Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-05-09
A FEARFUL STORY.
FATHER AND DAUGH-
TER LOSE ON TIE
PRAIRIE.

From the New Hampton Gowa) Courier, of Feb
ruary %, 1861
Through the Kindness of MIR. Gilbert
Vincent, of Freedom township, we pub
lish the following thrilling account Of
an incident that occurred over nineteen
yea IS ago in Chickasaw county, north
eastern Iowa, and adjoining the county
which was the boyhood home OF the
senior editor of the HERALD. This in
cident shows the fearful frigidity Of the
winters in that latitude, and should
make US appreciate more than ever the
salubriOus climate of our own beautiful
Kansas. It will be seen that our ''Gill
Vincent was one of the resouing party.
He has lost none OF the sprightliness
that he possessed in the days when he
event sleighing with his Mary Ann. y
The age of miracles surely has not
passed. The past few days have been
fraughG with as much IF the fearful, of
anxiety, hope and thankfulness to our
people, as seldom falls 70 the lot of
community The stsIm of Tuesday
night and Wednesday will long be re-
membered as one Of the utmost severity
and the subioined narrative of exposure
and suffering partakes so much of the
marvellous that in its contemplation the
mind is bewildered and we are COM
PEELED to acknowledge it as one of those
interpretations sent to teach Us how
wonderful are His ways who ''marks
even the fall of a sparrow"
On Tuesday afternoon, 18th inst, Mr.
Of 4
Jacksonville eight miles distant on
business, and returning called at the
residence of w. f. Beach, one mile
this side, to see his daughter-Mrs, +.
B. Weed After supper Mrs. w. re-
solved to accompany her father home
and hastily clad herself for the purpose.
Leaving MIR. Weed in the house father
and daughter proceeded to where the
horses had been tied To find them gone,
but yet in sight, Pursuing the team for
some distance aud finding it impossible
to OVertake it, Mr.. RunniOn implOred
his daughter to return while he would
make his way home alone. This she
would not consent to do, (feeling quite
able to perform the Journey unless he
should accompany her aud remain for
the night. This was between seven
and eight o'clock. The weather then
was comparatively mild-with no wind
and q light snow falling. They pur-
sued their journey for a time without
difficulty, but the night being quite
dark and the snow having Obliterated
the track, they lost the road, bearing
to the south on the uninha 0ited prairie.
Beth were conscious that they were lost
yet neither breathed it to the other.
During the long hours from their de-
parture from Mr.. Beach's house until
y O'Clock the stOrm-king had been
gathering his strength, which now
burst forth in such fearful fury from the
northwest that it would seem impOssi-
bic that any mere mortal could brave it
and live. Benumbed, lost upon the
trackless waste, their steps followed by
q pack of prairie wolves whose quick
sharp bark frequently rose above the
bowling wind, -their thoughts cannot
be portrayed, each having a full con-
seriousness OF their great PERIL yet con
CeaEng it: and encouraging each other.
At last, exhausted nature could do no
more, both were tired out, aud saw the
folly of further contest with the storm
till the day should dawn, and lay down
beneath a snow drift to watch for day
light Mrs Weed wore q beaver hood
had q stclOud'' or scarf about her neck,
a shawl, and q blanket which she had
thrown on her arm when leaving the
house I he rude winds sweeping furi-
Ously above them, the binding, drift
ing snow, the hOWllng OF the wolves,