Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-12-28
A BITTER EXPERIENCE
Two WilImar Youths Narrowly
Escape Freezing to Death
North Of City.

ly enough heat to keep from fre zing
to death was the fate of Fordie Mar
shall and Walter Carlson, aged re-
spectively 10 and l6 years. They " ere
found about $3.50 hsls morning at the
Skoog & Anderson slaughterhouse,
one mile north OF the city, stiff and
numb from cold, after having spent
the entire night within It's desolate
walls. Fordie was discovered stretch
ed out at full length in corner, pale
as death and with his limbs hard and
swollen. His cOmrade Walter, who
was more heavily dressed, had stood
the cold aud exposure better. He was
found lying on top Of the furnace and
altho somewhat numbed he was able
to help himself. Realizing the pre-
carious condition OF Fordie, Mr..
Hegtveidt at once pulled Off his over
coat, wrapped it around the frozen
boy together with sacks and blankets,
placed him in his sleigh and hurried
to the city as fast as he could make
his horse 60 and soon the boy was
Under q DOCTORS care at his home on
Seventh street. He Is now resting
comfortably and the attending ply
sician does not think that any serious
conse queuces will result. Walter also
rode to town with Mr.. Hegtveidt, after
which he walked to the home of his
grandfather, Mr.. Strandberg, where q
good rubbing down and q cup of hot
coffee soon restored him to his usual
good spirits.
According to the information &C.
cured from the boys they left their
homes Monday forenoon to go rabbit
hunting. After having roamed about
on the prait ie north OF the city during
Monday they spent Monday night at
the home Of Mrs. Nels Gustafson, i've
miles from this city.
Yesterday about noon they started
for home and at two O'Clock they ar
rived at the home of Ole Jacobson,
where they had dinner. BY that time
the snow storm had developed into a
bli2z ard but nevertheless they decided
upon the advice Of Mr.. Jacobson, to
brave the elements and about four
O'Clock they started for home. The
terrible wind and the heavy snow
drifts made walking Almost impossible
and when they had come as far
as the slaughterhouse they decided
to take rest and warm up before pro.
ceeding farther. After a 10 minutes
rest they resumed their way homeward
but when they had walked only a
short distance Fordie complained OF
being tired and cold and fearing to
get lost if they should attempt to cross
the lake in such q blizzard they final.
ly decided to return to the slaughter.
house. Here they tried to warm their
feet by sticking them into the lower
part Of the furnace. The heat, how
ever, was insufficient and Fordie soor
became unable to hell himself. Wher
w alter tried to remove the shoes from
his comrades feet he found that they
had frozen to the stockings and it was
\ only by exerting hims elf that he was
able to remove them. Walter found
a bushel basket and having cut this
to pieces he started q FIRE. Some fue
found in the room was added to tht
fire, but in spite of all his efforts Wal
ter saw his companion getting colder
and colder. Finally Fordie wrapped
his coat and some sacks around hi
feet and lay down in corner, where
he spent the night. Walter kept tn,
fire a-go'ng till three o'clock in tht
morning, when he tried to take a nap
Thus they spent the night only a mile
from their warm and comfortable
homes, with the wind bowling al
around them, the snow creeping il
thru every crevice In the house, with
out any more light than that shed up
on the desolate scene by the spare fr'
in the furnace. This was no doub
the dreariest and longest night tn
boyshave ever spent and 1t is certai,
! tn at f. will never he f0rpOtten