Wichita eagle., 1890-03-01

| Dive and Tough ssrugsIe-Saved As BY
| Miracle.
The startling adventures Of express mesSen-
| gers and mail carriers amid the snow capped
Sier-ras would fiji volumes Many of these
| had fatal examinations and il is out a short
time since the papers of this state gave full
accounts Of the death OF Mail Carrier NAL
colin F. Mcleod, who persisted while in the
performance Of his duty between North
Bloomfield and Washington, in Nevada
county.
+. B. Whiting, a prominent attorney OF
| PlUInas county, then the proprietor of Viii
ting d Co Feather River express. gives us
the particulars of the following. lie was ut
that time engaged in carrying the express
from Oroville in Butte county, to the vari-
Gus mining towns in Plumas The tremen-
dous floods had partially inundated the great
valleys OF the Sacramento, Feather and
Yuba, and at the same time transformed into
lakes the small valleys of the mountains This
! rendered travel impossible, and the people of
Plumas were cut off from all news of the
great conflict then raging between the north
and the south. The eagerneSs for news and
the high prices paid for papers made it
great object with the express companies to
! take more than ordinary chances In getting
matter over the mountains
During the month of January Mr. Whiting
was confined by the high water for whole
week at Bucks ranch, while his faithful mes
senger, Bob Owen, was obliged TO remain at
Buckeye, SOME fourteen miles over the noun
tains Owen sterling of the Pine
Tree state, and realizing the great anxiety OF
the people to hear the latest news of the civil
war, he watched for the first chance to cross
the SUBMITS. The storm slightly abated, and
Bob strapped his snow shoes upon his feetand
his saddle pockets and nail bags upon his
back and started upon his perilous trip. The
long continued rains had swollen every little
creek, and through these Owen was obliged
to wade, for there were no bridges or foot
logs across the small creeks. The water was
icy cold, and poor Bob had not gone mile
till he was drenched TO the skin Slowly and
YEARLY he plodded on hour after hour over
Walkers plains, past the Old Palmetto and
up SoapstOne hill, each mile increasing his
altitude till he was nearly eight thousand feet
above the sea level. The cold winds upon his
wet clothing made him SILVER as though with
ague Once passed Frenchman s hill his trav-
cling was a little easier, but the day was fast
disappearing and he was yet some miles from
his destination.
Alone amid the black forests, almost
doubling his ability 70 hold oui till he could
reach Bucks, be could but think OF the
many who had persisted while crossing this
high ridge of mountains He recalled poor
Balm, Who had struggled 80 rnaaIGlly; he
thought Of the unfortunate Frenchman
whose tragic death bad given his name t.
the mighty peak he was then sending; he
taA fHa e a,yl
on this road from hunger and exposure, and
said to himself if a cross marked the grave
of each, as is the custom in some countries,
there would be at least one for every mile Of
distance The storm had uow resumed ia
fury, and Owen had 70 face this az he
struggled along under the heavy lead Of eE-
press and mali tie at last reached Bucks /
valley and congratulated himself that a mile |
or two further would end his hard trip
OF this he was heartily glad. for h" was /
well nigh worn out from his great exsrtions /,
and exposure all day 70 the storm, besides /
having to wade nunherless streams n ice |
cold water. He crossed one raging torrent |
upon a bridge. aud SAID to himself one more |
creek 70 cross and less than nile 20 travel I
and will be at Bucks Slowly making his ,
way, with visions u warm supper and a .
bright fire awaiting him 90 the end II his .
Journey, be came within sight II the second /
stream de suddeaiy started, taen stopped, /
and the blood ssene1 70 freeze n nn heart. 4
The bridge was gone.
1t was already fast growing dark. a. be rad .
been ali day il making tie thirteen miles 4
from Buckeye. he knew tnst ne would i
perish II he attempted % return ~ tne night, +
yet there was no possibility q crossing the /
mad food IN front q him. Thoroughly /
drenched ard sbiTeTiaz witn cold be drew
fortn his precious match box. tasaking hs 4
might be abse 20 start ire and remain by i. 4
during tie night. VITA uGr2u as4d haif frcssa 4
hands lie openesi tals, only u had thAs as hAd 1
net a single dry match.
Owen was u desp&lr. for toe alternative i
wa rrezentei u him q freezing upon tbs /
bank e that stream o. q piuarin- into u /
an teEe tie desperat~ e1aEcss IL Grouninz 1
There vas bgt itfls tsuza BEL ria. Tor corsss1-
erztsoa Dsrkasz va rssiciY setting dozn /
over tns mountains. and bs sneT Tia 4 20 /
attarapzed 10 remain sbeTe r. vas rs asnna
in tie rnoraIpE wonla ~ s<iae1 70 taz, q i
Bain. Tie gallant Frerckalsn spd others i
whose lives lad be>u lost Evs- f1inSfsl of .
tie ta&s ta&f lEsp~iisd hs1o 70 peri nlz ltfs. Re
ssaxnt q save lie sxsrea azs1 nns.l Taxing !
his ss8dls POCKETS, - therefore nnour ted a i
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