ee 
New Mexico-and California. 391 
at 7° F., and were aie till the Ist of March. Asa winter on 
this route is a own readers, we cite, in closing, a few 
paragraphs from this part of the R eport. Such suffering as is 
here detailed in a few brief statements of facts, has rarely been 
xceeded. 
February 2.—All shige a? ‘storm raged with a fury as awful as 
that of the ‘* tormentes” f Mt. Blanc. The particles of snow beat 
impossible for me to sleep. Such was the force of the wind, that it 
drove. the snow through the canvass ‘walls of my ie and I found my 
bed and papers covered with it. natomping night I heard one of the 
ing some of his A ke toe to let him get into the wegen | with them. 
I looked o 
hard icy particles, ar flew along with extreme velocity. As the i 
sun began to appear the storm ceased, and it was most fortunate 
for us that it did cease. ‘I now forced my way out of the tent, which 
was banked with snow. When, I looked around, a scene of utter des- 
tosleep, but now not pi as of them could be seen. oa aloud; they 
heard me not, being covered beneath the deep went to 
the wagons; in one I found Pilka and Lain the other, two or 
three men, one of whom had been very ill ever since leaving Bent’s 
Fort. He came rushing towards me half distracted, his shirt covered 
with geal his head haves and crouching at my feet, he implored me to 
take him toa house. ‘O, Lieutenant, take me toa house! «I shall 
freeze to “death! I'm freezing! I’m freezing!” His arms were 
drawn up and stiffened, his body almost paralyzed with cold. I took 
the poor fellow and put him in my own bed, and covered him with 
blankets and buffalo robes; it was all I could do. 
e now searched about and found the men by the aid of the cracks 
on the surface of the snow, caused by the movements of the restless 
sleepers; covered by the heavy mantle of snow they had kept ex- 
tremely’ warm, and now the chill air felt to them more intolernb ima 
pp. 115, 
Fe bruary 21.—This morning is the first time for thirty-six hours t 
any one nt ventured en had their provisions re 
and shared them with Mr. Brown’s party; of all the tents 
been pes Friday night, mine was the Cohy aan which at 
The snow had heaped up around the rest. at the inn 
oMaseiae ‘o desert ‘ben and take tefoaiid in the ' wagons. 
the wind ng swept in such a way as to keep open 
it, although the snow was on a level with the ridge | 
oke a some boards that were in the wagons, al 
pooan th @ sun rose; but, instead of sun, we 
