The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1904-08-20

mDft OF using olS WORMS loT WY
small experiences. Every fall in the
mercury becomes II cold wave, and
every decent, ordinary storm is dubbed
IL blizzard AS n matter of fact. the
genuine Western blizzard, when the
air is full of singing, singing. frozen
particles. blowing six ways to Sun
day, when n man can't see SIX feet in
front of him, when ali landmarks are
lost, and all signs fail. is something
of which the Eastern Stntes are bless
edIy ignorant. Such an one came with
in the experience of the Rev. John
Eastman. of South Dakota, and lie has
never forgotten II. nor Is he likely to.
Mr. Eastman is II member of the indie
wakantan Sioux. an Indian with all
the Indian stOicism, which belittles
hnrdships for which the white race
would find few words strong enough.
Yet his description of that nights nd
ventures are thrilling enough to prove
that the word blizzard Is not one to he
lightly applied TO any little four-lnch,
we--belfaved city snow fall.
1t was one Saturday evening when
Mr.. Eastman had been sitting coziiy
in front OF cracking fire after din
ner. thinking over his sermon for the
following day. He was tired and the
warmth and quiet were very grateful.
But he remembered that his horse was
tired, too. He had driven him twenty
miles that day and put him up I'M
blnnketed. And so. though he did not
usually attend to the animals until
Just before he went to bed, he decid-
ed to go out and make them comfort
able early. and be done with chores
for the night. G
1T was only step from house to
barn. says DR.. Eastman. Il did not
think it worth while to take a lantern.
but did put on an Overcoat when l
saw how stormy 1t was outside. 1t
was black night and there was
blizzard OH. The wind was In my fnce
and the fine hail siung like shot from n
gun. 1t fairly bit my cheeks. 80 that
rs 1 crossed the garden 1 turned to
have the wind at my back and get my
breath by walking backward n few
minutes. saw the light in the house
glowing family through the sleet. as
l walked. Then for II few minutes
bent my head and butted into the
storm. When turned again for BREATH
ing space I could not see the house.
Neither, though knew had not gone
far enough. could find the barn. 1
realized that had gone wrong some
how, but 1t was not for some minutes
that l understood, that the situation
was serious and began to look for 1t.
1 should have thought I could find my
way to 1t bllndfOlded. but here l was
zig-zagging back and forth aud get
ting nowhere.
II don't know how long I cruised
around as a dog would search n trail.
1t probably was only few minutes.
hut 1t seemed an hour. 1t was the
longest part OF the nights experiences.
I was slow t. confess to myself That,
keen as 1 believed I was in prairie
craft. was really lost. and could not
help myself even n little bit. l sup
pose went around in circle, but
there was no proof to my mind of the
fact.
THE place was the prairie Mt Flan-
dreau, where I'now live. 1t is as level
as this floor, and is now well settled.
but then 1t was miles to any other
house Every inch of the prairie was
like every other inch. When l knew
1 was lost 1 made up my mind to be
as long as possible in freezing to death.
l gave up trying to find the burn and
Just walked without thinking where
was going. kept saying: Walk, walk,
walk
THAT was easier said than done.
haven't said anything about the cold.
But 1t was cold. 1t was the most nw-
full cold a man can feel. But 1 well
coined every twinge as an assurance
that l was holding my own. fighting
of the numbness that would have
meant death. My feet kept alive
by running every little while. or
course. 1 went With the wind good
deal. l realized that l shouldn't, and
called myself coward and forced
myself as moral duty to face it. And
fancy IT was this moral duty TINT
saved my life-kept me fighting some,
thing all night. though for that matter
1 fought myself. calling myself n fool
all the time. l pornded myself and
occasionally even kicked myself.
Some time in the night the temper
AZURE must have moderated. AT any
,,,te, the snow began to stay where II
fell. have about given up all hope
of living wien suddenly I noticed II
was harder to walk through the snow
Then I bepnn to feel sleepy 1t grew
on me and thought l would lie dowr
and rest. for was very tired. But
rebcllcd against this as piece of folly
I kicked myself and again called my
self fool.
Then the first I knew was dowi
on my hands and knees in the snow
I guess did not much realize my dan
ger. I remember I noticed the snow
drifting around me. I had my bac'
to the wind. had found horses an,
cattle frozen to death. standing will
Al, tv,yt