Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-01-14
FROZEN TO DEATH.
Four Persons lost on the Prairie
and Frozen to Death.

Four Persons 1857 on the Prairie
and Frozen to Death.
1t becomes our painful duty to send
forth the news of fourth deaths by
freezing in Thomas county during the
past week. In such storm it would
have been purely accidental had not
some benighted traveller been caught
out and lost. To a traveller on that
dreadful Wednesday night, it was to
come upon house, or wander aim
lessly in the binding snow storm and
freeze. To find house, even by one
well acquainted with country, was
well nigh impossible, as is evinced by
the case of Samuel Stewardson. There
is perhaps house on each section,
mostly low and of sod, in the north
part of the county, but to find that
house was the secret. The houses,
too. were covered with snow, and one
cold not discern them hardly in broad
day light
ISAAC GRIFFITH.
News came to Colby on Friday of
the disappearance of the above nam
ed gentleman. His home was near
Otterbourne. He had been to town
on Wednesday, returning just before
night: was at the house of Thomas
Trump, just one mile from his home,
before the storm, leaving when the
storm had scarcely commenced. On
Thursday the storm continued all day,
aad on Friday the neighbors turned
out in force to search for him. His
wagon was tracked to within one
hundred yards of his house, where
the mules made several circles, and
then drifted south with the storm. On
Saturday the wagon was discovered
within forty rods of the residence OF
MIR. Harris, and about three miles
from his home, and in the wagon was
found Mr.. Griffith dead He
had loosened his team evidently
intending to try to keep up until day
light, When found his head and body
were out Of the wagon, while his fro
zen limbs caught on the side boards
and kept his body from falling to the
ground On Saturday night the body
was taken to the residence OF his
mother, Squire Archer summonsed a
jury, the verdict being Frozen to
death in the storm of January 9th. "
Mr.. Griffith was man of about 40
years Of age, a disabled Union soldier,
industrious, and strictly temperate,
and well thought of by :ll his neigh
bors. He leaves wife, mother, and
5 children. Funeral services took place
on Monday at the residence of the
mother of the deceased.
ALFRED AND FRED GOULD.
These two boys, aged II and 10,
with their mother, had came from
Oberlin in a wagon, bringing their
household goods, their destination be-
ing their fathers claim in the western
part of the county. On Wednesday
morning they left Colby, arriving at
the residence of j. D. Hughs, twelve
miles west, before the storm commenc-
ed. Here they decided to stay for
the night, putting up their team, and
eating supper. After supper the boys
decided to walk to the claim, dis
lance of four miles, to spend the
night with their father, taking with
them lantern They went in the di-
rection of the claim, but the storm be-
ing so severe, turned them and they
went with the storm, leaving their lam
tern within a few feet of deserted
sod house. On Friday searching par
ties were sent out, but the search de-
veloped nothing until Sunday at II
o'clock, when the bodies were discov-
cred by Sheriff Kingery. about four
niles south of their fathers claim.
4 jury was summonsed and the YER
lict was Frozen to death.
The boys were the main support of ]
heir parents, and it leaves them in !
lard circumstances, the father having
,een an invalid for several years.
They were known as hard working
md honest boys, and the manner of
heir death. SO sudden. and thew not