Smyrna times., 1882-01-25
Warmth in a Snow Bank,
HOW COLORADO MAN WAS KEPT FROM
FREEZING To DEATH

Ihere IS an old story eXtant that if one
VIII cover themselves entirely up with
snow they cannot freeze to death, but pro-
tected from the outer air the warmth of
tAe Dody VIII be sufficient to sustain the
vital spark. There is also another suDer-
stltlon to the effect that if one were TO
meet bear and looking the shaggy mon
Ster straight in the eye, walk MP to him
ne will turn tail and run. Both experi-
mentS are of a somewhat dangerous rs
well as disagreeable character. a fact
winch doubtless accounts for their not
being tried and tested by the general pub
lie. That there is at least sufficient latent
neat IN snow to prevent death from freez-
ing while entirely surrounded by it. Frank
White of this city, who returned a dav or
two ago from long trip into the Indian
country, IS willing to testify. In the
course of his homeward journey Mr.. White
had an experience, which all the mineral
wealth Of Leadville could not tempt him
10 repeat. 1t was on the Grand river.
where the snow has recently fallen to a
very great depth. The weather was some
what murky when he started to return
but he relied upon u tOleIable good prairie.
and that unknOw quantity termed GOOD
luck to get back before the snow fell in
any very large quantities. In both of
these he was sadly deceived, as the freeZ-
ing lakes which began to fall on the
second day out soon Obliterated everything
save the most bold and readily recognized
landmarks. On the fourth day he was
lost IN the storm and at last found shelter
Ia a little clump of cottonwood trees. the
thickness OF whose branches in a measure
protected the ground The night had
/ turned 81, II
hls dlsmay he found that in his tramn his
match-safe had fallen from his pocket and
and was not to be found For an instant
It seemed as though nothing but frozen
death awaited him, for he knew we'll that
to spend the night where he stood or even
to larry there motionless any great length
OF time would surely be fatal
Already the colored lights, that are n
sure tOrerunner Of death by freezing, began
to flicker beyond his eyes, and he felt that
he must take desperate chances for exist
encc. 1t was then that it occurred to him
that he had somewhere heard of the latent
Neat IN snow, and the last resort of freeZin"
men. lie did not stop long for delibera-
ton, but began, with benumbcd fingers,
10 burroW III the huge white bank ahead
OF nm. In few moments he had exca-
| waited 4 hole Of considerable size and
drawing his blankets tightly around him.
ne crept IN. After Il time his body began
to grow more comfortable and his hands
regain their sense of feeling. Then he
grew sleepy, but as yet dared not close
his eyes, fearing that it was the stupor of
freezing that he felt. At last. without
Knowing it, he fell asleep and did not
awaken until early this morning. He
mad passed as comparable a night as if he
had had roof above his head. and save
for his trost-bitten tinger-tips, which had
been exposed, he was uniniured bv his
night in the snow. He resumed the tramp
early i'll the morning and toward the close
OF the afternoon was much relieved to
| strike camp of surveyors, by whom he
was most Hospitality treated and given
directions tor completing his Journey. lie
arrived here after two more days on the
road, and tells the story with considerable
satlSlactlon. lie says, however, that in
all his experience in the mountains he
never knew of anything quite as dreadful
as the few moments that he imagined he
was freezng, but was really only falling
INTO peaceful slumber. He saws that ali
the sins and peccadillOs of his life passed
IN sombre succession before his drowsv
eyes, and he never before realized what n
trighttlIl sinner he had been. Since he
has arrived in this city it has been found
necessary to amputate the first Joint of the
index finger on his left hand, as it was
quite dead from the effects Of the frostbite
and it was feared that trouble might ex-
tend to the rest of the hand. Otherwise.
however, he is as sound as the proverbiai
dollar.-LeddCiUe Chronicle.