The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-10-18

hN"t
times changes the entire current OF q
mans life, and often the lives of men are
saved by the merest chance. Two gentle
men in this city know how true this In, as
one of them was saved from n horrible
death Ivy n match. The circumstance, as
related by themselves. happened i'm the
following manner One summer they con-
cluded to devote the whole OF their atten-
ton to prospecting, and started with pack
animals for u section of country i'm Gar
field county. that was mt the time creating
considerable mme among mining
men. They left tho city at the beginning
of mime well eqnippesi with all the
ncccssarics required by p~rosrectors. The
scene of action was reached without Incl
dent worthy of any special mcntion, ex-
ccpt, perhaps the loss of one of their
pack animals, WHICH was drowned in the
usual experience that all prospectors have
and also the usual amount OF trouble with
then Their a rars .s ani'n !" ii, ,H Ai' se,, sns sn mrss M%ss
and took them i'm n matter of fact man.
ncr. After spending six weeks i'm the new
To suit them, and like a. great
many new countries IL proved tai te
a fizxle, and mineral that was
has, as yet. never been discovered.
The two prospectors ON learning of the
and thoroughly looked the country over.
Several good prospects were struck and
the work done on thcm., II was now the
w vi w hHho hbSy
that il was time to return home. The
jacks were packed and they started
laid ont took them over the fiat-tops. as Il
was tho nearest road to Leadvillc. The
third day out they saw that a storm
Oh the flat-tops, they rushed their ami
mails through. hut night came before they
reached a valley. and they wrro Obliged
ing that the storm would blow over, they
laid down To rest. About midnight they
were. awakened from their sleep 10y the
bowling of the wind, which whistled
through the trees under which they were
camped The heavens were black and
the two men knew that the storm would
before the first flake of snow fell, and the
storm broke with terrific force. No one
who has never spent n night ON the Hat
idea of the fearful velocity at which the
wind travels, and how drcary and lone
some the surrounding country be
comes. The two men were toy this
| time thoroughly aroused tai the dam ger of
their position and longed for daylight to
appear. by this time the snow was falling
thickly, and was being whirlcl hit,cr and
thither by the ever changing wind. Morn
ing at last dawned and they started out i'm
search of their lima i'm the face of the
awful blizzard. determined to leave the
country at all h~azzarls. The progress was
when they game To where they had turned
their horses loose the previous evening the
animals had left. When the storm started
the prospectors reached where they should
have been, the NINA were. sosnc miles
away. The men kept ON trailing them and
nearly played out and made up their
minds to camp. IL was n long and weary
travelled they had to give II up and make
camp for the nigh under "a sheltering pine
tree. One of the men was completely
played out and could not GO n step further,
and, although it was bitterly cold. when
the spot To camp was selected he stretched
hausted and cared not whether he lived OF
died. His companion bs.ing stron9er
started to get some wood together and en-
words. He Knew that Il he did not get !
fire started pretty. soon that his partner
long TO collect the hrewood. cut some shaw.
ings and have everything i'm readiness Ia
start the fire. He put his hand in his pocket
gone. Every pocket was searched, bu,
not a match could he find: He rificd the
p"Gke! TS %. r rms dr,sm% " w't TN. 'n nxf rn'"@ sn ri
ton he was placed i'm struck him and lac
knew that without a fire certain death
himself. Once more he searched. and ta
his joy found one solitary match in hi,
s sss' IL! R.e sasw a ass Wind W Ear TN Il. s s..s:d.s
asked himself. Under a faiien log i.
which he carefully put i'm his hat; he whit
tied sotne more shavinHs, procured morS
small limbs, and with IL prayer ON his lips
knelt dow n, lit the match, applied IL u
the grass. saw il suddenly blazs
up and as suddenly go out: but befors
IL did one of the shavings had iguited
the flame extended to the rest and To the
twigs. When they blazed up lie knew
that they were saved. Logs were piled oI
and the hardy prospestor turned his AT
tention to his friend. whom he lifted M
and carried to the fire. The warmth sooi
revived him, and ali that dreary night th,
two sat before the fire, every now amt
again throwing u fresh log OH, afraid Il
sleep for fear of being frozen. whel
morning came the storm had passed ans
they started out after their stock which
fortunately for them. they found not ia
from their improvised camp. On return
ing 10 their first camp they enjoyed u srh
tantial meal. and after uckin SHOW
whole afternoon they succeeded in getting
OFF the fiattops.
Their awful experience they never vii
forget, and they are firmly convinced tina
n match saved their lives.
CnRTN TWO NCAOc Ac A AAA