Ed Switzer, Sterling




February 1883 Denver "There arrived in this city last night on the short line train of the Union Pacific railway a herder named Ed Switzer, who was nearly frozen to death doling the cold weather lest week. Switzer is in the employ of Richards, Tyler & Porter, and has his headquarters at Sterling, which is situated in the weriern portion of Weld county.
He was lost on the plains for a period of three days, from Wednesday night until late Saturday evening without food. The only wonder is that he ever reached a settlement alive. Last Wednesday Switzer, in company with a large number of other herders, left Sterling cn horseback to head off and hold a herd of cattle that hsd been seen passing there that day. The herders separated and Switzer was assigned to the non-distant stations. When the drove of cattle came up, about fifty detached themselves from the main body and started eastward. Switzer followed these to drive them back and got away from the river.
During the night he lost sight of the cattle and started to retrace his steps. His sufferings began st this point. He found himself alone on the snow-covered plains, without food and without knowing in which direction to turn for aid. He rode all Wednesday night in what he supposed wes the direction of the Platte river, but when daylight began to dawn on Thursday morning, he still found himself as far away from his goal as he was the night before. The weather turned colder on Thursday, and Switzer's horse began to tire out. Toward noon of that day he dismounted and walked alongside of the animal, which succeeded in pawing under the snow and eating the buffalo grass. Switzer did not begin to feel the pangs of hunger until Thursday evening, and from that time on bis sufferings were terrible. The weather grew steadily colder, but the poor fellow kept riding and walking alternately in the teeth of the blast all that night, hoping that he would soon reach his friends. Friday morning brought him no relief. He attempted several times to dismount from his horse, but was so weak frem hunger and his limbs so benumbed by the cold, that he found the feat impossible. Switzer for the first time lost his heart and was several times on the verge of ending his sufferings speedily. Another time the pangs of hunger were so great that he resolved upen shooting his horse. His better judgment came to his reason while contemplating that, and knowing that he must perish without his horse spared the latter. The little animal stuck to his task bravely enough and kept going all day Thursday. Switzer does not remember any thing about Friday night, or in fact how he was finally saved.
The frigid winds of Friday night were too severe for flesh and blood. His faithful horse, without his master to guide him, struck the Piatte river and continued up that stream all day Saturday. Toward dusk Saturday evening the horse, with Switzer's insensible form sitting upright upon his back, passed by the ranch of Josiah Bush, seven miles from Sterling. Mr. Bush saw Swizer and hailed him, but the latter did not answer. Fearing the worst, Mr. Bush sprang upon the back of his horse and followed after Switzer. The chase was a short one. The little broncho, faithful to the last, was worn out by his long journey. Switzer was taken to Mr. Bush’s ranch and that good man and his wife lavished care and kindness upon him.
Such simple and effective remedies as snow and ice upon his frozen limbs and by Sunday noon he had fully revived. Mr. Bush removed him to Sterling, and yesterday he was to put on a train for Denver, accompanied by Joseph Lankford. The latter had him removed to the Red Lion inn, on Sixteenth street, where he is at present, receiving medical treatment. Bwitzer's face, arms and the lower portions of the legs are frozen in a terrible manner. His long fast on the frozen plains also had effect and there is a good deal of doubt about his final recovery. He is comparatively a young man. When called upon last night he was unable to tell anything regarding his perilous journey, but the whole affair was learned from his friends. From the same cattle man it was learned that tne cold weather has been extremely fatal to cattle. There are about twenty thousand head now at Fremont's orchard, and they are dying and being killed by the cars at a frightful rate."

February 1883 "The father of Edwin Sweetser, who was recently frozen to death, has arrived from Faribault, Minn., and departs for that point with the body of his son to-day. The name of the deceased has before been incorrectly given as Ed Switzer and Edward Sweetzer."

IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION ON THE FAMILY OF EDWIN, PLEASE LET US KNOW.


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