Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-06
SAVED BY ONE MATCH.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF TWO PROS
PSCTORS IN A BLIZZARD.


Caught on the Flat Tops In the Rocky
Mountains aud Almost Frozen--The saw
ing Fire Started by Means OF Stray
Match when Hope Was Almost Gone.
The most trivial circumstance sometimes
changes the entire current Of a mans life,
and often the lives OF men are saved by the
merest chance
Two gentlemen In this city know how true
this q, as one OF them was saved from hor-
rible death by q match. The circumstance,
as related by themselves, happened in the fol-
lowing manner:
One summer they concluded 10 devote the
whole OF their attention TO prospecting, and
started with pack animals. for a section Of
countrr in Garfield county that was at the
time creating considerable comment among
mining men. They left the city at the be-
ginning OF summer, well equipped with all
the necesSaries required by prospectors. The
scene 81 action was reached without incident
worthy of any special mention, except, PER
haps, the los OF one 81 their pack animals,
which was drowned "a the Gran! river
while fording
STARTING HOME
X
work done on them. IL was now the middle
OF October, and they concluded that it was
time 20 return home. The jacks were packed,
and they started across country for home.
The route that they laid out took them over
the fat tops, ss il was the nearest road to
Leadville
The third day out they saw that a storm
was brewing, and, not wishing to be caught
on the Hat tops, they rushed their animals
through, but night came before they reached
a valley, and they were obliged 10 camp on
tie high ground. Everything was made
snug Tor the night, and wishing that the
storm would blow over. they wrapped them
selves In their blankets and laid down 70 rest.
About midnight they were awakened from
their sleep by the bowling OF the wind which
whtstled through the trees under which they
camped The heavens were black aud the
two men knew that the storm would soon de-
send. They had not long 10 wait before the
first flake Of snow fell. and the storm broke
with terrific force. No one who has never
spent a night on fat tops during q snow
storm can form any idea of the velocity at
which the wind travels and how dreary aud
lonesome the surrounding country becomes.
The two men were by this time thoroughly
aroused to the danger OF their position, and
longed for daylight TO appear. BY this time
the snow was falling thickly, and was being
whirled hither and thither by the ever chang
ing wind. Morning AT last dawned, and they
started out IN search OF their animals in the
face OF the awful blizzard, determined 70
leave the country at all hazards. Their prog
ress was slow, as the snow had drifted heavi-
ly, and, when they came TO where they had
turned their horses loose the previous even
ing, the animals had left
When the storm started the stock started
before it, and, by the time the prosIectors
reached where they should have been, the
animals were some miles away The men
kept ON trailing them, and, when evening
was approaching, they were nearly played
out, and made up their minds TO camp. Ii
was long and weary tramp, and when half
the distance was Travelled they had TO give it
up, aud made camp for the night under a
sheltering pine tree.
SOLITARY MATCH
One Of the men was COMPLETELY PLAYED ont
and could not go n step further and al
though il was bitterly cold when the spot TO
camp was selected, be stretched himself out
on the ground thoroughly exhausted and
cared not whether he died or lived His
companion being stronger started to get
some wood together, and encouraged his
companion with cheering words He knew
that II he did not get q fire started pretty
soon his partner would freeze 70 death. IL
did not take long to collect the firewood. cut
some shavings and have everything in readi-
ness TO start the fire. He put his hand in his
pocket, when TO his horror the matChsafe
was gone
Every pocket was searched, but not a match
could he find. He ri1ed the pockets OF his
friend with the same result. The realization
OF tha awful position he was placed in struck
hun, and lac knew that without a fire certain
death stared his companion in the face. If not
himself Once more he searched. and, TO his
joy, found one solitary match in his vest
pocket. The wind was still blowing and
snow drifting. Would be succeed in kind
ling the fire. was the question he asked him
self
Under a fallen log he found some dry.
withered grass and twigs, which hs care
fully put in his hat; be whitfield some more
shavings, procured more small twics, ana.
with prayer ON his lips, knelt down, lit the
match, applied it to the grass, saw IL sud.
denly blaze u p and as suddenly go out: but
before 1t did one Of the shavings had isuits,
the fame extended To the rest and to tAe
twigs
When they blazed up he knew that thew
were saved. Logs were piled on. and the
hardy prospector turned his attention to his
friend, whom he Lifted up and carried 10 the
fire. The warmth soon revived him, and all
that dreary night the two sat before the fire,
every now and again throwing a fresh log on,
afraid 10 sleep for fear Of being frozen. When
morning came the storm had passed, and they
started out after their stock, which, fortu-
nAtely for them, they found not far from their
improvised cabin On returning to their first
camp they enjoyed a substantial meal, and
after oucking snow q whole Afternoon they |
succeeded in getting of the fat tops
Their awful experience they never Will for |
get, and they are firmly convinced that a |
match saved their lves.-Lsadyills Herald /
Democrat.