White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1923-02-04
life AND DEATH BATTLE IN SNOW
Of Mr.. AND MRS. GERALD OUGAN

y
storm for two days and nights, win
ming only at the expense of the weak
or of the pair being manned for life,
was the narrowing experience almost
IN the outskirts of Ely of Mr.. and
Mrs. Gerald A. Dugan, who were Sc
yerely frozen in the great snow Wis
itation this week.
They spent those more than forty
terrible hours burrowing their way
through the great layer of whiteness
in an attempt to walk distance of
only nine miles into safety at Ely.
The start of this desperate jour-
ney on foot was made at $50 o clock
Monday evening. II took them all
that night and the next day 10 gain
less than seven miles, at which point
Mrs. Dugan became exhausted and
had 10 lie down while her stalwart
but wearied husband toiled on in the
hope of succor, only To arrive too
weak himself 10 more than send out
others 10 find and bring his young
wife, who then VAS in the margin
Of death.
Mrs. Dugan was conscious when
found but proved to be badly frozen.
When her shoes were removed ice
was solid between her toes, which
themselves were the same as icicles.
Her feet, too, were frozen stiff and
10 what extent they are permanently
injured will be determined when all
her toes are amputated. which will
be done in few bours.
Mr.. Dugan is not so seriously in
iuIed and with the soreness and
swelling gone from his toes and feet.
which should be inside OF a week, he
will be able TO walk.
They had gone for visit over
Sunday with Mrs Dugan's parents,
Mr. and Mrs. W. F.. Mendes. at Duck
water. about seventy miles south
west of Ely As they started TO re-
turn in their car Monday morning
light snow was falling. to which they
gave little thought. They passed the
Currant Greek settlement promptly
and the summit OF the same name
At the latter there was much snow
and more coming down. Mr.. Dugan
says 1t was up to the radiator Of his
automobile. But over the summit
they had no mind to turn back
thinking that the Murry creek sum-
nit could not be rs bad. They stop
ped in White River valley for a short
time and promised friends there to
return IL the rapidly falling snow
prevented them from making the lat
ter divide In the vicinity of the
Blue Goose ranch they stopped and
made a fire with which to melt water
for their radiator. the deep snow
having heated the engine and ex-
hausted their water eupply Driv-
ing on TO the vicinity OF the stone
bridge. at the entrance to the canyon
on the west side of Murry summit.
the snow was 50 much deeper that
they determined TO turn back. In
attempting to turn in the snow the
wheels got off the grade and they
were unable To get them back. Work
Ing at II for a long time they con-
cluded that they were wasting yaiu-
able moments and decided to come
on to the telephone which is attach
ed to a pole short distance west OF
Nurry summit. about six miles from
Ely, the walk from their car being
three miles This took them several
hours and 1t WIS approaching mid
night when they reached the place.
They rang in vain but could get no
reply from Ely.
Their next decision. even though
knowing its great peril, was TO con-
tinue on. To go back and try to
make che White river ranches would
have been farther and having seen 1t
and It's depth of snow they knew 1t
meant failure. With their strength
then all but gone, yet with full con-
seiousness and an abundance of hope,
they set out for Ely through the
deep snow In IL they toiled and Ia
bored Mr. Dugan In the lead and
the banks standing tho height OF his
wife's head. II being breast deep TO
him. He could only lean against IL
and wallow II down for Mrs. Dugan
10 follow and do her best TO get
through. Thus they frantically Ia
bored during the remaining hours OF
Monday night and all OF the daylight
hours of Tuesday. Again a1d again
they tried to start a fire. They tried
cedar bark and pinion needles and
anything they could dig out of the
snow. Everything was snowy and
wet Their last dry match wenr and
IN this they had no further chance
But II was not cold and they pressed
on. No food had they--only har d.
fuls of snow to quepch their quick
cning thirst
Many times the brave woman
asked her husband the same ques-
lion. do you think we will get
through"
Each time he told Ler they would
and shelter and rest would be
reached.
When thus they spoke they were
i Il