Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-08-09

were suddenly oyertaken IN the plain
by storm of snow and sleet from the
northwest, which shall not attempt
to describe.
AT the time the storm came on we
were about FIVE miles from a point of
wood, which lay in our route. | hap
pened to be in front, the dogs follow
ing close to me, Mr.. Hayes not more
than fifty yards behind Mr.. Parys,
more than a mile distant. The NOR
ming having been very fine, the guide
not experimenting any danger, had left
US, to follow the track of a deer, inien-
ding TO cross the plain in another direc-
ton, and meet US at the wood to which
we were Fastening when the storm
came on, wetting us through 10 our
skin and blanket coats, which soon be.
came stiff with frost, and enyeloping
us in dense clouds ofdriiting snow, from
which we found it difficult to escape,
half suffocated.
Fortunately, | had noticed the sud-
den change Of the wind from north. west
TO north, and shaped my course accor.
dinghy, still hoping to reach the wood,
upon which Mr.. Hayes, who was near
me, observed that we were going wrong
and would certainly perish. | replied,
" No, no, follow me quick as you can.
AT that instant saw him stoop, proba-
bly, to arrange his snow-shoes; | con-
tinued on a few PAGES an immense
cloud of drifting snow hid him from my
sight and | never afterwards saw him.
| had not proceeded more than two
miles when ! fell down steep rayine,
and before could extricate myself out
Of the snow, was nearly suffocated.-
Upon regainng the edge ofthe ravine,
| found the dogs and traneau complete
ly buried in snow bank. After Dig
ging them out with one Of my snow
shoes, | managed to pass the ravine,
and in short found myself in the edge
of small wood, which | afterwards
discovered 10 be the same for which
we started in the morning, and where
we were to have waited for the guide.
The wood afforded but little shelter,
being only few Struggling oaks upon
rising ground. and after number of
fruitless attempts, had to abandon all
hopes of being able TO make fire du-
ring the continuance of the storm,
which seemed every moment to in
crease with ten.fold violence.
Having made hole in the snow
bank, rolled myself up, covered as
was with snow and ice, in buffalo robes
and blankets, and got under the snow,
where lay Tux the following morning.
NV sufferngs were severe. For more
than sixteen hours had almost contin-
ually to keep rubbing my feet and hands
10 keep them from freezing and at the
same time to keep myself from falling
asleep, for which ! had the greatest de-
sire knowing well, that should al
low sleep to overpower me ! would Pc
IRISH, and | had but little hope of again
seeing the guide.
Thus | was alone in a strange coun-
try---the route unknown to me, even
should escape the horrors of the night
! buried in snow bank in half fro
zen state, fearful that ! would be una
BILE to kindle a fire after the storm had
ceased and TO add to the gloominess
of my situation, | was annoyed the
whole night by the bowling ofinnumer-
able wolves inconcert with the raging
storm.
At dawn | crept from under the snow
and fired Two shots. Soon after the
guide came up, 81 informed me that he
had, after wandering for more than
four hours in the plain, by mere chance
fallen into small wood, about seven
miles to the west, where he had mana
ged to keep himself from freezing by
making large fire, being well proyi-
ded for that purpose.
Mr.. Parys was found buried in snow
and almost dead. He survived four
days. All search for Mr.. Hays pro-
we'd Intellectual and as he had not to-
ken the precauiion to provide himself
with materials for making fire, there
can be no doubt of his fate. Even had
he lived thro' the night, which | think
impossible, he must have persisted after
wards from either cold or hunger.
Being without any food except part
Of one Of the dogs which we had been
obliged to kill, we had nothing but the
melancholy alternative OF leaving MIR.
Parys behind in hut made of buffalo
skins, and Fastening on TO the trading
establishment, upwards of 70 miles DIS
tant, for relief. Having remained one
day near the scene of our disaster, the
guide and myself set out at Q p. M. and
on the following day at dark, we rea-
ched the trading establishment. Men
were Immediately despatched for Mr..
Parys, with orders to search for the
lody of Mr.. Hayes. They returned
in eleven days, bringing in the body OF
Mr. Parys, whom they found dead in
a. IaI..a xxJa had ,na1a fnr bi,, Eyn