Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1912-02-15

abandoned old farm house stood at this
place, and Young called to halt say
ing that we were within one half mile
of the place where we wished to go, and
to take the road going northwest but he
was mistaken as this was the wrong
one and led us out onto the open and
unprotected prairie. / was driving in
the lead and did as he directed, but the
the storm was getting fierce and
couldn't see the trail but the horses
being old with good instinct stepped
very cautiously and'when they stepped
off OF the solid track, into the loose
snow they would Immediately jump
back and in this blind way we moved
along for quite while and finally be.
gan to think that the half mile should
come to an end After going what
seemed like more than mile we became
aware that we were going wrong and
that we were lost and hardly knew what
to do as the storm was binding the cattle
refused to face it and were left behind
and lost. After considerable deliberation
we decided to continue, thinking prob
ably by so doing we could reach some
where to remain over night. After
going onward for about another mile
we came to farm house where a Hol-
lander lived, but he refused to keep us
saying he had no room, but told us to
turn around go back to the old house
which he said was 80 rods, lit was more
than two miles,, and to take the other
road there and to follow it short dis
lance and we would find the farm for
which we were seeking. Back
through the storm we struggled,
sometimes scooping our way as
the trail in places where we had
passed short time before had been
drifted full. Upon arriving at the old
house wesoon became nearly bewildered
as we could see nothing in the binding
snow; John Croft and left the teams
in care of the other two men while we
attempted to locate the other trail and
after long search gave up in disgust.
Upon going back to the teams we found
John, Jr,, was getting into a stupor
and passing into a sleep, and if shelter
was not soon found would have to give
up. l shook him and pushed him
around to get him warmed up and
warned him to keep awake if possible.
Young was found leaning up against
the sled and nearly gone, but old John
pushed him around for some minutes
and brought him partially to his senses.
This was perilous time it was nearly
midnight, and with two men nearly
frozen, the horses nearly famished and
in strange place the reader can ina
CINE our feeling. l was in favor of
turning the horses loose and for each
man to look out for himself; but old
John, thought it would be best to try
and get back to the Hollander's if it
was possible, and if he wouldn't let as
in his house we could get into the barn
or anywhere to get out of the awful
storm. We turned around and begnn
facing the wind for the second time, it
was harder than ever for the horses to
keep their footing and part of the time
it was necessary for me to walk in front
of them, but they followed faithfully
behind. After quite lapse of time we
again reached the Hollanders and called
him out of bed and this time we
talked in an imperative manner, but
again he refused to shelter us; but con-
sented togo with us and show us which
way to go. He got lantern and called
his hired man to go along also and so
once more we turned around and started
back towards the old house. 1t
was more than two miles as the Hol-
lander finally was forced to admit. and
/ would have knocked him from the
sled for telling us in the evening that it
was but 80 rods had not our own safety
depended upon his guidance.
Ito be continued)