Year: 1867

/ with the sioux City mail, in an open


sleigh, drawn by two horses


Inc day had been very pleasant but
| just before he started, it began to snow.
The wind was in the Northeast, and as
night came on, it increased to a strong
l gale, the snow falling thicker aud fast
1 err so that It soon became difficult to


keep the road, which is simply just a


track across the great prairie, without
afence, tree, or house to guide the trav-
eler, for ten miles. he passed a small
! deserted cabin (the only building of
any kind on the route) just after dark,
I and, soon after, the night becoming so
/ dark, and the binding storm was dri-
7 wing SO tercely in his face, that he was
unable to guide his team, or see any
| signs of the road. He knew that he
could not be more than mile or two
| from the Yates Settlement, and be-


lieving that the horses would find their


way 10 the Station, he left them free to
take their own course After travelling
/ thus long time, and failing to reach


the settlement, he knew that the team


Lad lost the road, but was utterly un-
able to determine whether he was
north, south, east or west of the Sta
ton. Aware of the hopelessness of
finding the road or settlement in the
dense darkness that had by this time
come on, he determined to turn around
and try to retrace his tracks to the de-
serted cabin which he had passed.


But the storm which had been stead
lily increasing with each hour, drifted
the snow over the track almost as fast
as 1t was made, and Mr.. Hale soon
found that he had lost all traces of IL,
and was wandering around on the
great prairie, utterly lost. Bis presence
OF mind never deserted him, and he at
once determined that his only chance
for life was to keep the team moving
slowly, that they should not perish
with cold before morning.


Mr.. Hale had taken the precaution
to prepare for storm before he left the
Lakes. He had on two flannel shirts,
two pair of socks, two pair of pants,
two heavy coats, TWO pair of mittens,
pair of thick boots and buffalo over
shoes, and over all of his clothing was
wrapped large heavy rubber over
coat.


All through that long, terrible night
he Kept his team slowly moving, know
ing very well that if they stopped, the
team and driver would soon become
chilled through and the sleep and stu
por which precedes death from freezing,
would seize upon them long before
morning. All through the night the
fearful storm seemed to be gathering
in strength and fury, and we all re-
member the terrible Friday that fol-
lowed. Business in town was entirely
suspended No stages left the stations,
streets were blocked up, railroads ali
over the country were buried beneath
the great drifts, cattle perished with
cold. And out in the midst of great
bleak prairie, alone and lost, the driver
of the Western Stage watched anxious
ly for daylight. When morning came
the storm darkened the sky SO COM
pletely, that ;he could not discern the
direction ofthe sun at any time during
the day.


Early in the day the horses, which
had been travelling through great
drifts for about eighteen hours, gave
out, and could go no farther. Mr.. Hale
hesttated Dot a moment, but unhitching
Them from the sleigh, he turned them
loose, that they might, If possible, reach
some settlement. He was now left en-
tirely alone, in the midst of the most
terrific storm of the winter, the snow
two feet deep, and lying in immense
drifts, miles and miles from the nearest
habitation, with no idea of which direc-
tion he must travel, or what distance


to reach the nearest shelter. Supposing
that he was north of the main road, he
started in the direction which he sup
posed to be south, in hopes that he
might discover the lost track Hour
after hour did he wade through the
snow, with the fearful storm chilling
him through and through. Before
many hours he found that his ears, face
and feet rereJ frozen solid, and his hands
were beginning to freeze.


But still strong in the determination
to save himself il in the range of posi-
bilities, he kept moving on through the
long cherries day. Toward night he
suffered greatly from hunger, as he had
eaten nothing since Thursday noon.
When darkness again closed around
him, he felt that the chances for survi-
wing the night were very slim indeed.
be would fall asleep and perish. All
through the second night he kept on his
feet, sometimes becoming so exhausted
with cold, hunger, and his great exer-
dOns TO keep travelling, he would stop
few moments to rest. he repeatedly
fell asleep while thus stand
ing, and was only awakened by
falling down into the snow
Again and again during Friday night
did he thus struggle on until daylight
appeared. The wind had now ceased,
but the cold was intense. When the
was able for the first time to learn the
directions Looking anxiously around
on every side, and seeing no signs of
settlement, grove or road, he felt that a
longer struggle for life WIS almost
hopeless. But finding that he was still
able to move, he turned his face to the
east, knowing that his only hope now
Moines river, along which he was sure
to find settlers. All day Saturday he
toiIed on through the deep snow. suf-
fering intensely from hunger, cold and
loss of sleep. Whenever his strength
gave out, and he stopped for a moment.
he would fall asleep, and tumble down
into the snow, again awaken, rise up,
and again push on. Night once more
came on, and found him still out on
the great prairie, with no shelter in
sight. Again did he pass another
night-the third one-on his feet, walk
ing, stopping, falling asleep, tumbling
down, awakening, rising up, and toll
ing on again Lost, starving and
freezing, but still undismayed, he
watched patiently, during the long
hours of the night, for the rising of the
fourth day ont. The sun rose bright
and clear, but IL was intensely cold; the
mercury at 10 degrees below zero, with
keen, cutting wind from the north.
He had now, strange as il may seem,
ceased to suffer from hunger; and
nerving himself for one more effort, he
turned his f4ce eastward, and again
struggled on.


His progress was very slow, but at
about IL o'clock his courage was reaew-
ed by the sight of the grove in the dis
tance. Hope that had never entirely
deserted him now grew strong aud all
through the day he stroye with almost
superhutnaIf efforts to reach the timber


before dark, feeling that he could not
survive another night on the praire-
But his strength was too much exhaust
ed, and although striving with the en-
ergy of despair, he saw the sun go
down and night again close around
him, while the friendly trees were shut
out from view and beyond his reach.
Fearing that IL he attempted to travel
after dark he should lose sight of the