New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-24
COVERED WITH SNOW.
A TELEGRAPHER'S EXPERIENCES.
now JIM DooDY SPENT TEN DAYS IN EN-
FORCED CONFINEMENT AND SIX DAYS
WITH INDIANS.

,dlnr the operators assembled at the Telegraph CuD
" Cortlandt-st. to await orders. AS usuai "hci
,eegraphers come together. the men diVdeo up inOo
,.epdy groups and told stories TO each other James
pdt one Of the experts entertained some Of his
,dends by telling how "Jim" Do0dy became showed
under for ten days on the Northern Pacific Road
an was I'm 1877 said MI. Bradt that Jim, who
was then in Omaha received an ofer OF S2oo Hohth
q, uperntend the building of the telegraph line over
. section of the Northern Pacific In Dakota. The
oser was a good one especially as the man filling tue
Mace would have no opportunity TO spend his money.
and when the lob should be completed would have
snug sum coming to him. The only drawback was
that he would have to go into wild country and
rough It. for a few months. After some consideration
Jim accepted the offer and went north He found
that no was to accompany gang OF lnemen, who
were TO string the wires fast the track was laid
moving his instrument. box relay, every day to the
end of the hne where he could cut In and report to
HEADQUARTERS The men had tents TO sleep in, and
the company provided them with provisions from a
construction train moving westward to the end of the
line as II advanced each day.
"When the cold weather set in in the fall the men
were anxious to get back to headquarters. they
feared the approach Of billiards. The weather was
fine and clear. however. and the orders to
tnue operations to meet, II possible. the gang
at work building another section toward the east.
One night severe storm set in. the blowing
fercely into the tents. II was of short duration.
however, but it thoroughly frightened the and
they insisted upon being taken back at once TO cvlza
ton. Their fears Increased too. by signs which
indicated that Indians had been in the noighborood
OF the survey trail at q recent date The men were
almost mutinOus. and report of the situation was
teegraphed to headquarters. Orders then came 10
build storehouse leave the supplies in IT, bring
the men. tracklayers and ALL back TO Bismarck
"At that time the end Of the line had reached the
hnly. welltmbered country between Little Missouri
River in Dakota and Powder River in Montana, and
Am
The work OF making excavations for a cut through
elevation had ALREADY begun when the order for
the retreat was given. 1t was decided TO buid the
stOrehouse In the cut where ii would be protected
from the fierce winds from the northwest country
The stores were ali slowed away and made snug for
che winter when Doody received orders to stay and
watch the stores until arrangements could be made TO
have them guarded They consisted of canned and
salted meats, canned vegetables. oil and whiskey
there being three barrels of frewatcr Jim objected
to staying. but after he found that he would have
stovQ plenty Of fuel, two rifles. O shotgun and two
revolvers TO amuse TO comfort himself with, he
decided to remain, being assured that he would be
relieved in few DAYS. The thought of the fine sport
he might have shooting deer a strong factor in
influencing him. lie the only one in the party
able to telegraph, and the company was anxious to
have him remain for short time, at least He
wished many times afterward that he had peremptory
declined.
"For TWO days Jln with q rifle on his shoulder,
srolled about looking for something TO shoot and
the second day was lucky enough TO kill fine buck
within mile Of the storehouse. He succeeded in
dragging his prey to the hut. and Jared sumptuouSy
that night Toward morning ii began 10 and blow
as it does only in that wild region Jim dragged
the carcass Of the deer, which was already frozen,
into the sorehOuse. and settled down to enjoy him
self best he could 1t showed all day and all
night. when to Jim's dsmay the cut was full OF
aDdh his lutxro atpIx Tba
had dTtfted into the cut and packed itself into
as solid as a glacier. When he tried 10 open the
door and looked he found it immovable against the
walls Of heavy snow all around and above ii. That
II was still showing was shown by the fact that the
chimney began to stop up and his fire to get low.
To be without fire meant freezing to death and Jim
piled on the wood TO keep the snow in the
chimney melted. lie succeeded only partially, for the
fire burned low at times and almost went out.
The days and nights passed with Jim close
prisoner. The wire had been broken by the storm
and he could not report the serious condition OF
affairs TO headquarters. His only of obtaining
ventilation by the chimney, and after three days
he suffered much from need Of fresh air. He had
plenty to eat and was kept by the fire, while
the itself served protection from the wind
The hours dragged along tedously. The only reading
matter in the nut q sensational weekly story
paper containing weird tale called "Thc Lovers
Leap; the Tragedy Of scully's Gulch." Jim told
% a ser that he read the paper throagh three
then backward. lie read II until be wished he had
chance TO leap from something himself At night he
could hear the wind whistling about his chimney and
occasionally he would lie and listen TO the bowling Of
the wolves the cries of the fierce mountain lions
they passed by on the snow overhead.
Ten days had passed when Jim about made up his
mind to smash his only window and by crawling out
into the snow Try to get 10 the level plain aud make
his way to the nearest settlement thirty miles
easns S Chances II this deon w one Morning me &c
heard strange noises overheard as of voices IN ant
mated conversation: Then came sounds OF digging,
and heavy form glided down past the window The
next moment the ugly face Of Sioux Indian peered
In az the now frightened Jim, who seized one OF his
a'Cgh' Injun friend; no shoot said grur voice,
friendly, he PUT his hand and said, How Pm
friend, too" In little while nine other savaees ap-
peared, and excavation made in the snow wide
enough TO permit the door 10 open Then the Indians
all came in ard soemnly took seats around the fire.
pa hss w .na f he n & esa Ts 0ns @
we're out hunting game and had seen little smoke
Investigated hoping to get something. 70 eat.
Jim saw opportunity 10 cOnCilate the Indians
and prepared tlcm hearty meal, which they ate win
much enjoyment. Rather unwsely, after they had
eaten he gave them some whisky. =, How the red
more and they kept saying 1t until they were all
stupidity and drunkcnncss was followed by sleep
The next day Jim asked If the indians would help him
TO reach the settlement and they scowed at the pro
posal Heap big snow; no walk white man freeze
said the leader who turned lovingly toward the
wnskey barrel The indians got drunk again 1 ia
pleaded with them again the next day 20 be taken 10
ocuIly's springs. but the Zig Jnlun tOld MIN
lngly that there rcwater 10 be had by going 10
the settlement that they nicely situated where
they were and were disposed to stay as long as the
whiskey lasted. jim saw that il was use 70 plead
or 20 argue and decided to make the best Of the Stna
ton. Every day was orgy. and at times the poor
follow thought he would be slain and scalped. But
the savages were bent on having high old time, not
Oh murder, and they let Jim alone.
II was on The sixteenth day Of inns confinement
mat inc WHISTLE OF locomotive was heard in the
tance tate In the afternoon The Indians seized their
rapidly disappeared over the hill toward Powder River
" nghuall jim was rescued and he and the stores
taken back TO Bismarck they shoud have heen
in the first place. jim came back 10 Omaha with
his pockets fun OF money. hut said that he wouldn't
90 through MS experiences again for whole railroad"
DAKOTA GEYSER
from The indianapolis Journal Chamberlain IS. d.