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Show ESCALANTE Postmaster Marlene M. Haws, Escalante, has about decided to train some carrier .TROPIC Pointing .up the serious problems cattle ranchers are experiencing from the unusually heavy snowfalls this winter, Tropic cattle rancher Obie Shakespear, GO, suffered a near miss this past weekend. Shakespear, along with three other pidgeons to deliver the mall, so she won't have to keep shoveling snow so her patrons can get in and out' Stranded Rancher Is Rescued local ranchers, Laryjn Pollock, and Dean Wintch of Tropic, and Irving Rose of Henrieville had camped at a cabin at Four Mile where they had taken emergency feed to their cattle. Approximately six to seven miles from Four Mile near Wahweap on his return trip, Shakespear's truck was following in the tracks of the three other vehicles which in turn were following a path made by Olaf Shakespear on the county caterpillar. Suddenly he began to experience problems from the high drifts. The two cows and one horse in his truck bed were raising the front of his truck causing a lack of front wheel traction. Finally falling far behind the others, with his truck stalled, Shakespear realized that only about one and one half hours of daylight remained. Rather than risk the trip on horseback back to the Four Mile cabin, he elected to remain in his truck for the night. With his arm clothing and bedding still at the cabin for the return trip he (Continued on page 6) Rancher Found Safe After Miserable Night I (Continued from page 1) i planned on Monday, Shakespear found he had only a few cookies for food and a gunny sack for covering. No fire could be built because of the fierce chilling , winds and only a little brush could be ' cut to feed his hungry animals. With his jeans wet to the knees from f trying to free his vehicle and only a ; jacket and gloves, Shakespear settled ; in for a night of little sleep. ( With the thermometer hovering near ; zero and below, solid sheets of ice f formed on the windows of his truck leaving only a small space near the top through which to determine that I morning had finally arrived. ! Building a small fire to warm his feet and legs, he tended to his animals as best he could. With no word from their i companion of the day before, the others became concerned although they j assumed he'd taken the horse back to the cabin in Four Mile. Once again following the county cat they started their return trip to j i Fourmile with provisions to stay and continue their search for their cattle. It was 3:30 p.m. before they reached Shakespear, very cold, weary, and hungry but preparing to spend another night in the cold if necessary. Son, L. D. Shakespear, had chartered a plane at Page, Ariz., to search for his father and was able to pinpoint his position for the returning ranchers. Reunited with his family after Saturday evening, Shakespear stated that conditions were very serious and area ranchers were deeply concerned because their animals were in poor condition in many cases. Because of the vast area that must be searched, ranchers hold out little hope for locating all their missing cows unless some kind of outside assistance is forthcoming such as heavy equipment for snow removal and aerial surveillance. Area cattle ranchers express their gratitude to both the county and volunteer workers for their numerous hours of donated labor during this difficult weather crisis. |