, 1898-11-22
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Stockman Frank Benton Lost in Sun
days Storm.

Frank Benton. the well known stock
man, had a narrow escape from freezing
to death in the blizzard Sunday. says
the Sun-Leader. As it was he was out
part of the night and is now confined to
his home in ,lis city with a badly froz-
en- face and a crippled foot.
Mr.. Benton left Cheyenne yesterday
morning for the old Hillsdale ranch.
where he had $50 head of cattle which
Horse creek. Three cowboys, Charles
Conroy, Charles Williams and Everett
Bigsbee. started out with the cattle
about a mile ahead Of Mr.. Benton. who
was driving his team. The destination
Of the cattle was the Y cross ranch.
About 3 o'clock the blizzard came up
and 1t was impossible to see ten feet
ahead. Mr.. Benton lost sight of the
cowboys and cattle. The blizzard in
creased in severity and finally Mr.. Ben
tons team refused to now The horses
put their heads down and shivcred. but
would go no further. This was about
eight miles from Horse creek. Mr..
Benton turned his team in the other di-
rection and attempted to go back.
When about four miles from Hillsdale
the horses. blinded and frightened,
again refused to go. The driver then
turned and went with the storm, and
arrived in the vicinity Of Pole creek.
1t was then dark and an embankment
was encountered that the horses could
not mount. They were very cold and
would soon have frozen to death. Mr..
Benton had blankets and coats, and
could have kept warm. but to save the
team he knew he must turn them loose.
This he did, and barely had the harness
off when the freezing animals leaped
up the embankment and started in to
run to keep warm. Mr., Benton then
started in to walk to the railroad track.
He knew pretty well where he was and
knew the direction in which the wind
was blowing: but a person is apt to
think the direction of the wind changes
every little while. He at first made this
mistake and wandered for some time in
a circle, not being able to see three feet
in front OF his face. He finally reason
ed the matter out that the wind had
not changed, and that if he walked
straight, keeping the wind on his right
cheek, he would reach the road. He
executed this plan and 500 came to a
fence, which he followed until he came
to the railroad fence. where he found
the track. This was but three-Quarters
Of a mile from Hillsdale. but the walker
knew it not, and as he would be com
PEELED to face the wind he walked IN
the other direction eleven miles to
Egbert. When three miles on the track
from where he started he saw a mile
post telling the distance from Omaha.
He climbed the post and. figuring it out,
found that he had been within a short
distance of Hillsdale. He had walked
an hour, and rather than face the blind
ing wind and snow for three miles to
Hillsdale, he continued with the wind
to HIS BACK to Egbert, where he arrived
at 2 O'Clock this morning. He arrived
at Cheyenne at 8 O'Clock and it was
found that his face and ears were badly
frozen. He cut his heel on a wire and
then frosted the foot. This was in the
early evening and he walked the greater
part Of the distance on the lame foot.
Mr.. Benton is getting along nicely at
his home, East Twentieth street. He
feels worried about his cowboys. but it
is very probable that they are safe at
Horse Greek or Hillsdale. The rail-
road men saw MI. Benton's team graz
ing comfortably in sight of the railroad
track. Mr.. Benton had a narrow
escape. but under the circumstances is
to be congratulated upon escaping so
fortunately.