Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-12-18
BARBER COUNTY INDEX.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. Is, 1859.
SAVED BY A MATCH.

Inc most Trivial circumstances some
times changes the entire current of a
mans life and often the lives of men
are saved by the merest chance. Two
gentlemen of this city, says the Lead
vile Coli Herald-Democrat, know how
true this is, as one of them was saved
from horrible death by match. The
circumstance, as related by themselves,
happened in the following 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 considera-
BILE comment among mining mon. They
left the city at the beginning of sum-
mer, well equipped with all the neces-
saries required by prospectors. The
scene OF action was reached without in
eident worthy Of any special mention,
except, perhaps, the loss Of one of their
pack animals, which was drowned in the
Grand river while fording. They had
the usual experience that all prospectors
have, and also the usual amount of
trouble with their pack animals. After
the first week they got used to all the
petty annoyances and took them in a
rnatter-of-fact manner. After spend
ing six weeks in the new
country they left, as they found
nothing to suit them, and like
great many new countries, it
proved to be fizzle, and the mineral
that was reported to DO in large quaint
ties has, as yet, never been discovered.
The two prospectors on learning of the
new fields went in westerly direction,
and thoroughly looked the country over.
Several good prospects were struck and
the work done on them. twas now the
middle of October, and they concluded
that 1t was time to return home. The
jacks were packed, and they started
across the country for home. The route
that they laid out took them over the
dat-tops, as it was the nearest road to
Leadville. The third day out they saw
that storm was brewing, and not wish
ing to be caught on the hat-tops they
rushed their animals through, but night
came before they reached valley, and
they were obliged to camp on the high
ground. Every thing was made snug
for the night, and wishing that the
storm would blow over they wrapped
themselves 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 descend. 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 a night on
the flat-tops during snow-storm can
form any idea of the fearful velocity at
which the wind travels and how
drsary and lonesome the surround
ing 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-changing 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. The prog
rsss was slow, as the snow had drifted
heavily, and when they came to where
they had turned their horses loose the
previous evening 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 a long
and weary tramp, and when half the dis
lance was travelled they had to give it
up and make camp for the night under
q sheltering pine tree. One Of the men
was completely played out and could
not go step further, and, although 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 encour-
aged his companion with cheering
words. He knew that II he did not get
a fire started pretty soon his partner
would freeze to death. 1t did not take
long to collect the fire-wood, cut some
shavings and have every thing in readi-
ness to start the fire. He put his hand
in his pocket, when TO his horror the
match safe was gone. Every pocket
was searched, but not match
could he find. He rified 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
L. l. y
companion in the face, II 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 kindling the fire? was the question
he asked himself. Under a fallen log
he found some dry, withered grass and
twigs, which he carefully put in his hat;
he whitfield sc me more shavings, pro-
cured more small limbs, and, with
prayer on his lips, knelt down, lit the
match, applied it to the grass, saw 1t
suddenly blaze up and as suddenly go
out; but before it did one Of the shaw
ings had ignited, the flame extended to
the rest and to the twigs. When they
blazed up he knew that they were saved.
Logs were piled on and the hardy pros
pector 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 be-
fore the fire, every now and again
throwing fresh log on, afraid to sleep
for fear of being frozen. When the
morning came the storm had passed,
and they started out after their stock,
which fortunately for them they found
not far from their improvised camp. On
returning to their first camp they en-
joyed substantial meal, and after buck
ing snow whole afternoon they sue
ceeded in getting of the fat-tops.
Their awful experience they never
will forget, and they are firmly con-
WINGED that a match saved their lives.
EANTC AnnlIH RANNMG-@MEo