The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-04-25

the children had fortunately been sitting
when the load overturned.
While digging for them he had pre-
pared "nest, as he termed it, for the
three small ones, and he now ordered
them to get in there while he tucked the
blankets around then. Frightened and
hushed by the terrific storm, they obeyed
without a murmur, and the brave young
fellow told them that they must "cuddIe
close together and never peep outside
till they heard him call them.
He said that he would 90 and bring
them something to eat as soon as he
could get back from Mr. WaIdeman' S
across Gull Lake, aud then after the
blizzard was over they would all 90
home.
He knew the snow would drift over
them in very few minutes, and be-
lieved that if they kept quiet their
breath would warm the ''nest, and no
doubt keep them alive for many hours.
But he knew also that such billiards
have been known to last with undated
fury for two or three days, and that there
was little Likelihood of their being able
to outlast such storm. Therefore, his
only hope was to reach help if possible,
and get it to them the moment it should
be possible to breast the blizzard.
Gull Lake lay over mile distant, di-
rectly to the southeast. 1t was one mile
and a half across II, and on the other side
lay Waldeman's ranch, large group of
buildings, dwellings, barns and shedding
for stock, enclosed by a large yard which
stretched along the lake shore for forty
rods or more
Dick hoped that he might be able to
reach this ranch and to find it.
Buttoning his oyercoat tightly about
him and pulling Norwegian cap
which he wore tightly down over his ears,
he set out, going directly with the storm,
which came from the northwest
He started at a stiff run. The wind
nearly lifted him of his feet at every
step, and cut the backs of his legs and
the sides Of his cheeks icily.
He soon found it impossible to tell
whether he was going directly with the
wind or not, as it blew in chaugeful gusts
and whirled violently about HIM. But
there was a mile OF lake shore in front.
assi he rgarhel it aE-.length and found
( hiinsei1 upon the ice.
1t had now grown dark, and amidst
the pitchy blackness Of night and the
thick drift of snow he could no longer
make use of his eyes. In fact, he was
obliged to shut them and allow himself
to be carried over the ice by the wind. A
part Of the time he was able to keep his
feet, but often he was thrown forward
and actually blown over the rough ice
for rods. The skirt Of his overcoat &C
casionally blew over his head, and the
bitter wind pierced every part of his
body.
It was a rough and terrible experience
getting across the lake and he was Glad
he had not attempted to take his broth
ers and sisters with him.
When he at len,sth reached the south
ern bank he was so chilled and ex-
bansted that he could scarcely keen his
feet at ALL The bank was biob al the
point where he res~hed it. and he knew
It could not be onnosite the ranch fence
rs the HIGH hank was west of that So
he turned and alternately walked and
crawled eastward Guided in that direc.
ton bv the wind
For long time he forced his wav
alono the edge of the ice which was
swept bare Guided bv the sense of feel
inc and the direction OF the wind but at
lepoth he stumbled AGAINST sometime
and ioyfullv discovered it to be a fence
As If afterwar5 nroved IT was an ex-
tension of the cattle-vard a corner Of
which was built down into tue edge of
the lake 10 afford wafer for the STOCK
and had he missed it by even a few feet
he would undoubtedly have perisbed.
The discovery of it gave MIN new life
at once and aroused all his faculties. He
climbed over the fence so as m oct inside
the ward and then bv feeling followed
if until he came to connection with the
cattle-sbed.
Once in the shelter of those he wbinned
his nnmbed arms and slammed his chilled
feet until Circulation nartIv restored
then felt his wav along 70 the harm and
AZ Iengtb nanoged to roach tbe ranch
dwelling a,,;ded bv the thinner Of a i;gbt
,,,,;cb he oo,,Id soo tbro7,r,b tba s+or-1
He was welcomed and warmed and
fed and rronise5 tbat l,v o,erv ,,oss;ble
effar, that co,Id he msdc the b men should
holm hin, 70 resc,e his brother ond s,s-
fers when davligbt came
D;cl- found Fiat he bod esconed with
only sl;ebt frostin1, Of HE foca ond fin
oerS hut he .na,,is5 On 90, acc ON Of tbo
REL ones he ba5 Ioft bnr;o5 ~ .ba bau
was intense III. did not sloon a. al b,;t
wsIleJ the aoo- If Tho ~ ranab L I,;tobon
ovbere he v,as oilon,od 70 ,aa ,,-', -oar
five all niabt Ererr fo - IooD,o "a IS
wonId go 10 tho v;nd I 1919 soratab 81
frost and endesvor 70 moor ont ''i int tbo
storro f'o' Wv NV VIZ
He could rather no announcement nm
I'll davligbt whom he discoTereS I'i tbot + H.