The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-11-08
Snow Storm and Blizzard of Eight
Days Duration Prevailing in
New Mexico
Cowboys and Sheepherders Lose
Their Lives in Attempts 70
Hold Their Stock
Thousands Of Head OF Cattle Buried Tn
der Eight Feet Of snow-Ail
Tranle Suspended.

DKSvER, Nov. THE Republicans special
from Clayton, N. NJ, says unless the snow
storm which has been raging for eight days
comes 20 an end soon next summer will
show county covered with the dead bodies
of animals IN thclSly as was the old Santa
Fe trail in the sixties The depth of the
snow is now not less than twenty six inches
on level and in many places il is drifted
seven feet high. When the storm struck
this section seven large herds Of cattle.
numbering from 400 10 1900 were being
held near this place, awaiting shipment 10
Wednesday was followed Thursday morn
ing by blizzard of snow and sleet. which
sent the herds IN southerly diroc-
tion. In vain did the half frozen
cowboys try 10 check the march
of the herds, but on they went through the
increasing storm until finding il utterly i'm
possible 10 hold the cattle, the boys rode
aside and let them pass, and nearly dead
rode their exhausted horses into oanons or
partially sheltered places, where they passed
many hours without food or fire. Two COW
boys drifted into canon where they found
n cedar tree with n rats nest in IL. They
lhNnoitn w llkiA lht Wiln tllHs buiiHk
the second night one Of their horses died
from cold and having nothing 10 eat, the
men cut pieces of flesh from
the dead animal which they
warmed and ate without salt.
After remaining there sixty hours they
started out and after much suffering and
hardship managed 10 reach ranch thirty
miles away, where they were cared for.
Five cownien are known to be frozen 10
laath Mtllar Inbn Murftp GbaQ
Jolly and two unknown. Two Mexican
sheep herders hnye been found frozen TO
death near Tramperos and another ON
small creek near town.
Two men coming in this morning report
the drifts IN some places seven and eight
feet high, in which are hundreds OF dead
stock, many with only the head and horns
above the snow. In one draft thirteen were
counted, in another ten. Some of these
were alive, but unable 10 move from their
frigid prison. Herds Of sheep are com-
pletely wiped out of existence, and the
rnnge for thirty miles from town IN covered
with their dend bodies. II is estimated that
1000 sheep have perished in this part Of the
territory, and nj present II ls not possible
10 estimate the number of cnttle lost, but 10
will probably be in the thousands. Every
place of shelter in town in being used ae
barns for snow bound horses. They say
the supply of hay is nearly exhausted, and
to-day 800 per ton WIS offered by stock
men aud refused. At Toxline, nine miles
below Clayton, two passenger trains were
snow bound for week. The provisions
running out, the passengers we're compelled
10 venture out in the storm and kill cattle,
the quarters Of which were taken into the
cora and roasted. II is thought the SNOW
piOws will reacb the imprisoned trains TO
marrow and release, them and the road be
opened in n day or two. The storm IL by
far the worst ever known in New Mexico.
and at present loss Of life aud property can-
not be estimated.