Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12
AN INCIDENT OF THE BLIzzARD.

ure from my breath had congealsd in ny
beard until that appendage felt like an iron
mask. My legs were stiff and heavy; my
shoulders ached. Ny respiration had be-
come painful and laborious; my heart action
so faint as to induce sickness similar to that
which one suffers at sea.
And finally. to cap the climax, when
reached the station, I found chain stretched
across the entrance to the staircase, and q
plaeard announcing that no trains were
running. So that had earned my labor
for my pains; and there was nothing for me
to do but to turn my face back toward nohe
and retraee my steps. C--~.sr
Exhausted as was then, set forth at
once upon that undertaking. OF course 1t
was exceedingly imprudent for me to do 30,
without first seeking shelter in some shop,
and there resting until I had in measure
recovered nv strength. But suppose did
not at the momentr realize how far gone was,
and the prospect of regaining the comfort ok
my own freside was deliciously tempting
one. So of / started, down Fifty-third
street toward Second avenue.
Very soon, however, had reason to Fe-
pent my rashness. Midway in that block q
mountainous drift of snow stretched diagl
onally across the road. I was half blinded,
my wits were half frozen; 1 underestimated
its depth, and plunged boldly into 1t. Next
instant / found myself buried up to my
nose. I struggled to push on. Ny legs
were as immovable as If bound with ropes.
Then strove to dig myself free with my
hands. Ny arms, too, 1 learned, were pin
ioned as in o straight waistcoat.
Here was pleasant predicament; and one
that constantly increased in interest. For.
to say nothing Of the deadly and aggressive
cold, the snow was pouring down upon me
by the bucketfulj and I Appreciated verv
vividly the fact that unless I speedily
effected an escape, I should be covered oVer
my head.
My only hope, it was obvious, lay in cali
ing for assistance. Whether other human
beings we're within hearing distance or not,
/ had no means of discovering; for so opaque
was the atmosphere rendered by the multi
tude of snoWhakes that filed it, I could see
nothing beyond radius of two o. three
yards; and even the houses that Essd the
street were indistinguishable, except when
by fits and starts, for q second at g time, the
wind rent asunder the veil that hid them.
However, my only hope lay IN trying the
experiment of call; and that did with
the utmost energy could command.
''Help! Helpr' cried.
But at the sound of my voice, my heart
sank. It was the still small ghost Of itself
10 Suen degree nad bne exposure and the
hardships of the last half hour depleted nv
physical resources. And besides dampened
by the blanket of snow in which was en-
veloped, and lost in the roar of the nurri.
cane, the likelihood that 1t would carry be-
yond rod in any direction seemed infn-
itesimally slight.
HWell, am LOST thought J, ''here not
500 yards from my own doorstep, lost as
as if wrecked in midocean.
Well, they say death by freezing is compar-
atively painless. It viii soon be over,
But"
Suddenly, with the desperate unreason-
ableness of man in extremities-like him,
who drowning, clutches at ehip,--I re-
peated my feeble signal of distress "Helpl
Helpp'
waited half minute, and repeated il
for third time: "Helpi'
Conceive my emotions to hear instantly,
and from Immediately behind me, the re-
Sponse, in the lustiest of barytonss: 'tHello
therel''
Heaven be praisedp' I gasped. Then,
'Can you help me out of this drift7''
II shouldn't wonder" came the reply.
I'll try, anyhow"
And Herewith felt myself seized by two
strong arms, lifted from off my feet, and q
moment later set down upon 9 spot Of the
pavement which the wind had swept nearly
,lean, where had chance to see and to
hank my rescuer.