The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-01
WILD NIGHT ON SAND BAR.
Two Hunters in the Northwest Have
Rough Experience

Rough Experience.
South Dakota Letter in Chicago Chronicle.
All night on little sand bar in the
Missouri river, with the temperature be-
low the freezing point, dressed in summer
attire and with the chilling spray from the
waves caused by fierce north gale DASH
ing over them constantly. was an expert
ence which befell Tom Maxwell ex-con-
ductor on the Milwaukee road, and Pat
rick McGoldrick, both residents of Bon
Homme county
The past few weeks have been distin-
guished by the sudden change from warm
to cold weather and from cold to warmer,
the weather in this particular having been
more 1ckle even than that usually expe-
rlenced during the bosterous month Of
March. A few afternoons ago, when the
sun was warm and the wind was balmy.
making it in every respect an ideal spring
day, Maxwell and AIcGoldrich took their
guns and went to the Missouri river to
shoot wild geese, which are this spring
more abundant than usual along the riv-
err Seeing large flock light on a small
sand bar out near the middle of the
stream, the hunters procured boat and
set out for the bar. While engaged in
constructing a small shelter to conceal
fierce and chilling north wind suddenly
sprang up, soon lashing the water into
foam. Neither of the men was accustom-
ed to boating on the treacherous Missouri
and, fearing that their little craft would
capsize if they attempted to make their
way to shore, they concluded to remain
where they were with the hope that some
one on shore would see and rescue them
from their perlous position before dark
ness set in.
Their hopes were doomed to disappoint-
ment, for no one appeared within hailing
distance of their unique prison. Every
moment the wind was increasing in yeoc-
ity and becoming colder. The two unfor-
tunate hunters had not provided them
selves with overcoats and were dressed
in light clothings affording but little pro
lection against the Klondike blasts which
assai,ed them from the north. The sun
was steadily sinking taking from them its
genial warmth and adding to their discom-
fort. Up and down the river the view was
obscured by the swiriing masses or clouds
of sand which were carried through the
air by the shrieking gale.
Scurrying clouds passed over their heads
steadily thickening until the sky was com
pletely overcast. Soon snow began to fall
and the needlelike PARTICLES driven by the
now bowling blizzard which swept by
ed parts of their persons and stung them
to madness. The sand bar was too small to
permit of much exercise, such as running.
to keep the blood from chilling in their
veins.
The wind was now so high that the
spray from the immense waves was being
constantly dashed over them In a short
time they were completely drenened by the
icy water. Every energy was employed to
keep their blood in circulation and prevent
succumbing TO the deadly and numbering
torpor which seemed determined upon
mastering and overwhelming them. The
wild shrek of the wind will for many DAYS
and nights ring in their ears, an ugly re-
minder of their well-nigh fatal adventure
on the lonely Missouri river sand bar With
the advent of the day their relatives and
friends, who had been uneasy because of
their failure to return the previous even
ing, determined upon commencing a search
for them. 1t was not until about 8 o'clock
in the morning that the men were discov-
cred on the little sand bar and rescued af-
ter considerable difficulty. They had not
fast and struggle for life against such
overwhelming odds had utterly worn them
out When rescued they were more dead
than alive. Upon reaching Running Water
physicians were Immediately telegraphsed
for. BY hard and unceasing work the two
men were resuscitated and life was again
restored to their exhausted bodies AT pres
ent they are doing well and consider it al
most miraculous that they escaped from
what they had thought was certain death