The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-20
ADAKoTA PLIzzAFD-
an Incident y Country ~ hero cold
Weather Is Cold.


Weather t. Cold.
"I lived Cor several years in the North
west remarked the Colonel. The
greater part OF the time / was in Dakota
/ was in fembiua County In the winter of
ISL don't suppose a co.ded winter was
ever experienced in the whole Northwest.
The thermometer registered from TO to 80
degrees below zero for weeks together, and
Billiards were OF almost daily occurrence.
] had some business to transact in the
northern part of the county 1t was a
bright, sunshiny morning in January
when left the county seat and started
for YOmg's farm, which was situated
about fifteen miles distant. l had fast
team, and the cutter was piled fun Of
bnffalo robes. I wore pair Of rubber
OverhalS which are about the best thing
TO keep he wind out that have ever been
invented. ! had rubber overshoes on lined
with fur, n fHr hat which came down over
my head like the snufTer Of candle, fur
gloves and over all a long wolf skin ulster
that trailed after me on the ground. 1t
didn't take long to reach YOUng's. 1t was
too cold to linger by the way. Young's
place was laid ont as most Dakota farms
are. His house was comfortable frame
building without any more rooms than
were absolutely necessary. Lumber costs
money 800 miles away from the nearest
sawmilL His woodhOUSe was joined to
his kitchen, and his barn, which was by
all odds the best building on the place,
stood at the other end Of the yard about
300 feet ay. While we were eating
dinner we heard roar like the tramp of
an army in the distance, and the house
trembled rs if il was afraid. Nearer came
the roar and nearer. until it sounded as if
battle were being fought in the yard.
The house shook until the dishes rattlezl
on the table, and then it rocked on its
foundation like cradle. We looked out
OF the window, and it seemed as if sheets
had been spread across the frames. You
could no more see out than If they had
been closed in with sheet iron. All this
time the sun was shining, and we could
see it through the snow rather dim but
still at work.
o. Blizzard. by Thunderu remarked
Young lacouically when we had recovered
from the shock, Well, l hope it won't
last long. that all I'm getting tired of
EN-. This makes the fourth we've had
this month and the frost lasted nearly
week. We ike tove starved to death"
All that day and ni1Et the storm con
tlnued without sec Ond's cessation. And
all the next day ana JHe next until we had
been in the house for four days and four
nights In the Inc. n;ime the horses and
the COWS were nearly famished, and none
OF MS dared to venture out in the bowling
N
ming of fifth day Young concluded he
would try d trip TO the barn and give them
some food. The weather was bitter cold.
! don't think I ever knew before what
cold weather meant. Young bundled ND
until he looked like an EsquimaUX mum
my. He was wrapped in furs from his
his head to his feet, and around his waist
was tied a piece Of clothes inc This was
intended to insure his return If he stop
ped too long by the way or fell or became
benumbed we could use the rope TO pull
him in with, otherwise he might freeze to
death IN very Few minutes before he
could reach either the house or the barn
for he couldn't see q foot before his face
After he ieit we waited with considerable
anxiety for him to give three quick Jerks
TO let us SNOW that he had reached the
barn. In about fifteen minutes we felt the
rope tWitch three times and we knew he
had gotten there all right. Then we wait
Ell again for him to pull the rope and let
us know that he was ready TO start back
This trip would bc cOmparatively easv
for all ne had 10 do would be to follow the
rope, which we would pull in. In the
course of an hour we began to be uneasy
The rope hadn' moved. Finally 7 offered
to 90 10 the barn and see what had become
of him. | bundled UP and started out
! followed his rope ana reached the barn
in very few minutes. The horses were
ali feeding: the COWS were up to their
horns in fodder, but Young was nowhere
to be found. Not trace Of him was left
The barn door was tightly closed which
showed that he had not Stepucd oufsife
intending to return IN moment. shouted
until was hoarse, and finally returned
TO the house and made my report Then
the hired man and | went back with two
lanterns, for it was growing rather dark
We searched the barn as thoroughly as
possible, but he was not there. Then we
stumbled around the barnyard, keeping
hold of one end of the rope but all to no
avail. We were obliged to 20 back with
out our host. His wife was inconsoIabIe.
She insisted that he must be in the barn.
and to please her we made a third trim.
but with the same result AS before Two
days afterwards the storm lifted and we
started out to search for Young We
found him about twenty feet from the
barn door frozen stiff. He had a rope
around his waist. He had evidently made
a mistake in fastening on the rope in his
hurry to return and tied on the wrong rope.
The one he used was not attached to the
house at all, but was lying in the barn be
side the one he had just taken off. lie had
probably tramped around in the snow for
an hour trying to reach the barn or the
house, but was unable to do either, and
finally fell within a few feet of his starting
point. That IS all the blizzard ever want