from being wet through. No
man could long endure the storm out
side, 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 it from giving way
under the great weight of the
snow and the terrible force of the gale.
know of no language which can be
used to convey to any person inexperi-
enced in such time any adequate con-
ception of the fury of the storm. Dur
ing the second day we succeeded in dig
cling our little stove out Of the snow
drift, and setting it at the entrance Of
our tent, we managed to keep a little
fire through tho rest Of the day and
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 it was impossible that all
Il IL "a
sleep despite the cold, for what with the
brought in from the wagons ON the
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 ct o time, !,
while the others tried to sleep. 1t was
an awful night. To add TO our anxiety,
the guide and drivers declared that tho.
horses and mules were likely to perish.
They were pitiable sight, indeed. Two
Of them had no blankets, and the
others were little better on. At times
It was difficult to conceive that the crea-
lures before as were horses, 30 literally
covered were they with coating Of Toe.
After two days and two nights the
storm ceased. .t.
It was now Sunday morning. We
Knew not where we were, and We doubt
ID If the guide had any more definite
than we. Every man was
desperate. Some declared Il dangerous
o attempt to move through the snow,
Ind that our only safe course was 10 re-
main, and, in case of necessity, use the
wagons for fuel and the horses for food.
others declared their purpose TO move
It all hazards, and without delay. Final
y we determined to move. We threw d,
way all lugguge that could be dispensed n NJ
With, and in grim silence started In the
Erection which we thought would bring
IS to the nearest hut. Il was dif1cuff
travelling through the drifted snow, and
! was bitterly cold. But all day long
We pushed on, never stopping to feed 8 -,
Iorso, breaking through the drifts with
ur ponies so that the teams could fol-
ow, till about p. m, when we came
n sight of haystacks, In the vicinity Of
which we knew there must be q ranch. o
mans hut. I never say . happier set
4 men than were these when It became
ertain that what we saw were hsy. -
tacks, and not the terrible sand-hifls g
vhich had 90 often deceived AZ durina
be day. Grave men, merchants Oh
Worcester, swung their hats Aloft and
houted for Joy. It had been march
Or life.-COr. Worcester (Mass. Spy.