The evening times., 1900-03-17
AFLoAT ON A CAKE OF ICE.
Thrilling Experience of south Da-
sOta CattIemnn.
Uron tbg =. Louis Globe.Democratl

(Fron the - Louis Globe Democratic
SIOUX FALLS 5. D.. Feb 2S-Aaoa
in the Missouri River on cake of ice
barely large enough to support the weighl
of man. with d wild range steer for 4
companion. and certain death staring him
in the face unless he was able to force
the animal from the frail and unique
| craft. the experience one day this
week of John Q. Anderson. a prominent
cattleman of the ceded Sioux land ranges
The scene of the thrilling adventure was
| near Crow Greek Indian Agency the de-
tails of the incident having just been re-
ceiVed here from an agency official. An
deTson has a contract with the Govern
ment to supply beef cattle at Crow Greek
Agency for issue to the Indians. He had
! just reached the agency with a large herd
which had been driven overland from the
nearest railroad point. thirty miles dis
tant, and before placing the animals in the
agency corral decided to water them at
the Missouri River. only short distance
away.
The channel Of the river at the watering
point is kept open all winter by the warm
water from an artesian well. which emp
ties into the river a short distance above
the landing. The recent cold weather had
however, frozen the river out about twenty
feet from shore, and by sanding the new
ly formed ice Anderson believed he could
water the beef herd in a long trough he
had cut through the ice, and that by get
ting in front of the animals himself would
be able TO keep them from slipping into
the channel or getting so far out as to
break through. The animals being wild
and thirsty, rushed down upon the ice il
bunch. The cattleman realized the dan
ger, but before he could drive enough of
the cattle back to shore to relieve the pres
sure on the ice the weight of the cattle
cracked the ice, tore it loose from shore
and Anderson suddenly found himself in
company with one steer, oating out In
the current on the cake of ice. After su-
perhuman efforts. he succeeded in pushing
his unwelcome companion into the river
when il swan back TO the shore. The cat
tleman now found himself floating rapidly
down the deep channel Of the river on
cake of ice that was none too thick or too
big to bear his weight, this fact having
been impressed on his mind while it was
sinking under the weight of himself and
the steer. About quarter of a mile down
the river heavy ice reached from shore to
shore His situation was now very critical
for only by the merest good fortune could
he hope TO reach the heavy ice before the
frail cake upon which he was being swept
down the river was sucked under the
nPaNleT ny lHe SNlll CuIEeHl. Al WDat
seemed to him lightning speed the cake of
ice upon which he was riding approached
the heavy white line which marked the
edge of the heavy ice stretching across the
river With rare presence of mind the cat
tleman saw that his chances of escaping
being carried under the heavy ice would
be materially bettered by his riding as
near the rear end of his strange craft as
possible. thus causing the forward end to
tilt higher out of the water Swiftly the
cake of ice with its human freight neared
the icy barrier. Anderson braced himself
for leap for life and just as the cake
came in contact with the heavy stationary
ice he put his whole strength into the
bound for life and safety. His leap was
well timed. and, reaching safety on the
heavy ice he glanced back just in time
to see the cake of ice upon which he had
taken his involuntary ride disappear I'M
der the ice which he had succeeded in
reaching.