The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-01-22
snow.Bound on the Plains.


WE pitched our tents carelessly, in
.ending to take an early start next morn
ing. But, alas for our expectations
During the night a strong wind set in
from the northwest, and about 4 a. m. ii
began to snow. None of us could judge
we'll of weather indications in Nebraska,
and our guide did not suspect anything
serious, for the oldest inhabitant could
not recollect o blizzard in October, and
it was now only the 18th of the month
The guide thought and the drivers be.
lieved that the storm would cease at II
m. and we, of course, trusted to their
Judgment. But, instead, the storm
grew fercer, the snow fell more rapidly,
and the northwest gale increased in fury.
Before night so much snow had fallen
that if it had lain as it fell it would have
been at least one foot deep, but now ii
had been piled into drifts so that our
mules stood with their feet nearly as
high as the wagon-tops, and the stove
and furniture in our cooks tent were
completely hidden from view.
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 a porter, who had usually
slept in the wagons, and, as 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 il
seemed as if all the 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 little
fire through the 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
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 a pitiable sight, indeed. Two
Of them had no blankets, and the
others were little better off. At times
it was difficult to conceive that the crea-
lures before us were horses, so literally
covered were they with coating of ice
After two days and two nights the
storm ceased.
1t was now Sunday morning. We
knew not where we were, and we doubt
ed if the guide had any more definite
knowledge than we. Every man was
desperate. Some declared it dangerous
to attempt to move through the snow,
and that our only safe course was to re,
main, and, in case of necessity, use the
wagons for fuel and the horses for food
Others declared their purpose to move
at all hazards, and without delay. Final.
Iy we determined to move. We threw
away all lugguge that could be dispensed
with, and in grim silence started in the
direction which we thought would bring
us to the nearest hut. 1t was difficult
travelling through the drifted snow, and
it was bitterly cold But all day long
we pushed on, never stopping to feed q
horse, breaking through the drifts with
our ponies so that the teams could fol.
low, till about 5 p. M, when we came
in sight of haystacks, in the vicinity Of
which we knew there must be ranch.
mans hut. I never say happier sci
of men than were these when it became
certain that what we saw were hay.
stacks, and not the terrible sand-hills
which had so often deceived us during
the day. Grave men, merchants Of
Worcester, swung their hats aloft and
shouted for joy. 1t had been march
for life.-Cor. Worcester (MaSs.) Spy.