The Snowshoe Itinerant

1901

Denver, June 17. — The Rev. John L. Dyer, one of the most famous preachers who has figured in the history of the west, died of paralysis of the throat after a lingering illness. Mr. Dyer was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1812. "Father" Dyer, as he became known, began preaching in Wisconsin in 1849, and was the oldest, if not the last of the old Methodist "circuit riders." Coming to Colorado in 1861 he met many thrilling adventures in his travels in this state and New Mexico, and through his zeal in preaching to the widely separated and almost inaccessible mining camps in ail kinds of weather earned the sobriquet of "The Snowshoe Itinerant" He is the author of a book bearing that title.

Prayer Meeting Held as Train Nearly Destroyed

PRAYER MEETING SAVES TRAIN

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., March 5. -- Beset before and behind by snowslides which threatened to carry it to destruction, stopped by washouts, delayed and forced to retreat by wrecks ahead and at one time within a few miles of the great avalanche which crushed two trains at Wellington, Wash., what is officially known as train No. 2 of the Great Northern, leaving Seattle February 26, arrived in Minneapolis last night, the first train through from the coast in four days.

Number Two left Seattle a week ago Saturday afternoon. Perhaps it was an impromptu prayer meeting on the train last Sunday night by a zealous evangelist which saved the train from disaster.

--The Des Moines News, March 5, 1910, page 1, home edition section.