Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-01-07
Council Bluffs.
STORY OF FIGHT WITH SNOW
Graphic Description Of Death Of
Eugene Snodgrass in Northwest.
WANDERED FROM WIRE IN STORM
Faithful Dog Gave Alarm 60 Men
Two miles orr, but They Did Not
Understand and Made No
Attempt 20 Rescue.

long letter was received yesterday
from Mrs Eugene snodgrass nee Miss
Clara Bonham. Of Council Bluffs. giving
detailed accounts Of the incidents leading
up to the death Of her husband in the wilds
Of the British northwest country 300 miles
from the nearest railroad and 500 miles
from the United states.
The letter came to her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs A. NJ. Bonham, 200 Harmony street
and il the first written word that has
Gene TO them since they were notified by
wire Of the death Of the young brides hus-
band. which was received by telegraph on
December II.
The letter verifies in all details the story
Of his death from exhaustion and cold
while discharging his duties m connection
with his telegraphic work for the Canadian
government near Hazelton on the Skeena
river a tributary OF the Yukon. II also
verifies the story that the news Of his
death was kept from the young wife and
the shock softened as far as possible.
The letter tells Of frightful snowstorm
and blizzard that Frustrated the telegraph
lines and Of young Snodgrass leaving his
home twenty miles from HazeltOn on Sun
day evening. December II, at 80 o'clock,
going TO the next camp two miles away,
and starting along the line Monday morn
ing at o'clock lie was never seen again
alive. When he failed to report It was be-
lieved he had reached a test camp ten
miles away, and the search for him was not
begun until Wednesday, when men follow
ing his tracks through the snow found his
body. He was last heard from at the test
cabin. where he talked with Hazelton at
II o'clock Monday.
Dog Tried to Give Alarm.
The narrative of Mrs snodgrass tells Of
the faithful dog, Uno, that accompanied
his master, and when the latter fell from
exhaustion how the dog returned 20 Nc
Leods camp Monday at o'clock and
sought in every way to enlist help.
The letter says: THE dog scratched and
barked at the door and when let in sprang
upon the bed Eugene had occupied the
night before, crouched in It for an instant
bowling mournfully, then rushed for the
door, barking furiously and trying TO lead
the men to follow him in the direction
where he had left his dying master" The
men did not understand and the dog then
ran down the trail to the camp where Mrs
Snodgrass was living. In her letter she
says: Il happened to open the door and
saw Uno coming down the trail He
stopped and crouched when he saw me, and
when I called him he came running into
the house, sprang upon me, and l never
saw anything try so hard to talk as he did.
When 1 couldn't understand him he laid
down in the middle OF the floor and I never
heard such mournful bowls in my life"
The tracks showed that young Snodgrass
wandered fourteen miles in the snow and
cold before he stiffened in death. There
were two trails leading to the test cabin
In going Snodgrass had followed the river
route, the easier one but in returning,
searching for the broken line. he followed
the wire through the dense woods. He had
become nearly exhausted and had stuck
his axe in a tree and hung his canvas coat
and tools upon It. then he attempted to
walk across to the river route. The snow
was from nine inches to four feet deep
but in some places in the forest the ground
was bare.
The Inst STRUGGLE.
Underneath cedar and cottonwood tree
where the wind had swept away the snow
he had made his last struggle. He had re-
moved his sweater and stocking cap and
plunged again into the snow. The tracks
led fifteen feet beyond where the body was
found. The arms were outstretched and
the man lay partly on his side as II asleep,
with not trace of suffering on his
countenance.
Death evidently came after his dog left
him Monday afternoon. II the faithful
animal could have made his friends under
stand the boy would have been saved. The
dogs tracks led straight from where the
body lay to McLeod's camp. only two miles
away. The camp from which he started is
Andimaul. twenty miles. from Hazelton.
Mrs. snodgrass was not notified of the
tragedy until Friday. and was first told
that death had come meroifully by electric
shock.
The letter Of Mrs. SnOdgrass Is accom-
panied by map Of the route showing the
location OF the camps and the course taken
by her husband. There can be no trans
portation facilities secured until after April
1 when river navigation opens The mali is
carried 800 miles by dog sleds and no at
tempt 10 made at more than one trip a
month.