Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-02-19

very angry, and said he would not send
me if be did not know ! could get to
the lake safely. started out on the |
morning of the 10th with their best
horse, but had not Travelled ten miles
before the animal was unable to carry
me. and l had FIVE miles further to 60
before could reach some hay-stacks on
the prairie. By considerable hard work
led the horse to the stacks after dark.
] was entirely worn out, and so took my
saddle-b blankets and lay down to rest,
but fell asleep and did not awaken
until daylight. started ont again,
but only succeeded in travelling one
mile that day, as the snow was so deep
(about three feet on the leveD that it
was impossible for horse to travel. ]
was then in canon, and found wood,
80 built fire, and was SO tired that ]
slept all night again and froze my feet
still more, (but forgot to say that !
froze my feet the first night ut the hay
stack dare not take off my boots to
look at my feet for fear ! could not get
them Oh again. ! had discovered by
this time that my horse was good for
nothing, so started him back to the
hay and started on foot, calculating to
make the lake by night, which was 10
miles further on. The lake was frozen,
so cut across it to shorten the distance;
but | soon found my mistake, for when
started On it broke through, and got
out only by hard scrambling, and was
then on the ice wet and freezing. There
was about two feet of soft snow, and |
could hardly walk. The station was on
the other side of the lake, and by swing
ing my cap attracted the stock-tend-
ers attention; but none to soon, for |
then fell down exhausted, unable to
take another step. He carried and
pushed me in on snow-shoes, and took
good care of me.
had been all this time--three days
and two nights-without nouthfal OF
food or water, and had eaten snow until
my throat was so raw that was unable
to eat full meal for q number Of days,
used arnica on my feet, but the boys
thought | would lose my toes, If not my
y whole foot, if didn't get down here
where | could get medical advice. Hear
:. ing that company team was eighteen
= miles this side of there with supplies fol
. here, ] concluded to start out for it IL
company with two mail-carriers. This
y eighteen miles had to be made on snow
y shoes; but mustered up courage enough
, to start out. No one can imagine wha
| suffered on that trip. My feet were 81
sore and raw that | could hardly lif
l. them; but we made the trip at last
y some time after dark. The following
morning | was unable to walk q step
% and was carried around and started TO
~ this place.
A That day, on the prairie,a terrific snow
storm came up, the wind being i'll OIL
-" faces. We had to make eight miles be
y fore dark, and it was then shutdown
" We knew that unless we did make tn
IL station before dark, the chances wer
that we would never get there. In
= sleighing was bad on account of ther
being SO many rocks; but | took tn
whip and away we went at breaknec
-" speed. We struck rock and broke on
~ runner in q number of places. Fort1
us nately, we happened to have sixty fec
90 of rope with MS, with which we tied u
=" the runner, and away we went agaIl
n' and arrived at the station at dark.
'' froze again on that trip my hands, fe'
and chin. My eyes were frozen sh1
"s most all the time during our fast drivin
III against the binding snow. We had
\" hard time coming the balance Of IL
0' way, but not so hard as that which
% have mentioned. was in bed in II
ho wagon the last 80 miles.
no The doctor does not know yet bt
that will lose my big toe on the rgl
M foot, but pronounces the rest of my to-
ID" and my fingers safe. The place whe
no | was on foot is 100 miles from here, al
''s no persons live there except the men
oo mail stations, which are Is miles apar
iH except at that one place, and it is tlli
"a tymile station.