Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1859 — Adventure on a Prairie. [ARTICLE]

Adventure on a Prairie.

S. H. Packard E ; q., an lowa editor and lawyer, was recently lost in a snow storm, between Sioux Rapids and Fort Dodge. About three hours after he started, a heavy I snow storm burst upon him accompanied by | high winds from the north-west. Knowing the danger of attempting to cross those large , prairies in such a storm, he turned hack and attempted to retrace his steps, but soon found that it was impossible for man or beast to face thp storm: he therefore proceeded on his journey, confident lhat he could ride to the next house (40 miles) by nightfall. But his horse having broken through the ice sev- • e,al times, became afraid to go upon tho ice end he was delayed many time* at sloughs, until night overtook him at a slough ; about hall! way across the prairie: here he i found it impossible to induce the horse to ; go upon the ice ami while searching for a better crossing, the ice broke with him, and iet hiin into the water above his knees. He endeavored to get to shore,but the ice broko at a very step and lie struggled on through the ice, snow mid water a distance of twen- , ty or thirty feet, before lie came to firm ice. He at once attempted to remove his shoes i and stockings.-but they were so incased in ice that it'was impossible. Convinced that lie must remain where lie was untit-morn- ; iii-g, and that his-only safety was in keeping in motion,die commenced running upon the ice, end c<j'tinued to do so, until daylight tiie next ujorning, when having Succeeded in getting firs horse across the slough, lie started on v foot as he supposed, toward Ft. D >ii:r”. .V'ter walking about Two miles and • hub, he found lie had turned around and was g.-Biig i back, dragging his frozen feet through snow ankle deep, and at times knee deep, horse fb! io'.ving him, and ' was again ■ overtaken by night, about three miles from a Louse. Here he left his horse, and started ee. ii 'ping To reacTi tiie house in an hour or two, but hC was so faint and weary that he ieii frequently, a.nd was nine hours in walking the last three miles. His sensation tiurNiigtUs time, as described by him, were pe- ■ cuiiar and strange, the i ! oud appeared to be embroidered in most beautiful colors, and he stopped and reached to [del; up a speciman several tones. Satisfied that his. mind was j wandering; he endeavored to divert his mind !rom t.'ie consideration of this subject, but in vain; it .he [looked at the side of the road it appearoii to. be walled up, and to be covered with hogs lying on their hacks! Raising hjmsell, lie proceeded and at length. ;he readied, the iiouse of M,. Welch, about lour o clock in the morning. He was taken in anil cared lor until t.ic arrival of friends from Fort Dodge.