Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-01-06
mandamus to compel ths Mayor to grant
the license.


FEARFUL sGHYE9ISGs - A CAfn.
oLIC PRIEST.
In the annals of Sc. Bonifaoe there i
no moro interesting or remark sble
story than that of Rev. Father Cotton
In the winter of 1850, the reverend Fa-
ther was dispatched on q mission "a
Pembina- He started on horseback
The weather was intensely cold. and
there was nowhere to find shelter in the
sparscly settled country of that day. A
ne drew near to the end of his journey
ne felt that he vas sucoumbinQ to the
cold. But notwithstanding that he fell
his legs and feet freezing, be pushed on
as quickly as his benumbed horse would
permit him. When within three OF
four miles Of Pembina his horse fell
dead on the roadside. To add to the
Fathers other miaf0rtunee, q severe
snow storm came on. Wrapping him.
self mp as we'll as he could in his cloak,
he crawled close to the dead animal in
order to profit by any warmth il might
contain. For five days he lay Ibeeide
the beast, covered with snoW, and satis-
flying the pangs of hunger by such pie
ces of flesh as he could cut from the
frozen carcass with his p0oket-knife
On the fifth day he gave up all hopes Of
succOr, and vas about resigning himself
to his fate, when he saw in the distance
two horsemen riding over the plains.
Summoning all his remaining strength
he called out to them, and was f0rtu-
nate in attracting their attention. They
returned to where he lay, and a. soon q
they learned the circumstances of the
case, one rode with all speed to Penn
bina, while the other stayed with the
priest. Finally, conveyance was pro-
cured, and the half-frOzen man was
taken to Pembina, which he reached
ma DEsPKRATE PLIGHT.
In order to save his life it was resolved
to amputate the frozen limbs. Surgery
in the Northwest twenty years ago was
Of very rude character, and although
the operation in the reverend Fathers
case was performed with as much care
as possible, it would have been called in
these days a bungiinR job. Father
Cotton was removed to st. Boniface
shortly afterwards, and was admitted to
Bishop Tache's house. On the trip the
bandages on the limbs became disar-
ranged. and he was apparently bleeding
to death. On December q, 1850, prepa-
rations were actually being made FOR
the funeral. When candles for use at
the service for the dead we're sought
for, it was found that the supply had
run out, and q fire was Lit in the Bish-
ops kitchen, the house then being at
tached to the Cathedral, and pot of
grease put upon the stove with which to
make the candles. A quantity OF the
grease happened to boil over, setting
fire to the building. All efforts to ex-
tinRuish the flames proved unavailing,
and the occupants Of the house turned
their attention to saving such effects as
they could. Father Gioffon lay upon
the mattress, which was stepped in
blood from the bleeding limb. The
flames made rapid progress, and he was
in danger of
BEING BURNED TO DEATH.
The priests at once set about removing
him from the burning building. He
objected at frst, saying that he might
as we'll be burned to death in tho house
% to die of cold outside, but notwith-
standing his protestations the mattress
was borne cut and placed in the snow.
The change to the intense cold Of the
OkJ00 0U0 bAA0 00COt Va OAO'oAA4AS ~
hemorrhaRe, and, to the surprise Of all,
the Father rallied. and. being removed
to ono of the church buildings, began to
improve. Later, he was taken in charge
by the Sisters. When able to leave his
bed he made q crutch for himself and
was able to get around with t0lerable
ease. He lived in 6t. Bonifaoe . year
and was then sent to st. Paul where be
has labored ever since. A few weak
ago, about nine o'clock at night, Arch
bishop Tache heard some one stamping
ON the door step. Sending to inquire
the cause Of the noise, he was surprised
to hear that Father Gioffon had come
back to see him after an absence Of
twenty-one years. He u now sixty-f0ur
years of age. When he was in s.. Boni-
face before there were no railways nor
any means of conveyance save Red river
carts and canoes. The Father came mp
from Emerson by team. but instead Of
getting OF at st. Boniface he came over
TO this city. Making inquiries for tho
ArchbishOp's, he was told that he would
have to 90 down the track again. He
walked tho whole distance from Winni-
peg, and arrived at the Archbishop's a.
mentioned above. He was the guest Of
his Grace for several days, and returned
about . week ago to st. Paul.-W Winai-
peg, Aanito6d, Times.