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.
Return to Biography index