Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1896-12-18
CRIPPLED.
DR.. BOardman finds it impos-
sible to save David Nc
LeO(lS Feet.

1t is seldom that We are called on
to chronicle anything so sad as the
misfortune which befell Daniel Nc
Leod during the recent blizzard.
Like tbunder-bolt from clear sky
it swept down upon him carrying
away the fruits of years OF patient
toll and leaving him helpless Grip
pie.
DR.. Boardman was called to La
Moure Monday, aud found his feet
SO badly frozen that he bad to ampu-
tate both about four inches above the
ankle joint. The doctor has hopes
that he will now get along all right.
Mr.. Mcleod was one OF the early
settlers in this section. He took up
land on the west side of the river and
by hard labor has developed fine
100 acre farm with comfortable build
ings just two miles west of town.
He has been firm believer in stock
and has been working that way for
some time. Last summer he con-
cluded that if he went into the stock
business as extensively as he wished
to it would be necessary for him to
get where he could have more range.
So he went up north of Bismarck aud
located ranch. Later he returned,
rented his farm tc Ed Sanderson;
moved his family to LaMoure where
they were spending the winter with
relatives, and started with his band
of 200 sheep and some cattle to
drive throug gh to his new location.
The jamestown Alert tells the
story of his struggles in the blizzard
as follows:
With bunch Of 200 sheep he left
Oakes last spring to locate on the
Missouri river in the vicinity of Coal
Harbor, a point in Mclean county 10
miles north of Bismarck. The sheep
were left with ranchman in La
moure county during the summer
and this fall the drive resumed, Just
previous to the storm the little band
reached Pony Gulch where Mr.. Me-
Leod left them until he could get
assistance from Coal Harbor to help
drive the remaining distance, There
he secured tho services Of a man
whose first name was Floyd; last
name unknown.
The stock was driven all day We'd
nesday. but Thursday camp was
made in little gully in tho hills
among tho brush. Tho men had no
protection from the storm except
their blankets. The storm continued
Friday, but the provisions gave ou,
and the men started for ii ranch
when they believed was but a short
distance away. Floyd turned at the
end Of the first mile saying he could
not face the storm ;he would stay at
camp and await the return of Mr. Nc
Leod. Mcleod got lost and in his
wanderiugs came back to the camp
shortly afterwards but saw no trace
of his man, He decided to make
another attempt and walked all that
night and Saturday reached the
ranch of Alexandria McAllister, in
the Dog Den hills. He remained
there for over week without medi-
cal attendance and was only brought
to Velva on Tuesday night alter
heroic efforts on the part of MIR. Nc
Allister. 1t took four teams aud a
number of men to break the road
through that distance, about forty
miles. John Petit brought MIR. Nc
Leod to the city returning this morn
ing.
When the party left the McAllister
ranch nothing had yet been heard of
Floyd. An attempt was TO be madc
at the first opportunity to reach the
place of camp and rescue any of the
sheep if they were yet alive. MIR.
Mcleod said the last time he was
in the camp Friday some of the sheep
we're there and alive although the
team and COW were dead. A cali
was still alive however. His mittens
froze to his hands and he was unable
to start fire, there was no protec-
ton from his hay rack, aud so he
tramped on through Friday night.
He was not aware that his feet were
frozen until after he reached the Me-
Allister ranch, His nose and chin
were badly frosted but his hands
were untouched.