West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-05-01

thuslaSuc hunter and an accomplished
shot We passed many happy DAYS
hunting, for the country abounded with
small game, and deer were frequently
seen.
Charlie had been with us two months
and was to return home soon. when.
late in November. we started for our
last hunt together. We took an ample
lunch with us, expecting TO be absent
all day, and hoping to get deer or
two, which were reported as being
quite plenty. The day was beautiful
clear and cool, with crisp snow cover
ing the ground and n bright sun over
head We hunted until nearly noon
and had killed some small game. when
we sighted deer and started i'm pur-
suit. We followed il several miles. but
could not get shot. and finally we lost
sight of It, IL was two o'clock in the
afternoon and our long walk had given
us good appctites. We were lust about
To partakc OF our lunch. intending. when
1t was finished, to start at once for
home, when few flakes OF snow struck
me in the face. The day had been so
bright and clear up to this time that
The possibility of storm had not en-
tered our minds; but it was now evident
That one was impending. Looking to
the northwest, n dark and heavy cloud
was seen, which. while we gazed upon
It, rapidly increased in size and soon
spread over the sky, yelling the sun
rom view, and throwing Il dark and
threatening shadow over the landsclpe.
1t seemed only II minute or two until
we were standing in the midst of "A
driving storm, which each moment in
creased in violence. The air grew per
cept!bly colder, aud, although warmly
dressed, our teeth were chatterng with
cold.
IL had heard of the dreadful storm
called the BLIZZARD which leaps like a
tiger from its lair. carrying death i'm its
path. and | knew instinctively that we
were IN the midst of one. All | had
learned conc rning them flashed
through my mind. | remembered that
sta%e-drivcr had frozen 60 death and
was found sitting upright upon his
coach. knew that farmer going
from his house to his barn only a few
rods had lost his way i'm one of these
storm. and was found dead within a
lew feet of his door. Only the previous
winter, four men had started for their
homes from a little town, while the
weather was mild and PLEASANT and
never reached them alive, having been
overtaken ON their way by a blizzard.
81 was not certain just where we
were. but | knew it must be several
miles to the nearest house. While |
stood thinking of these things and try
ing To decide what we had better do.
the storm had grown so violent that |
could hardly see Charlie who stood
trembling by my side. | hurriedly cx-
planned TO him the nature OF the storm
ana our dangerous situation Clearly.
our one hope was to keep moving. 10
remain where we were was to die
speedily of cold. We took each other
ny the hand and started. keeping the
wind ut our backs, one direction offer
ing rs much hope as another it being
impossible 10 face the fur.O gale. For
an hour or more we stumbled blindly
onward, going we knew not where.
We talked but little. the roar of the
storm being so great that our voices
could hardly be heard The snow soon
grew so deep that it was difficult to get
through the drifts. Our strength was
rapidly failing tine cold was SO severe
that IT penetrated to the bone, and the
fury of the tempest increased with
every moment. What hope could there
be Tor two boys lost upon the trackIess
prairie in such a storm rs this?
charlie soon grew so much exhaust
ed that he could scarcely move, but TO
sop was certain death. | urged him
although my own strength was
also nearly gone. At last we halted,
unable to proceed further. We rested n
few moments. when / took a few steps
forward, dragging my almost senseless
companion after me. Suddenly the
ground vanished under our feet and we
shOt downward and struck upon what
seemed to be the roof of house. from
which we slid To- the ground. The album
dance OF snow prevented our being in
yurcd by the fall. When we recovered
from our surpr Sc and looked around
we found we were standing by the side
OF Lite house. The wind could not
reach Us where we were and the out
lines OF the building could easily bc
seen. Walking around the house we
came to door. carelessly fastened, and
were soon able TO enter
NV were saved. at least for the pres
cnt. for recognized the cabin as be-
longing To my friend French Joe.
sinking down upon the floor we rested
Tor a time. and then. much refreshed.
commenced TO examine into the situa-
ton. As our eyes became accustomed
to the Semi-darkness of the hut we
could see that very little snow had pen
ctrated through the walls Nestled a
u was at the foot of an almost perpen.
diculW blum, it was protected from the
5 orm, which swept harmlcsslv over il.
= learlt, 30 far as protection from the
WIND was concerned. we were safe.
Thus shielded we became more com
Portable and, by exercising az "a lively
rate for few minutes, soon grew
warm.
we were very faint with hunger
aud the first thing we did was 10 re-
fresh ourselves with our lunch With
out stopping TO consider that we might
be kept prisoners for several DAYS. we
were so imprOvdent as to eat nearly all
the food we had brought with us. We
sui had the game we had killed. which
consisted of half "a do zen quail five
p.airIe chickens and three rabbits.
These would sustain life for some time.
so we had no fears Of starvation. We
Then proceeded 90 make an examination
~ the contents OF the hut. and found. 10
or delight that DO contained quite
number of art Giles likely 10 be- of serv-
ice. There was chair. bench.
small table, little piece Of salt pork
bunk containing 10 lew blankets and
hck hiicd with J fg an axe. and. best
OI HII. Hu old COOKING stove A lop,e