Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1882 — A FIGHT FOR LIFE. [ARTICLE]

A FIGHT FOR LIFE.

1. Old Farmer’s Jiarrow Escape From Freezing. Parties who came in from down the Bozeman road yesterday morning were startled to find a wagon and team belonging to Mr. Filson, of Beavercreek, standing in the prairis| about four miles from town, the owner not being in sight. The horses had* been unhitched from the wagon •,fewfc it was evident that they had been there the greater part of the night.*,lt was known that Mr. Filson started /of, Helena with a load of oats in the a£; ternoon, and it was surmised that Hi the storm he had got off the road, and in the endeavor to find it had wandered away from his team and lost his way, and probably his life. The night had been severely cold, and tluwftpjryi blinding. It appears, in this they were partially *wrt»f>g, as on reaching town Mr. FilsoiF was found comfortably ensconced at one of the hotels. He had left home the previous day with about 2,500 pounds of oats in his wagon, and on reaching Woolfolkhlll his team refused to pull. There was a fierce storm blowing, and rather than spend time in a vaineffote to start the horses, he took pats, sack by sack, and carried it up the hill.

After reloading the wagon, he started on again, but his team soon pot into a snow drift and couldflbp farther. He then unhitchea the horses, and getting on one of them and leading the other, again parted *forTown. Again the horses got Hnbd a deep snow-drift, and Mr. Filson was unable to make them move. He was becomingbenujnbed with cold, and also became very sleepy, a dangerous sign. He resolved to go back to his wagon and pass the night in it, as he had left some blankets there. Fortunately f6r him he was unable to find the wagon; we say fortunately, from the reason that if he had succeeded in finding it there is small doubt but that he would have frozen to death during the night. Finally in despair he turned toward town, becoming more sleepy and numb every moment. After a struggle of two or three hoprs, .which only the greatest exertion of will power enabled him to sustain, he reached the lower end of Rodney street. Here overstrained nature gave up, and the despairing man fell Id the ground, where he lay in an almost unconscious condition. He knew that he was freezing to death, but was unable to longer fight off the overpowering desire for sleep. Strange visions appeared before him and strange sounds rang in his ears. At one mo merit thousands of sleighs with their jingling bells seemed to pass round and over him. He seethed to hear music and songs in the distance, and bright many-colored lights shone before him. Providentially at about this time two men passed along the f6ad. aud, although believing him to bip drunk, tbpy rubbed him, got him on to’his feetdnd managed to get him to a hotel. Mr. Filson, who is seven-ty-four years old, has now entirely recovered from the effects of his uupleasant adventure; but it may be truthfully said that lie does not hanker for any more experience in freezing to death.—[ldaho Paper,