The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-13
TWODAYSUNDERTHESN
A DAKOTA RANCHMAN IN 4 BILE
card IN THE OPEN PRAIRIE.

The Indian Fashion OF WentherIpE n Fierce
snowatorm when Caught Far from Shelter
Sleep That came Under q snowdrirt-A
R~nnchman's Close Shave for Ms Life.
ut seemed q hard show for my life when tho
blizzard struck me in the open prairie. ten miles
from my house. If 1t hadn't been for old Black
Eagle, the Crow Indian chief. the coyotes would
have had the picking of my bones after that
storm" said s. d. Ermentrout, who was a ranch
man in Dakota before the Territory was organ
lied into two. States. "It was in February.
1881, and / had ridden in the morning of that
day from my ranch on Snake Creek to Marston
station. twenty-one miles away, to get some
picks sharpened. There was a high wind from
the south in the forenoon, which shifted sharply
round to the northwest at about 2 O'Clock In
the afternoon, about the time / started on my
return, 30 that l got the wind in my face
both going and coming. The morning had been
warm and sunny, but with the change of wind
the sky began to thicken and the air grew
piercingly cold. About eleven miles from my
ranch / overlook Black Eagle %plodding along on
foot, carrying the skin and hind quarters of an
antelope on his shoulders. He had been hunting
and had lost his horse in some way. l have for
gotten-I think. though, that a ranchman had
seized 1t as stolen property. 1 knew the old man.
and told him he could stay at my ranch over
night. Then I FASTENED on. for 1 had begun to
feel q little anxious about the weather. The
wind had increased SO that 1t was hard work to
force my horses pace beyond q walk, and 1t was
30 bitingly cold that l had TO bond my head
down to keep my face from freezing.
THE trail lay across open prairies, rising in
low swells. l climbed TO the top of one hillock.
and from 1t could see my ranch. plainly. stand
ing against what looked like u white cloud that
Allied the whole northern sky. AS l came to
cha aroat nj tha na~f aoninanoa n - n
mile beyond, tho cloud had closed about the
ranch. shutting 1t from my sight. and the mist
drew nearer me, hiding the distant landmarks
one by ore while / looked, ! recognized tho
fact that a hard snow squall. II not an out and
out blizzard. was coming my way fast, and
my first thought was to run before 1t for
Marston; but / could sec by the speed
with which 1t was advancing that 1t would
ovcrtako mo In n few minutes. A fine snow
like mist already was coming with the wind and
filled my eyes and nostrils when I tried to look
to tho north. From the top of the prairie swell
behind me ] saw Black Eagle signalling me to
come to him. turned my horses head and gal.
Hoped to whore the old man was waiting. stand
ing with his blanket mufied round his head and
his back to the storm. ASH drew alongside him
and ran with him back a few steps down the
slope. which took US a little out OF the full sweep
"'Gct of quick! Take saddle on he said, his
voice half drowned In the roar Of the wind. His
fingers were unfastening the bride strap as he
Tho horse was restless and trembling with
fear. As lifted the saddle and blanket from
head, and the horse. released from resIraint'
vanished from our sight in the flying snow that
our right isR t' a moaning hing sound tsSS to our pe eap 1h
and tho forms of two or three cattle, part of a
Seared for a few moments through the snow SR.
mis-. as they passed us and disappeared. Had
The indian did not delay to look asI the "c cattle Tie.
He was spreading the antelope skin on the
down. He clutched the two blankets. the one
bo had worn and my saddle blanket, tightly by
the edges to keep the wind frem blowing them
mNog you get Down. quick'' he said. Take
II had heard OF the Indians way, when over.
taken by a blizzard, OF rolling themselyes in a
the snow drift over them. making a coverlid to
shield them from, the storm and cold. Tho thing
had never struck me as inviting, or safe. for
nothing else to be done. l threw myself down
hind me for a pillow and wlnd.break. and the
Indian lay down beside me, We pulled tho
sG$i r sSSi n e Black Eagle from his pillow
BOWED blow 10 sn him aMS fe oaai we GG sssy Til he Gs sIo S%
The relief fron the driving wind with It's
Singing cold and suffocatinR snow was great,
now that we were fiat on tho ground beneath
our blanketg. As the snow drawn over tho crest
Of the ridge behind fell in showers upon us the
blanket beanie heavy with it's weight. My be-
numbed toes and fingers began 10 ache and
Jingle now and after this came q pleasant
at once. The RELIEF from the cold Was
80 grateful that very soon l found myself
growing drowsy: With that feeling came a
heard and read that people met who lat them.
selves be overcome by sleep out in the winter
cold. q sleep that naka0d iulO death nv franzin1 /
Then there was the consciousness that we were
being buried aliVO-by snow, indeed but WhO