Blizzard from Hell Read online

  Part Two

  Josh started out at a brisk rate. He realized they should pace themselves, but best to get a head of steam up and then back off to a comfortable rate. He was getting real tired of the constant wind that came with a howling sound. It was almost ghostly in its nature. After, what he thought was a half mile or so, he slowed the pace down; happy that his nose hairs hadn't frozen up yet. The wool muffler was doing its job. He looked sideways and saw Kit following right behind him. Each brother would keep an eye on the other one. Later if the going or the storm was too severe, they would tie each other together. So far the horses were doing not so bad as they hate going into the wind. Their heads were down low against the wicked storm.

  Josh knew the trail for the first part of the way and then it would be by feel the rest of the way to the fort. The first few hours passed without incident until they came to the first ravine. Josh was leading and suddenly he was waist deep in snow. His horse stopped and Kit was alerted something was in the way. Both brothers grabbed their shovels and went to work digging a pathway across the fifty foot ravine. That took about two hours and all three almost broke a sweat.

  It was lunch time, but no stopping to eat. They ate on the move. The hard tack was frozen, but after sucking on it for awhile, it thawed enough for chewing. Josh was thinking that just maybe they had a chance of making it. Later he'd guessed they done about 12 miles so far, as the sky started to darken alerting the brothers night was coming. The amazing part they were still alive and so were the horses.

  They dug a semi-circle to hide behind as darkness enveloped the brothers. With darkness came a drop in temperature. When they left the livery stable man told them the mercury had become almost frozen in the bulb it was so cold.

  Josh said, "We'll take turns sleeping for no more than two hours at a time. If we sleep more than that we'll not wake up." The brothers snuggled up the best they could giving Kit and Jerry the first two hours of rest. Josh noticed both fell asleep very quickly. He'd need to keep an eye on both of them. While he sat there out the wind, the night got colder seeping into his body like spreading water spilled on a table. His teeth began to chatter so he stood up and did some exercise. The horses were covered with blankets so Josh checked to make sure they were okay.

  He woke Jerry thinking it had been about two hours. Then he tried to wake Kit who didn't want to wake up. Josh had to slap him a few times and rub his arms and legs to stimulate the circulation. "Kit, damnit, wake up! You've got to get your blood moving." He and Jerry stood Kit up who finally blinked his eyes open.

  "Wow! I was having some dream guys. Then I heard Josh yelling at me. Why did you wake me up for?"

  "It's your turn to watch me sleep," said Josh. "You and Jerry can keep each other awake while I cat nap." Josh lay down with a canvas tarp over him. Jerry and Kit wrapped up in a similar tarp. Josh never thought he could sleep, but in no time he was in a dream world. Jerry and Kit talked about what they done when they were kids. Jerry had to keep punching Kit to keep him from falling asleep as the wind howled its relentless voice to the hapless men below.

  Jerry woke Josh telling him that he felt daylight was coming in a short while. Every bone and muscle ached in Josh's body. He struggled to stand up. Kit was surprisingly ready to go. Jerry had taken some deer jerky and put it next to his skin on his belly to thaw it out enough to chew it for breakfast. The horses ate some frozen corn, but never complained. Soon they were on the trail with Josh leading at a brisk pace to warm up.

  //

  Two days later, Josh feared Kit had frostbite of the feet. At around midday they stopped to check Kit's feet. A half hour of rubbing circulation returned. He said, "I feel a burning pain now in my feet."

  "That means your feet are coming back to life," Josh said. Now let's go some more before dark. If my memory serves me, the McCaferty farm lies not too distant from here. It's about more than half way to Esterville." They no more than got moving again when they hit a large ravine full of snow. Mumbling bad words the three brothers grabbed their shovels and went to work digging a sled trail through the ten foot drift of snow.

  Some hours later they found the windswept top. The storm hadn't changed its intensity. If anything, it had gotten stronger. Or maybe it just felt that way as the brothers bent their tired bodies into the wind encouraging the horses to follow dragging the sleds. Later as the sky darkened, Josh and his brothers were reaching the limits of human endurance. Kit had fallen down numerous times and they finally had to load him onto a horse.

  When they stopped for the night, Kit was face down on the horse with his arms dangling down its side. Jerry and Josh pulled him off and went to work digging a shelter for the night. Once again they had to work on Kit to stimulate his circulation. Then they did it to each other. Josh said, "Jerry, were both going to have to keep Kit awake or he'll die. This means we must stay awake all-night long."

  Jerry said, "The horses need the rest. I'll feed them some corn and rub each one of them down. Without the horses were not going to make it to the fort."

  For the three brothers this was longest night of their lives. All three were huddled together, teeth chattering, hungry, tired and each thought it would be easier to just give up to the call of sleep.

  By shear willpower, Josh and Jerry kept Kit awake until a slight grey light replaced the dark of night. More jerky was consumed. Corn was fed to the horses and off they went into the teeth of the still raging blizzard. Unfortunately, Kit didn't make it too far before he couldn't walk anymore. They loaded him again onto a horse tying him down with a stiff rope. Josh thought if they only could make the McCaferty farm they might save Kit's life.

  As if God reached out to give a hand to the McFadden brothers, the wind stopped sending a welcome silence across the prairie. The sun peaked its way around and through the clouds sending light, but not much warmth down to the earth. Josh and Jerry stood still not believing the scene in front of them. Not far away smoke was seen from a farm house chimney. Neither brother said a thing, but gave a silent prayer to God.

  When they got close a dog started barking. A man came out to see what the dog was barking about. He had a rifle with him. He stood stock still until the sled team arrived in front of him. By then his wife was with him. Josh said, "We're McFadden brothers with a delivery to the fort. My brother Kit is in a bad way. We ask for some help please."

  Ted McCaferty and his wife helped Kit off the horse. After that Ted told the brothers to go inside and warm up that he would take care of the horses. Josh and Jerry did as was told while Ted led the horses to the barn. Wena McCaferty, with Josh and Jerry's help carried Kit to the kitchen. Wena put some water on the stove to heat up. Meanwhile she had to cut Kit's boots and pants off. His legs from the knees down were frozen solid. With her experience, Wena wrapped cold water soaked rags around his legs. Meanwhile Josh and Jerry stripped down to their long handles grateful for the warmth of the kitchen.

  Ted came in shucking his over coat in the small room next to the kitchen. Josh and Jerry were sitting at the kitchen table kind of staring into space. Wena was working on Kit's legs and hands. Ted said, "Boys, what the hell are you doing out in the weather like this?"

  Josh looked up and without an expression said, "Mr. McCaferty, we volunteered to deliver some food to the fort in Esterville. If they don’t get any food all of them will starve to death. We thought it our duty as men to make the effort to save them."

  Wena said, "This boy is going nowhere for a long time. I know what I'm doing and saying. His skin will fall off and he'll not be able to walk for two months. He'll be fine with us. I know your ma boys. She's a fine woman."

  Ted said, "Let me make something for you two guys to eat. We've not a lot but you're welcome to what we have. We also have some coffee. Oh, by the way, your horses are fine, but extremely worn out. The fort is not so far away. You can use my horses to complete the trip. Your horses will be fine for the trip back. I'd say God was looking out for you guys. The storm appears ov
er for now. I'm sure your exploits will go down in history."

  The next day with Kit complaining because he couldn't go, Jerry and Josh left for the fort. The sun was shining making it hard to look at. By late afternoon they saw smoke rising from the fort. An hour or so later they were inside the fort where the troops were going crazy with happiness. They'd been without food for two days. The commander was about to give the order to butcher some thin horses, but the corn on the sled would stave off the hunger. Josh and Jerry stayed the night drinking some fine whiskey of the commander.

  The next morning they left for the McCaferty farm. After exchanging horses, they stocked up on some jerky leaving Kit to the healing ways of Wena. Josh said, "Kit we'll bring a buckboard in a few weeks or so to pick you up. Meanwhile, mind your manners." Jerry winked at Kit as they went out the door. Yes, it was still bitterly cold out, but the sun helped warm the two brothers as they rode back home.

  Two nights later they arrived back home. The town had lookouts for the brothers that ran in shifts. As soon as the riders were spotted word was sent to Lois that two riders were coming in. Mrs. McFadden, the brother's mother was still there waiting to hear about her sons. When she was told only two riders were coming she broke down knowing one son was dead. She fell to her knees on the floor of the kitchen sobbing for her lost son.

  Lois ran to Josh before he had a chance to dismount. She said, "Where's Kit?"

  "He's fine, well not so fine, but is alive and at the McCaferty farm healing up." Lois's mother ran to the kitchen to tell her friend that Kit was alive but staying at the McCaferty farm to heal his legs.

  Not long after that word went around town of the heroic deeds of the McFadden brothers. It was recorded in the newspaper.

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  The story of three brothers saving the lives of troops stationed in Esterville is true.

  I took the liberty of their heroic deed and made a short story of fiction based upon fact. I alone am responsible for any part or portion of the story.

  It staggers the mind to think these fine fellows overcame adversity and survived. I tip my hat to those fine American men.

  For the actual newspaper account look at this website: https://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/blizzard.htm

  Robert C. Waggoner

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