The Delta independent., 1889-11-12
DEATH in A BLIZZARD.
Three Cowboys Perish in the Terrible
Blizzard Which Swept Over
New Mexico.

oh<<dio NiiSn o"cpt SNeF
New Mexico.
From the Denver News.
kilograms were received Monday
by r G. Head of the r. G. Head Broker
age & Investment Company notifying him
that three cowboys in charge Of bunch
OF his cattle were frozen to death in the
great storm which has just swept over the
West. The information given in the mes
sages Is meager, but SO far as can be
learned the men met their death in the fol-
lowing manner: The outfit has been on
the range for some time gathering beef
and had about 1,sO0 head rounded up in
Colfax County, near Sierra Grande, New
Mexico awaiting shipment This is Just
south Of the Colorado border There were
about ten men in the camp in charge OF
these, OF whom three were o. the night
watch on las> Thursday morning early.
These were Henry Miller and Joe Martin
in the employ of the Head company and a
young man named Jolly of f. J. Temples
outfit Wednesday had passed without in
cident, though the indications were that a
storm was coming up. No thought, how
ever, was entertained of its severity, and
the usual force OF three men was expected
to be enough to hold the cattle, especially
as they were considered TO be in a good
situation.
When the storm broke early on Thurs
day morning the men in camp were
awakened and upon finding how fierce il
was, made an effort 10 reach the cattle and
help their companions, but were driven
back. How the three men with the herd
passed that fearful night will never be
known. Their cold, stiff bodies were found
close together some miles out on the
prairie on Saturday after an incessant
search OF twentyfour hours. The tele-
grams do not say whether their ponies
were also dead or were found at all. The
suppositicn is that the violence Of the
storm was SO great as 10 drive the cattle
before II and that they and the men drifted
on on the open prairie where there was
not the slightest shelter. The darkness
and high wind, the binding snow and the
cold must have had the effect of utterly
confusing the men so that they had not
the slightest idea Of their whereabouts.
Whether their ponies gave out or
whether they determined to stop and
strive to wait where they were till day
light can only be surmiscd, but 1t NAV be
supposed that it was fearful night for
those three strong men dying by inches in
the icy gasp Of that bitter blizzard.
Mr.. Head will leave for New Mexico
this morning. Yesterday he said 10 a
Ncus reporter that he had wired instruc.
tions TO do all tina, WAS proper with the
ha.ltas tTrpp hi. nj H.,
the burials and will also make every effort
to discover the relatives of the dead ucn.
Martin and Jolly, no thinks, are both New
Mexico men, and there will probably be
somebody To claim their remains. Henry
Miller, the third victim, has been with MIR
Head for twelve years and was the range
foreman. He was about rs years of age
and one OF the best known cattlcmcn in
New Mexico. Mr.. Head says that he wa.
one OF the most reliable and trustworthy
men he has ever known. and that
his very death has demonstrate ed thoss
qualities. As range foreman there was
no, any reason that he should take the
night guard, but In his anxiety that all
should be well he did so and met his end.
The storm has been great dn,astcr, the
extent Of which cannot be determined un
til the cattle can be gathered together 1t
is said that between $1,000 and 5000
head Were awaiting shipment at different
points in the territory between the place
where the Head cattle were lying and
Clayton. All OF these have been scattered
and there is but little doubt that many
must have perishcd. The weather is still
stormy and il is almost impossible to get
the herds together again. They have be.
come mixed and many head have run be-
youd hope of recovery this year. Apart
from the actual loss from death heavy
expense will be entailcd A storm OF such
magnitude Mt this season OF the year is un-
prcccdcn,cd. That the cattlcmen did not
dream of such thing is proven by the fact
that they were bringing up such large herd
for shipment.