Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-25
SAVED By ONE MATCH.
AWFUL EXPERIENCE or TWO PROS
PecToRs IN A BLIZZARD.

Cs.xhs ON the Fiat rcPs in the ksekS
Noznsains and Almost Frosen-The saw
fpr Fire started by Means Of . stray
March when Hope was Almost Go.e-
Tie most trivial circumstance sometimes
changes the entire current OF man 5 NE.
and often the lives Of men are saved py me
r1erest chance
Two sentieu,en in this city know how true
this il. as one Of them was saved from hof-
ribie 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 70 prospecting. and
startesi with pack animals, for section OF
country in Garfield county that was al 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 Of action Was reached without incident
worthy of any special mention. except per
Eaps, 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 1t was
time toreturn 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
kftt mia txfurn rfAy reached
a valley, and they were Obliged to camp on
the high ground. Everything was made
snug Cor 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
which the wind travels, and how dreary and
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 thickiy, 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 hal drlfted heavl-
", 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. II
was a long and weary tramp, and when half
the distance was Travelled they had to give 1t
up, and made camp for the night under
sheltering pine tree
A SOLITARY MATCH.
One of the men was completely played out
and could not go a 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. 1t
did not take long 10 collect the tirewood 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 match
could he find He rifled 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, 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 he succeed in kind
ling the fire' was the question be asked him
self
Under fallen log he found some dry,
withered grass and twigs, which he care
fully put in his hat; he whitfield some more
shavings, procured more small twigs. and,
with prayer on his lips knelt down, lit the
match. applied it to the grass, saw it sud
denly blaze up and 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 he knew that they
were saved Logs were plied on ana 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 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 substantial meal, and
after buckns 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
match saved their hves.-Leadviile Herald
Democrat