From the Eastman Archive at UC Davis
Family on Way to Elko Finds Rangers Cabin
December 27, 1934
Two tractors battered their way through deep drifts early today to rescue six persons marooned in the snow near Bridge Creek, an isolated hamlet 20 miles north of here, for more than 24 hours.
Those rescued were Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Bowen and their daughter, Frances, 26, all of Susanville, and Mr. and Mrs. William Bowman and their 8-year old adopted daughter. Bowman is postmaster at Pittville, Cal.
They were found in a forest ranger’s cabin where they had sheltered before a raging snowstorm early Thursday morning added two feet more snow to that already on the ground.
None of them had suffered any hardships from their enforced stay in the cold and bleak wilderness.
Earlier the tractor crews. Led by County Supervisor Joe Hunter of Westwood, had come upon Russ Johnson and Lee Zweibel, Susanville garagemen, in a stalled tow car 15 miles from here, suffering from exposure.
The two garagemen had answered the Bowens’ call for aid late Wednesday night and had attempted to buck the snowdrifts. They were found five miles short of their goal. They were taken to a local hospital where their condition was described as not serious.
Trucks equipped with snowplows sent from here by Lassen county officials in another attempt to recuse the six; finally returned after they had not been heard from for more than 18 hours. They were unable to breakthrough.
The Bowens were caught by the storm after leaving Susanville during a warm spell. After notifying the garagemen of their plight the Bowens came upon the Pittville family in a second machine three miles from the spot where their own car was stalled.
The two families stumbled through drifts until they came upon the ranger’s cabin late Wednesday night.
The Pittville family was given shelter in Westwood. The Bowens returned to their home here to rest after Mrs. Bowen received treatment for minor exposure at a local hospital.
The Bowens were en route to Elko to attend the funeral today of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Rena who were killed Christmas day when a train struck their automobile. The Bowman’s adopted daughter was said to be the daughter of the Renas.
