Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-01
SAVED BY ONE MATCH.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE OF TWO PROS
PECTORS IN A BLIZZARD.

PEcToRS IN A BLIZZARD.
Caught ON tn. Flat Tops in tho Rocky
Mountains and 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 mans life,
and often the lives Of men are saved by the
merest chance.
Two gentlemen I'm this city know how true
this is, 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 to devote the
whole Of their attention to prospecting and
started with pack animals, for section Of
country 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 prospectorA The
scene of action was reached without incident
worthy of any special mention, except, per-
haps, the loss Of one Of their pack animals,
which was drowned on the Grand river
while fording.
STARTING HOME.
Several good prospects were struck and the
work done on them. 1t was now the middle
of October, and they concluded that it was
time to 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, as it was the nearest road to
Leadville
The third day out they saw that storm
was brewing, and, not wishing to be caught
on the fat tops, they rushed their animals
through, but night came before they reached
a valley, and they were obliged to camp on
the high ground. Everything was made
snug for the night, and, wishing that the
storm would blow over, they wrapped them
selves in their blankets and laid down to rest.
About midnight they were awakened from
their sleep by the bowling of the wind, which
whistled through the trees under which they
camped. The heavens were black, and the
two men knew that the storm would soon de-
scend They had not long to wait before the
first fake of snow fell, and the storm broke
with terrific force No one who has never
spent night on fat tops during snow
storm can form any idea of the velocity at
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 to
leave the country at all hazards. Their prog
ress was slow, as the snow had drifted heavi-
II, 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 prospectors
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. 1t
was long and weary tramp, and when half
the distance was Travelled they had to give it
up, and made camp for the night under q
sheltering pine tree.
SOLITARY MATCH.
One Of the men was completely played ont
and could not 60 q step further, and, al
though it was bitterly cold when the spot to
camp was selected, he 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 if he did not get fire started pretty
soon his partner would freeze to death. It
did not take long to collect the frewood, cut
some shavings and have everything in readi-
ness to start the fire. He put bis hand in his
pocket, when to his horror the maochsafe
was gone.
Every pocket was searched, but not match
could he find. He riaed the pockets of his
friend with the same result. The realization
of the awful position he was placed in struck
him, and he knew that without fire certain
death stared his companion in the face, il 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 he succeed in kind
ling the firel was the question he asked him
self
Under a fallen log he found some dry.
withered grass and twigs, which be care
fully put in his hat; he whitfield some more
shevings, procured more small twigs, and,
with a PRAYER on his lips, krelt down, Lit the
match, applied it to the grass, saw it sud-
denly blaze up and as suddenly go out; but
before it did one OF the shavings had ignited,
the fame extended to the rest and to the
twigs.
When they blazed up be knew that they
were saved. Logs were piled on, and the
hardy prospector turned his attention to his
friend, whom he lifted up and carried to the
fire. The warmth soon revived him, and all
that dreary night the two sat before the fire,
every now and again throwing fresh log on,
afraid to sleep for fear of being frozen When
morning came the storm had passed, and they
started ont after their stock, which, for
nately for them. they found not far from their
improvised cabin On returning to their first
camp they enjoyed a substantial meal, and
after bucking snow Whole afternoon they
succeeded in getting off the fat tops.
Their awful experience they never will for
get, and they are firmly convinced that a
match saved their hves.-Leadville Herald
Democrat
New York Flat Life.
TIE walls are so thin that you hearnot only
the pianos in rooms opening on the air shaft,