Cheyenne Daily Leader January 14, 1890
CAUGHT IN A BLIZZARD
Two Rock Springs Men Out in a Terrible Storm.
A.W. McEdwards Gave Out and Perished in the Snow.
His Companion Reaches the Railway in a Sad Plight.

A.W. McEdwards, the young manager of the Beckwith Commercial company's store, at No. 7 Mine, Rock Springs, perished in a blizzard which swept over that section Sunday.

A man who had accompanied McEdwards for a hunt came into Rock Springs at noon Sunday. He was chilled through and through, nearly exhausted, with but a spark of vitality and eyesight partially destroyed. His hands, feet and nose were frozen. The returning hunter, when he became able to talk, told a thrilling story. He and McEdwards were about five miles from town, when the wind came on to blow. At first the breeze simply agitated the loose snow, but it quickly increased in velocity until a gale filled the air with snow, enveloping all landmarks, hiding mountains from view and obliterating trails and streams. It became colder and the wind easily penetrated their wrappings.

The hunters, long resident in the West, were not tardy in perceiving their peril, and started for Rock Springs. The storm increased in fury until to see ten feet ahead was impossible, but both being vigorous were little frightened and plunged into great drifts after traversing small bare areas.

McEdwards first weakened and was assisted for a long time by his companion. They traveled earnestly but seemed to make little progress, simply drifting over the prairie. McEdwards finally said that he could go no farther and sank in the snow, a drift instantly piling about him. So fierce was the wind that the men could scarcely hear each other. After much urging and as a forlorn hope the man still able to travel, left for help and told this story at Rock Springs several house later. He did not doubt that friend had perished and all knew that his survival in such a storm was impossible.

The distressed messenger, whose bodily sufferings and mental pangs threatened his reason, was unable to indicate where he had left poor McEdwards, but a strong party was organized and at once started to search for the missing man.
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Cheyenne Daily Sun January 14, 1890
A FATAL BLIZZARD
A.W. McEdwards of Rock Springs, Perishes From Its Effects

A.W. McEdwards, manager of Beckwith Commerical company's store at No. 4 mine, went out hunting on Sunday morning in company with another man. After they had been out awhile they were caught in a blizzard and McEdwards was overcome with the cold and driving snow until he was staggering, delirious, half frozen and unable to proceed. The occurred about four miles from Rock Springs. His partner, leaving him, went back to town to obtain assistance. Hunting parties were organized and started out late in the afternoon, and after searching all night failed to find him. The parties resumed their search Monday morning and a dispatch ws received before noon by Hon. James H. Brown, a member of the house from Rock Springs, now at the Inter Ocean, saying no trace of the unfortunate man could be found.

Later in the afternoon another dispatch came, saying McEdwards was found and brought into Rock Springs alive but his condition was so critical that it was thought he would not survive.

LATER--2 a.m., Tuesday--THE SUN has just received a dispatch stating that McEdwards died this morning.

He was a very estimable gentleman and his death will be learned with great sorrow by all who knew him. It will be doubly sad news to his wife who is absent on an eastern trip.
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Laramie Weekly Sentinel no. 38 January 18, 1890
Perished in a Blizzard

Last Sunday morning, A.W. McEdwards, manager of the house of the Beckwith Commercial company at Rock Springs, went out into the hills adjacent to that town hunting, in company with a friend. Towards noon a fearful storm came upon them. They made a desperate effort to get back to town but McEdwards' strength gave out, and after doing all he could to help him his companion finally was compelled to leave him and try to get to town for help. After a fearful struggle he finally reached Rock Springs, more dead than alive. As soon as he was revived enough to talk he told about McEdwards. A rescuing party was at once organized and went in search of him. He was found late in the evening and brought into town, but was so badly frozen that he died in a few hours. McEdwards was an estimable gentleman, beloved and respected by all who knew him, and his tragic death has cast a cloud over the whole community. He leaves a young wife who is on a visit east.
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