The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1915-12-03
Terrible Experience Of Martin
L. Gjestrum, Mankato
Srnm fridays Daily.


sram fridays oanv.
Martin L. Gjestrum, who formerly
resided at 1121 East Main street. and
moved from Mankato to Rhinelander,
Wis, last September. with his family
consisting of wife and six children,
narrowly escaped being frozen TO
death In the Wisconsin woods, ac-
cording to- story which reached
here. While in this city Mr.. Gjestrum
was engaged in the nursery business,
and since locating in Rhinelander has
been in the grocery business. Fol-
lowing is the account of his adven-
lures: -.. 90 H.. ....# ..-
staggering into the yard Of a
homesteader's log cabin, SO weak he
could scarcely. take another step. half
frozen and half delirious. NJ. L. Gjes-
trum. a grocer of Rhinelander, was
saved from starvation and death by
exposure after one of the most thrill
ing experiences known in Northern
Wisconsin.
"Giestrum wandered without food
in a binding snowstorm that turned
to a downfall OF rain, spent a night
in the heart of q forest from which
he could find no escape. waded across
a river in which ice was floating, and.
after walking eighty miles, was saved
Just as he was about TO collapse from
exhaustion.
Was Apart From Guide.
"Gjestrum entered the woods near
Hawkins on Monday In company with
an aged guide, for the purpose of To-
eating spruce. That their work might
be done more rapidly. the timber
cruiser and guide determined to sep
arate, but expected TO be no further
than q few rods apart at any time.
Soon il began TO snow and within a
short time the downfall had attained
such an Intensity that II was impos-
sible to see objects more than yard
or two distant Gjestrum called to
his guide, but his voice was lost in
the storm.
After walking two hours he found
he had travelled in circle and was
lost. Through the remainder of the
day he wandered about and then spent
the long night tramping beneath a
small clump OF bushes that offered
slight protection.
Set Out Again.
AT break of day Tuesday. Gjestrum
set ont again to extricate himself.
About noon he came upon an aban-
doned hunting shack that contained
small stove. a few pans, an old
soapbox. paper and three matches. Al
though his fingers were nearly par
alyzed by cold he finally succeeded
I'm starting a fire. BY melting snow
he provided himself with several cups
of hot water. The warm water re-
vived him somewhat and fire served
to partially dry his garments.
."Gjesrum had been I'm the shack
short time when he heard the faint
whistle of railroad engine. lmme-
diately he set out I'm the direction
from which the sound had come. 81 He
had gone no more than three or four
miles when he came TO a river. Re-
heving that he would have 10 cross
the river to reach the tracks he wad-
ed into the stream. .f ..-.H..- .-7
q Water Reached Armpits. .,
The water reached to his armpits.
Ice was floating in the river. Reaching
tine opposite shore he plunged into
the woods again.
"As the afternoon waned the tenn
perature lowered and soon Giestrum's
clothing was frozen tight TO his body.
Still he stumbled on. finally reaching
the homesteader's cabin"
From Fridays oaliv.
Owatonna. November 26.-H. o.
Lucas. who on October Q. of last year
Is alleged to have shot and killed
his fellow workman. Philip Meehan. I'm
been caught at Fort Wayne. In
diana. Deputy Sheriff Fisher went TO
st. Paul Tuesday and there secured
the necessary extradition papers, and
on Tuesday night left for Fort Wayne
TO take charge of the prisoner.
Lucas and Meehan were employed
with the big construction gang erect
ing new buildings at the state public
school last year. The two men had
quarrel during the afternoon of
October o. Lucas at that time at
tempting to strike Meehan with piece
OF scantling When he was deferred.
he Is said to have declared his inten-
ton to get" Meehah, and after supper
went down town and purchased a
revolver and cartridges.
Lucas Appeared Later.
Twenty minutes later he appeared
at the bunk house wherein the gang
were housed, and, stepping on the
bunk beneath the enc In which Nee
han was resting. seized Meehan by
the leg to awake him. As Meehan
rose on his elbow Lucas Is accused OF
shooting him Just abore the heart
Meehan lived but a short time after
the arrival OF the doctor who was i'm
mediately summoned.
Although one of the night police was
called. no general alarm was given the
police for some time, and as a result
Lucas made his, getaway. doubtless on
some freight train. 81
Lucas was located at one time in
Texas. but. owing TO the carelessness
of the officers there was allowed to
get away before he was apprehended
Papers among Lucas effects. left
here. showed that he has sister at
Fort Wayne and the police were no.
tiled TO keep a careful watch. This
precaution evidently bore fruits.
Ero1n ErId.v,s rafyv