Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-24

u hoA 20 WY VIZ AecHSo upVu ~, Tore
it in pieces, and snatched the morseIs
from each others mouths like a troop
offamished wolves. However, a con.
siderable number still preserved enough
of moral feeling not to seek their safe.
ty in the ruin of others, but this was
the last effort of their virtue. liam Of.
6cer or comrade fell along side, them.
or under the wheels of the cannon. il
was in vain that he implored them, BY
common country, religion and cause.
to succour him. He obtained not even
look: all the frozen inhexibility of the
climate had passed into their hearts;
its rightly had contracted their sen,i.
ments as we'll as their features. All
except few chiefs, we're absorbed BY
their own sufferings, and terror left no
place for pity. Thus that egotism,
which is often produced by excessive
prosperity, results also from extreme
adversity-but in which latter case it
is more excusable: the former being vo.
luntary, the latter forced; one 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 life. In this scene Of universal
destruction, to hold out your hand to
your comrade, or your sinking chief,
was an admirable effort Of generosity.
The slightest act Of humanity was an
instance of sublime devotion.
"When unable, from total exhaus-
ton, to proceed, they halted for mo-
ment. Winter, with his icy hands,
seized upon them for his prey. twas
then, that in vain, these unfortunate be-
ings, feeling themselves benumbed, en-
deavored to rouse themselves. Voice.
less, insensible, and plunged in stupor,
they moved forward few PAGES, like
automatons; but the blood, already
freezing in their veins, flowed languid-
ly through their hearts, and, mounting
to their heads, made them staggcr like
drunken men. From their eyes, be-
come red and inhamed from the CONT
nuai view Of the dazzling snow, the
want Of sleep, the smoke Of the bivou-
acs, there burst forth real tears Of blood,
accompanied by profound signs; they
looked at the sky, at us, and upon the
earth, with a fixed and haggard stare
Of consternation-this was their last
farewell or rather reproach TO that bar.
barous nature that tortured them.
Thus dropping upon their knees, and
afterwards their hands, their heads
moving for an instant or two from right
to left, while from their gasping lips
escaped the most agonising moans-at
length they fell PROSTATE upon the snow,
staining it with a gush Of living blood,
and all their miseries terminated
Their comrades passed over them
without even stepping aside; dreading
to lengthen their march by single
pace: they even turned not their heads
to look at them, for the slightest mo.
ton of the head to the left or right was
attended with torture, the hair Of their
heads and boards being frozen into 4
solid mass.
"Scenss of still greater horror took
place in those immense Lighthouses, or
sheds, which were found at certain in.
tervals along the road. Into these, SOL
diers and officers rushed precipitately,
and huddled together like so many cat.
tie. The living, not having strength
enough to remove those who had died
close TO the fire, sat down upon their
bodies, until their own turn came to
expire, when they also served as death
beds to other victims. Sometimes the
fire communicated itself to the wood Of
which these sheds were composed, and
then all those within the walls, already
half dead with cold, expired in the
flames. At Joupranoui, the soldiers
set fire to whole houses, in order to
warm themselves for few moments.
The glare Of these conAagrations at
tracted crowds of wretches, whom the
intensity of the cold and of suffering
had rendered delirious: these rushing
forward like madmen, crashing their
teeth, and, with demoniac laughter,
precipitated themselves into the midst
Of the flames, where they persisted in
horrible commissions. Their famished
companions looked on without alright,
and it is but too true that some OF them
drew the half roasted bodies from the
flames, and ventured to carry to their
lips the revolving food"
SMOKERS FERRY.
We are authorised, upon unques-