Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-04-13

lug not 10 seek theIr safety In the ruin
OF others, but this was the last effort OIL
their virtue. II an officer or comrade
Tell alongside them, or under the wheels
OF the cannon, it was in vain that he i'm
tlored them, by common country, re-
hgion, and cause, TO succor him. lie
obtained not even look; all the frozen
lnt1exlbllty of the climate had passed in
to their hearts; its Rightly had contract
ed their sentiments as veil as their fea-
lures. All except few chiefs were
absorbed by their own suffering, and
terror left no place for pity. Thus that
egoilsm, which is often produced by ex-
cesslve prosperity, results also from ex-
treme adversity-but in which latter
case it is more excusable, the former
being voluntary, the latter forced; one a
crime OF the heart, the other an impulse
OF instinct, and altogether physical: and
indeed, upon the occasion here alluded
to, there was much of excuse, for TO
stop for moment, was to risk your own
lite. In this scene of universal destruc-
ton, to holdvout your hand to your com
rade oryour sinking chief, was an ADM.
rable effort ofgenerosity. The slight
est act of humanity was an instance of
sublime devotion.
"When unable. from total exhaustion,
to proceed, they halted for a moment,
winter, with his icy hands, seized upon
them for his prey. 1t was then that, in
vain, these unfortunate beings, feeling
themselves benumbed, endeavored to
rouse themselves. Voiceless, insensi.
Bile, and plunged in stupor, they moved
forward few PAGES, like automatons :;
bu, the blood, already freezing in their
veins, flowed Ianguidly through their
hearts, and, mounting to their heads,
pade them stagger like drunken men.
From their eyes, become red and irham-
ed from the continual view Of the daz-
zling snow, the want of sleep, and the
smoke OF the brivouca, there burst forth
red tears of blood, accompanied by pro-
found signs; they looked at the sky, at
US, and upon the earth, with fixed and
haggard stare of CONSERVATION: this was
their last farewell or rather reproach to
that barbarous nature that. tortured
them. Thus dropping upon their knees
and afterwards upon their hands, their
heads moving for an instant or two from
right 10 left, while from their gaspiDg
lips escaped the most agonizing means !;
at length they fell PROSTATE upon the
snow, staining il with a gush of living
blood, and all their miseries terminated.
Their comrades passed over them with
out even stepping aside, dreadiRg to
lengthen their march by single pace
they even turned not their heads TO look
at them, for the slightest motion of the
head 10 the left or the right was attend
ed with torture, the hair of their heads
and boards being frozen into solid
mass.
Scenes of still greater horror took
place in those immense Lighthouses, or
sheds, which were found at certain in
tergals along the road. Into these sol.
dlers and officers rushed precipitately.
and hudd!ed together like so many cat
tie. The living not having strength e.
nough to remove those who had died
close to the FIRE, sat down upon theil
bodies, until their own turn came to ex
pire, when they also served as death.
beds to other victims. Sometimes the
fire communicated itself to the wood, O
which these sheds were composed, ant
then all those within the walls, already
half dead with cold, expired in the
I flames. AT Joupranoni, the soldiers eel
fire TO whole houses, in order 10 warn
themselves for few moments. The
glare of those CONGREGATIONS attracted
crowds of wretches, whom the intensity
of the cold and suffering had rendered
delirious: these rushing forward like
madmeD, gnashing their teeth, and will
demonac laughter, precipitated them
selves into The midst Of the flames
where they persisted in horrible convul
sions. Their famished companions look
ed on without alright, and it is but toe
true that some Of them drew the hal
roasted bodies from the flames, and ven
tured to carry to their lips the revolving
food"
A curious electric phenomenon occur
red within these few days, under oul
own observation. A new feather bee
was put into cold and damp room, ant
, a person incautiously went to sleep il
it, without the precaution of having hat
a fire put 10 the room during the day
to remove the dampness. Scarcely hat
he been ten minutes in bed, when he
fancied he saw light issuing from hi.
eyes; for this supposition he had the
best possible reason, as, from the situa.
ton Of the room, there was not the
least Granny or opening at which light
could be supposed TO enter, the door.