Year: 1866




storm, and Of her most miraculous escape
from death:


On Thursday evening. 18th instant. Mr..
i. L. Runnion Of our tern visited jackson
vile, eight miles distant, on business, and
returning called at the residence of w. j..
Beach. one mile this side. to see his recently
married daughter. Mrs. F. B. Weed. After
supper Mrs. Weed resolved to accompany
her father home. and hastily clad herself for
the purpose. Leaving Mr.. Weed in the
house, father and daughter proceeded to
where the horses had been tied to find them
gone, but vet in sight. Pursuing the team
for some distance. and finding it impossible
to overtake it, Mr.. Runnion implored his
daughter to return, while he would make
his way home alone. This she would not
consent to do, feeling quite able to perform
the Journey, unless he should accompany
her and remain for the night This was be
tween seven and eight o'clnck. The weather
was then comparatively m,ld-with no wind,
and light snow falling. They pursued
their journey for a time without difficulty.
but the night being quite dark and the snow
having obiiterated the track, they lost tho
road bearing to the sou'h on the uninhab-
tied prairie Both were conscious that they
were lost, vet reither breathed it to the
other During the long hours from their
departure from Mr.. Beaeh's house until
II o'clock, the storm king had been gather
ing his strength. which now BURST forth IN
such fearful fury from the north west that 1t
would seem impossible that any mere NOR
tai could brave it and live. Benumbed, lost
upon the trackless vase, their steps follow
ed by pack OF prairie wolves. whose quick,
sharp bark frequently rose above the howl
ing wind, their thoughts cannot be portray
ed each having a full Consciousness of their
great peril, yet cone aling it, and encour
aging each other. At last exhausted nature
could do no more, both were tired out, and
saw the folly of further contest with the
storm till the day should dawn, and lay
down beneath o snow drift to watch for day
light.


Mrs Weed wore beaver hood, had
cloud" or scarf about her neck, shawl
and blanket which she had thrown on her
arm when leaving the house. The rude
winds sweeping furiously above them. the
binding, drifting snow, the howling of the
Wolves, the suffering from cold, the thoughts
of friends beloved death-all heightened
Il picture which can never be erased from
their memories The dawn came, and with
it the fury of the storm increased Mr..
Runnion knew himself to be on Plum creek,
and resolved to strike for the nearest house,
some two miles distant, but Mrs. Weed was
50 chilled that she could not walk, and after
being carried thirty or forty rods, she beg
ged her father to leave her and seek assis
tance. They sat down and talked the mat.
ter over calmly, yet she was freezing all the
while.


To leave his child thus was a bitter
thought, but what will not a parent do to
save his cherished idol? Knowing that she
must perish. and that speedily unless succor
came, he sought place to leave her; break
ing the ice as he supposed of little bayou
from which the water had rcceded, and
making cavity of some two feet in depth
and sufficient length, he laid her in it,
wrapped the shawl around her, and the
scarf about her face They kissed and
parted. Then covering her with snow,
marking the spot as best he could, with
heavy heart and sad look at the spot
where lay -his treasure, he made his way
down the creek to the New Hampton &
Wancomba road, thence to the house of Mr.
Utley, arriving there O'Clock A. NJ
wednesday,, exhausted, with hands and
face frozen and nearly frantic. His story
was soon told, and although the storm was
was raging fearfully, and the hope of finding
the poor girl, some three miles distant on
the bleak prairie, seemed like hoping against
hope, the call of holiest nature did not plead
in vain. Quickly a team WAS harnessed,
and Mr.. Gilbert Vincent and Mr.. NJ NJ.
Utley, with Mr.. Runnion, started for the
rescue, finding the place where the party
had lain beneath the large snow drift dur
ing the night. They searched in vain until
about p. NJ. passing almost directly over
the spot where she lay. binding the search
vain, Mr.. Runnon fast failing from expo
sure and exhaustion. with heavy hearts the
party returned in the evening. Mr.. Run.
nion was taken to the house of Mr.. Usley.
where both Mr. and Mrs. Utlcy were as
siduous in administering to his comfort
the storm ragged too fearfully and his system
too shattered to think of bringing him home
that night.


Thursday morning the storm had abated !;
the sun shone clear and bright over the
driven snow; the mercury had fallen from
fourteen the day before. to twenty eight
degrees below zero. Mr.. Runnion was
brought home by Mr. Utley, and his tear
full story flew from house to house brave
hearts and willing hands were not wanting.
Several sleigh loads of men accompanied by
Dr.. Mixer. who was careful to have restor,i
tives, were swiftly on the search. Oh, such
vibrations of the heart between hope and
fear as were visible in every face. Hope,
that she may be found alive and fear that
such hope was in vain. The party reached
the supposed locality where Mrs. Weed
was left bv her father, and the search com
m need Passing on either side of the
creek, noting every track, and mark, and
twig. We had forgot to state that Mr..
Runuion had broken of some small willows
and stuck them in the snow directly over
his daughter; these, however. were entirely
coveeed by the snow which had drifted over
the place.


With only the vague uncertainty that
they might be near her, they persevered,
guided alone hy such instructions Mr..
RunDion in his enfeebled and bewildered
state was able to give. At about eleven
O'Clock one of the party stepping directly
over her, fell through the snow into the
cavity where she lay. She was found and
alive! A joyous shout runs out, and in
less time than we can pen the recital over
cnats and shawls were spreai upon the snow,
shovels procured from the sleigh, and she
was raised insensibe from the snowy bed
where she had lain for thirty hours Placed
in a sleigh. shielding her us much as pos
sihle from contact with the air, the party
drove with all speed to the nearest house
that Of Mr.. jolly. where the skill and un-
re,nitting efforts of DR.. Mixer were crowned
with success she was saved We are in
formed that reaction cane slowly. the shock