The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-11-29
LOST IN BLIZZARD
FOR THREE DAYS.
North Dakota Man Lives to Re
late His Almost Incredible
Experience.
LEGS AND ARMS WERE FROZEN.
Sat Upright in Driving Snow.
storm Seventy-Two Hours
Without Food, Water
OF Sleep.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Sterling. N. D.. Nov. 8.-Lost on the
prairie for three days and three nights
within little more than a stones throw OF
human habitations and exposed during all
that time to the fury Of one of the f1ercest
billiards. that ever swept over the North
west region-thfs is an experience that Jo-
Eeph Allen met with and still lives to tell
the tale.
He is a cripple and will remain one to
the day of his death, as a result of his en-
posure, but he bears his ills with fortitude
and good cheer. grateful in mis- heart thai
he is able to bear them and persuaded
firmly that his life was spared to him only
by direct Intervention Of a good and kind
Providence.
MI. Allen Is a well-known and prosper
Gus ranchman neal here, and he recently
went to his old home at Hazel Green. Wis.
to visit the scenes and friends Of his
youth. He returned to Sterling by way Of
Chicago, going to that city to consult a
Specialist in the hope that something
more might be done for his badly crippled
hancs, arms. feet and legs. But the spe-
could be lone for his relief had already
been done and that he must continue 10
suffer from his injuries as long as he
The story Of Mr.. Aliens experience laws
d neavy tax on ones ~credulity, but every
word OF 1t as here related is vouched for
ux tne ranchman himself. and he Is a
main Incidents of the story are vouched
Ior by others, too-neighboring ranchmen
and town folk. who saw him In his terri
pie sunerings Immediately after the storm
wa over and when he had found shelter.
6dTly one morning n wear QOn 1oof
March Mr.. Allen hitched a team Of spir-
ied horses to a cutter, sleighing being
80 so1 Stand and set out to drive from his home
morning had broken bright and clear, and
when he had left the inch there were no
indications that a storm was brewing.
STORM CAME UP SUDDENLY.
But weather conditions undergo radical
changes with well-nigh incredible sudden
ness in this region. and Mr.. Allen had
not driven more than two miles when the
wind shifted and f%reshened. and the sky
clouds. The ranchman had lived in the
Northwest long enough to read Alright
6nese signs OF approaching storm. and his
nlst Impulse on observing. them was to
urn around and drive back to his home
with all possible speed. But 1t wa so
late IN the season that he persuaded him
sell the storm would be Of short duration
then. too. he thought his team of blooded
roadsters would get him to town and
BACK to the ranch again ere it could
reach Its height, So he grasped his whip
and. urging the horses forward at the top
OF their speed. continued on his way.
Beiore he had gone another mile the
wind was blowing a gale and fine parti-
cles Of snow were swirling through the
cold. sharp air In great clouds. The wind
increased rapidly in velocity, the snow
came down thicker and faster, and within
a few minutes after the sky had become
overcast an old-fashioned North Dakota
blizzard was raging in all its fury.
Such winter storms are known only to
the far Northwest, INT no one who has
not lived in this region and been exposed
to them can a an adequate conception
Of tier severity. Oftentimes thousands Of
horses: cattle n sheep perish on the
these fierce. cruel billiards., and not in
frequently human beings lose their way
snd are frozen to death within a few
yards Of their own houses.
Unable to4see his horses, SO furiously
was the storm raging. and suffering acute-
" from the biting wind and the sleet-
like snow It hurled fercely in his face in