Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-01-19
4 NIGHT ON TINE PRAIRIE.
Mr.. Oamie1 Brrrrtom and Miss Anna l..
Ziliscls Get Lost while siri8h-risii~x
aud are Out Over Night.


ON last Saturday aftcrno,,n III. above
named parties started out for a sIcigl,-ride.
Owing to the severe weather, II long ride
was not contemplated at iirrt. An hour or
50 WIS sirnt IN short drives ON the various
roa,!s BEADING out III town. Finally. while
turning around at a. point near Frank
Moshnrrs ranch ON Boyd creek. about IL
mile from town, the rutter tipped over and
the lines breaking or slipping from Mr..
Brercton's hands. the horses gain,d their
freedom, ran AWAY, passing through town
and on to the bench in the virinity of the
Jail. Displeasei at this abrupt and un-
pleasant ocrurrnce. and II little sensitive
oy.r tn. anticipated ba,lgrring Of his friends.
Mr.. Brnrcton came back to Ayers X Ar
moll's livery stable. procured another rig
and made new start. by ~ passing team
he sent word back to Mr.. Erickson that he
would not return that night. Having been
repeatedly invited over to Mr. Forar,ys
ranch on Mcdonald creek, Mr.. l,r-r-ton
had now determined upon this ,lestination.
II was nov ! O'Clock or after. and the dis
tance is fnnrtccn miles. The day was cold
and clustering. the cold increasing az night
nl,prnachei. With = gnn.l tenn, ihrx Mcrc
taking advantage of the daylight which
couli only to ri short duration. After
travelling about ten miles darkness over
took then,. aud as the road had been trav-
, elei hut little this winter and none since
: the recent storms. Ia keep the track was
an impossii,ility. The road WAS soon lost
The team and sleigh cred snow
drifts insurmounta hlr. The horses plunged
aud the sleigh car-.nrd. MIR. Brrrrton had
t,iriy.n down into ~ couLr from which there
was no cxtrication in the darkness, aud
after every effort. even to carrying the
cutter for short distances. he WAS forced To
dcsist and adopt some means Tor the pro-
I lection and salty Of his fair partner. BAT
! fled in his attempt to find the road, or to
take his back trail hc resolved to take the
old timers advice and make camp
I The team was unhitclel from the cutter
and tied securely to some willows III the
eoulee. Mr.: I,rcrcton found II small piece
Of a match on hi-clothins, aud it proved to
be the end containing birthstone. What
hone and fate rested on this remnant Of ~
or know. With "a couple of letters and
a piece of paper contributed by both. and
a piece Of pitch pine, an effort was made To
start II lire. The frail match, that had
kin,i,ed II hope, isnitcd the paper. but the
pine was damp and would not burn, despite
all efforts. All chance Of fire was now
los. Atcrrib.c night of twelve hours dura.
,lering his buffalo coat to his compahio
Mr.. I,rereton admonirhed her to keep
moving to avoid freezing. Thus, like sent j.
ncls guarding the approach OF an enemy.
they kept moving back aud forth. during
the long, cold night and how long il must
have seemed.
As soon ~ it was light enough in the
morning Mr.. Brerciun hitchcd On to the
cutter, experiencing some difficulty. az one
/ of his finger. was frozen, his hands numb.
and the horses fractions from the night {
exposure. Once out ri the coulee aud on
I % tn. bench, with III. rapidly increasing
light the puzzle was solved and the way
home made clear. They arrived in Lewis
town on Sunday morning about i? clock,
( after IL nbgiil OIL tefflDie euileThiu. WI
Brereton drove us rnpi.ily ne possible u
Mr.. DAYS, where Miss Ziliscl boards, and
ing her into the house remained to
are If -ie was badly frozen. on removing
her shoe. and stockings. all the toes on
both feet were found I" he frozen, aud they
were quickly placed in snow. Mr.. Br"re'
tou was well aware of his condition all this
time. lie knew that his feet had been
frozen since midnight before hut ne kept
the fact to himself. Returning to i. &
Powers store, he was met by friends. wh'
took in the situation at "a glance. Ili'
ovrrshoes were frozen u his under shoes
from, til. accumulated snow. aud were re-
moved with difficulty, while IL WAS n,crs
sary to cut hi- leaf her rh,~- to- get them OF
from his feet. Ons. removed his feet wer,
placed in a tub VI cold water. and willin:
hands were found 10 rub them into life )
po..ible. After remaining in cold watel
lor about eight or ten hours. ban,iase'
were applied and the patient removed I,
I the Lewistown Hotel. where he is nov
,e.,ivin. the very beet care. with ever,
crosp--t Of complete recovery uf his t.~t
This was an unfortunate occurrence an,
In, lew III our people would have re
main.d quiet on that night had they know
the late that o,rrtu,k this couple. Ba
serious 40 il il. let as be thankful that it Il
NO wore.