The Anaconda standard., 1896-01-03
FROzE BOTH HIS FEET
James Gallagher Has Terrible Ex-
perience in the Snow.
BUT ONE MEAL IN TWO DAYS
He Famished for Water When He
Found It 1t Made Him Sick
In Snow Drifts Up to
His Neck.

James Gallagher is at st. AIMS hos
pttal with two badly frosted feet and
Is very thankful to be there on a cot
instead of frozen solid in a snow bank
between Anaconda and Jerry creek.
He had been prospecting with two
companions on the headwaters of Jer-
ny creek all winter. but decided on
Tuesday morning to return to civil
ization. Across the mountains Jerry
creek is about 80 miles from this city
over an unbeaten trail From camp to
a Travelled road which leads to Wun-
derlich's station is only eight miles.
but that involves a railroad ride and
a circuit of nearly 100 miles.
- Gallagher is young and stout and an
old-timer in the hills, so he thought
that the shortest route was the quick
1est He was warmly clad and taking
uenough food for a lunch set out con-
sfidently, expecting to reach Anaconda
in time for supper. The snow was
deeper than he thought and the road,
ssup one hill and down another. was a
long one, and before he knew ii the
ssun was near down. He climbed hill
>and, as he looked about, he could see
Butte, Silver Bow and Anaconda The
SNista was a pleasing one and 1t looked
sas though all he had to do was TO go
down this hill, up another one. to de-
rscend to the track through the Silver
rBow canyon. He went down the hill
Shut before he reached the top or the
other one darkness was upon him and
.he had to camp for the night, he
vbuilt fire and slept before 1t on pine
Eboughs all that night, watching the
old year out and the new year In under
the canopy of the stars and the clouds.
- At daybreak he was ready to renew
the tourney and with the hope or
something to eat he made an extra
effort. But thirst affected him most
and eating of the snow only made IL
worse. AS he attempted to hurry ne
faII over trees and stumps buried In
the snow. Once he struck his knee cap
which nearly killed him, but he houn-
dered on and this, the second oay' was
nearly gone when at last ne fookeu
over the brow of the canyon ana saw
below him the glistening coat OF oh-
yer Bow creek.
down the hill, so eager was ne TOT
1vater that he plunged knee deep into
the creek and drank the muddy stun
polluted as 1T is with the tailings from
the smelters OF Butte, The orihh
strengthened him however, ana ne
started again along the track west
ward. Darkness had come again long
before he trudged past Gregson
Springs, but the walking was good ana
though a light twinkled in the sectlon
house window he determined to press
OH ;to kflacpnda. He had gone pul
short distance farther when storm
struck him, binding snow storm.
Then wanderer turned back TO
stop at the section house, but II was
dark and Gallagher says he was feel
ing pretty good In spite of his expert
ences, SO good that he did not want to
awake anybody up. especially stran-
gers. So he piodded on towards Ana
conda Then came a time which Tor
hardship and exposure set all his past
troubles at naught The dirty water
made him sick and he became weak.
With his weakness cold began to seize
: bis limbs, and he was unable to keep
them warm by his lack of strength.
train passed him as he lay sprawled
in a snow drift to rest, and as IL was
running slowly a brakeman yelled TO
him to catch on to the caboose, but he
+ could not do 1t, not being able to clutch
the iron rail. He gave himself up to
die several times, but as he rested
strength came again and he struggled
on till at last he reached Mill Creek.
In going from the track to the slaugh-
ter house boarding house he got stuck
in snow drift and well nigh perished
, in sight of safety. He crawled out and
at last made the inmates of the house
hear his cries, and they came to his
rescue. Everything possible to aid him
was then done and yesterday Gallag-
her was brought to the hospital He
will not suffer any inconvenience II is
thought except for having a pair of
tender feet for a few weeks to come,