New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-06-21
HIS HORSE SAVED HIS LIFE.
Story Told OF Bishop Whipple's
Horse, Bashaw.
Perilous Trip From New Uln to
Lower Sioux Agency.
Intelligent Animal Carries Him to
Safety Through Storm.

verybody in Minnesota is interest
ed in anything connected with the life
and works of good Bishop Whipple
He had great love for animals as we'll
as men, and especially did he love his
horse Bashaw, which was almost his
daily companion for many years.
Some years before his death Bishop
Whipple wrote of this noble horse as
follows:
"When I was appointed there was
not mile of railway in Minnesota. L
could only travel on horseback or in
in buggy or sleigh.
'Bashaw' was kingly fellow, and
had every sign of noble birth, a slim
delicate head, prominent eyes, small,
active ears, large nostrils, full chest,
thin gambrels, heavy cords, neat fet-
| locks, and black as a coal. He was
my friend and companion in nearly
40, 900 miles travel, always full OF
spirit, yet as gentle as girl. never
struck him but once, and that was to
save his life and mine on the brink OF
a precipice: and when saved, the tears
filed my eyes. He knew how l loved
him and he loved me as we'll as horse
lever loved his master. He never for
cot any place where he had ever been
and many a time has saved our lives
when lost on the prairie. In summer
heat and winter storm he kept every
appointment, and it was done by hero
ic effort. 1t was no easy task to trav
ell in winter over prairies without
house for twenty miles.
[ recall time after time when we were
lost. In 1861 I left New Ulm for the
lower Sioux agency, when the Their
mometer was thirty-six degrees below
zero at noon: there was an ugl y freck
led sky, and long riffs Of clouds. Fo1
seven miles there were houses in the
distance, and then twenty miles acros:
the prairie without a house. We We're
in for it: our motto was, No stel
backward In about an hour we came
to place where the snow had beer
blown away: it was stubble and NJ
sign of q road. I was lost! | turne'
: the horses back to follow my sleig]
? tracks: the wind had obliterated them
? We started in the direction of tn
2 agency. The country was full OF littl
coolies, and soon I had both horse
down in snow drifts.
y After great efforts we got back o.
: the prairie. Night had come on; nc
0 a star, the wind bowling life wolves
d I knelt down and said my prayers
: wrapped myself in buffalo robes
n threw the reins on the dashboard, an
: prepared to let the horses walk Whel
II they would until daylight. About mic
1t night old Bashaw stopped so sudden
= ly that it threw me onto the DASHBOARD
o | jumped from the sleigh and found
?. Indian trail which looked like small
J. under the snow. I knew that one er
r. of it was at the agency, but which,
knew not. We followed the trail amt
we saw light. Never did a hor
y, neigh more ioyously as he sprar
- towards it; we were saved. Dear 0
=. fellow! AS I put him in his stall
nipped me with his lips with marve
- lous look out Of those grand eyes,
~ much as to say, Master, all's we'll
- So many have asked me to tell the
about dear Bashaw. | am sure y
- will not blame me for telling you aga
about this brave creature of God"