The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-30

year 1sSLl
1t vas now in the latter part Of Dscem
Der and we were in a bad condition.
COON many men sick with scurvy, ration
short, wood scarce, mules and ponies ireez
ing to death every night, and the weathe
so intensely cold that it was next to i'm
possible to get to the mountains and bacI
alive.
We awoke one morning and found sew
eral horses piled up in u door, all stiff
The night had been the coolest Of the win
ter, and the poor freezing brutes hat
sought the eastern side Of the buildings 70
protection from the cold winds of the North
west.
"God pity the poor men who have to e,
to the mountains this morning" said on
kind hearted Captain Donehooa as he open
ed the door and saw the drifting snow ant
felt the frost sting his smooth shaved face
~ would rather see the wagons burned
Tor fuel than to see men risk their lives gu
in such weather as this" he continued
But the woodpile was low and OF course vi
must have fires.
He had scarcely done speaking when ar
order for a Sergeant and several men cam
from headquarters, and an hour later Q
squad Of fifteen men with shovelsand axe.
were huddled around the cook.stove, in the
adjutants shanty awaiting the teamsters.
But four wagons could be rugged up this
morning, and the teams which consisted oil
mules and horses presented a sorry aspect
indeed.
We were wrapped in all our heavy cloth.
ing OF wool, robes and skins, and none oil
us doubted, after q brisk walk ola mile,
but that we would make the trip all right.
As we passed over the road, we hastily
shoveled the drifts to one side to make the
way passable for the wagons, and by II
o'clock we had reached the mountains a
distance OF seven miles from camp, where
we soon had warm fires burning, around
which we sat down to rest until the teams
came up. None OF us knew how bard We
worked, until after resting for a while, and
attempting to rise we found Ourselves stiff
and sore, and scarcely able to walk.
But no time was 10 be lost and we went
at it and soon had our wagons loaded and
were On our way to the camp. My boots
were nearly worn out and the buffalo over.
shoes and leggins which l had on were not
much better. | did not know, that while
standing around that fire, the snow had
melted and soaked through and was alb.
sorbed by my heavy wooden socks and not
until after walking and running a mile or
so did | realize that my feet were fast freez.
ing.
II such a thing was possible, the cold
had Increased, and now we were compelled
to face the North wind, and drifting snow
which swept off the bluffs in binding
showers completely hiding US from each
other. The road from the mountain follow.
ed a canyon to the Platte Valley in North
erly direction, and then up the valley to the
west.
While descending thiscanyon, a thought
occurred to me that q mile might be saved
by taking a near cut across the low bluffs.
No quicker thoughtof than | turned from
the road and struck out On my " hook,
thinking that | could surprise the boys by
being in camp when they arrived.
This came near being a short cut to the
other world. | had gone but u short dis.
lance when l found myself struggling waist
deep in a snow bank. But l fought my
way through, and after a few hundred
yards Of good walking, l again broke
through the thick crust, and this time ]
began 10 realize that my situation was a
critical one. w
A long time l struggled, occasionally
stopping to rest, then again renewed my
efforts with that desperation which the
thought OF death inspires, and finally, al
most exhausted, l again stood on solid
footing.
Looking away down in the valley could
see the four wagons with my comrades
moving slowly along, and q few miles be-
yond them the little blockhouse with
smoke curling up from its chimney. And
such feelings that Crept over me. Would
| ever again sec my comrades thoreP Why
did not follow those wagons? Then the
thought OF my home in the East, and the
loved ones there, passed before my mind;
! wondered il they would ever know my
late. Then | lifted my heart 10 God and
pleaded for deliverance--the first prayer ]
had uttered for years, and l felt at once
that tne God whom my mother had wor'
shipped, the God whose cause my yenera'
Bile father had all OF his life proclaimed
would certainly hear my prayer, and
seemed to take new courage.
! had tesn rushing rapidly along keep.
ing pace with my thoughts. The singing
sensation in my feet had ceased and there
was n%osuttering there.
I now came upon a bluff overlooking the
road scarcely a half mile away, and the
bluckhouse was in plain sight, but two
two miles distant. saw the wagons hal
there, and the men enter the doors Of theil
comfortable quarters. l now concluded Il
rest for a moment, and sank down into
soft pile OF snow. The sensation that pass
ed over me here was delightful. meyer
had been so comfortable before in all my
life. Everything was happiness. Visionl
and beautiful scenes fitted before my minG
in rapid succession. saw my father
mother. sisters, and brothers, all at home
Ekneeling around the family altar. How
long l sat here ! do not know, but | wal
suddenly aroused by something, ! could
not tell what. started and looked wildly
around, evidently expecting to see some
one standing over me, for | thought had
heard a voice. All at once the awful fact
dawned upon me. | was freezing to death
With q mighty effort arose and attempt
ed to walk. A chill shotthrOugh my frame
like a flash and came near falling to the
ground. But | was now thoroughly awake
70 my dreadful condition, and began to
jump and attempt to ran, aud, in my des
pefation | threw my arms about my body,
t now came to a spot where the snow hal
entirely driited Of, leaving the ground
clear. I stopped here, and was surprised
at the feeling caused by my feet coming in
contact with the solid ground. There vas
no ~perceptible feeling in my feet at all,
From my knees Gown, both legs and feet
seemed 10 be surplus, dead weights, and
as they struck the ground they came down
ike wooden feet and legs. l now fully re-
alissd my condition and knew that l was
badly frozen, and that everything depend
ed on nay own exertIon. | walked, rolled,
and tumbled down tho hill, and when
reached the road, | found that ] was be-
coming dcathly sick.
/ was Eoon met by some men who hat