Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1879 — Lost on the Plains. [ARTICLE]

Lost on the Plains.

A party of sixteen surveyors, in the employ of the Government, under command of Major Medary, left this city a short time ago, says the Trinidad News, for a tour eastward to the Indian Territory line. Nothing more would have been thought of the party, but for the arrival in this city yesterday of Mr. Havenner and a companion, who belonged to the corps, who reported the norrible fate of two of their companions and the narrow escape of three others. The circumstances of the ettse are about as follows: f After leaving Trinidad the company proceeded eastward, and were soon at work locating townships. On the morning of Thursday, the sth inst., a squad of five men was. sent out from a point on Willow Creek to run a transit due north eighteen miles, with orders to join the camp at nightfall. The men performed the work assigned them, and at dusk set out for camp, which had also been traveling northward during the day. The surveyors started east from their objective point, and after walking six miles, made camp. In going in this direction they made a great mistake; for they should have gone due west after finishing their work in order to find the camp wagons. Comprehending their mistake, and being very thirsty and out of provisions, it was proposed to travel south in hopes of striking the creek. Two of the party refused to do this, preferring to remain where they were, hoping that the camping outfit would come up to them in a few hours. Friday morning the three, headed by Mr. Sheets, started for Cariso Springs. They lost their way, and would have perished but for the timely arrival or Monday of men from the camp, who were in search of them. The search for the other two (whose names were S. M. Winchester and William Johnson) was continued with an interest bordering on frenzy. Not until Monday, the 9th, did the searchers get any clue of the missing men. About two o’clock p. m. -on that d„ay they came upon poor Winchester out upon the open plains; but he was too far gone to be saved. A few drops of water were given him, but in five minutes he was a corpse, dying in the arms of a companion, who had arrived too late. Further search was made for Johnson. A large rock, which towered up grandly on the boundless plains, was visited, and there in a crevice, was found a note from Winchester, dated the 7tb, saying that Johnson and he were lost, but had made up their minds to go south in the hope of striking the Willow. The note was written in a firm band and showed that the writer was in his right mind. The diligent searchers started south, and after traveling six miles were rewarded by finding a canteen belonging to Johnson. For three days more they scoured? the prairies on horseback in every di> rection, and on Thursday, the 12th, save up the search, unsuccessful in nding the unfortunate man. The coyote has probably found him, and ere this has devoured all that remained of a once bright and promising young man. Winchester was taken up to camp and buried beside a spring of cool water and his grave marked, fie was from Baltimore, Md., was about twenty-eight years old, and is said to have been the son of wealthy parents. In two months he was to have become the possessor of $30,000 from an estate. He was a very brilliant young man and universally beloved by his acquaintances. Johnson twenty-seven years of age, a native of Baltimore, but has been in the West some time. His fate is a sad one, and his loss is deeply regretted by every one familiar with the hardships of Western life.—Denver Tribune. v Thebe are certain comparisons Detween the vital statistics of France and of Prussia, iu a recent report to the Academy of Sciences of Paris. Thus, it appears that in France 100 marriages give abouj. 300 children; in Prussia 460. It is also shown that in France the annual increase of-population (births over deaths) is 2,400 for each million of inhatptants, while in Prussia it is 13,600. At this rate the population of France should double in 170 years; ibat of Prussia in 42. r- ■ <i '* A dressmaker who was at the point of death recovered, and the local paper headed the item “ Survival of the ; Fittest” i_. j v-