Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-22
THURSDAY MORNING. JULY %, IsAI.

toes surrounded me like a thick cloud,
from the fatigue Of the day, soon fell
asleep.
When awoke the sun was shining on
the tree tops. Without having eaten u
morsel of food since the morning Of the
previous day, set out again in search Of
the camp, with prospect Of spending the
longest day Of my life in the fruitless at.
tempt. wandered on, sometimes in
small patches Of cane; and when the
night came, threw myself down, aud
slept as well as could be expected, the
mosquitoes and ticks Teasing the while
on my blood, which, Notwithstanding hun.
ger, was the worst feature OF my situation.
On the fourth night found myself in
four feet water. | succeeded, however,
in finding a tree which had fallen, the butt
remaining above water, on which slept
through the night. In the morning
covered some cane keeping the same
course as near as could, crossed the
cane and came to an open swamp. Here
saw some wild cattle, which were the
first animals had seen since bad aban-
doned the pursuit of the wounded panther.
They were numerous, large, and in fine
! condition, one of which would doubtless
have Been sacrificed to satisfy the craving
of hunger, which hpd been the day prev.
Gus almost insufferabe, were it not that
my ammunition had become damaged and
useless. This day suffered much from
hunger, but no longer felt the incessant
bitIngs Of the mosquitoes and ticks, my
flesh being apparently dead to pain, yet
my feet were giving way, being covered
in the water. On the following day |
found some green blackberries and ate a
! few and after this-the 9th day. fel.
no hunger.
now found myself in a very heavy
cane brake which seemed to be intermn-
Bile. and all my efforts to extricate N.Y.
self from it proved unavailable until the
| 18th day. The cane was so heavy that
II was impossblet to keep any direct course,
and consequently my progress must have
been slow. On the 18th day, however,
| struck small stream, and to avoid the
difficulty Of pushing myself through the
cane, took the water, and about IL o.
clock struck trail tina, had been cut by
! Mr.. James Lee to the banks of the Bayou,
Alabama. unfortunately took the wrong
end of this trail, and after following il
some distance found camp. Taking o
careful observation Of the camp and every
thing connected with it, concluded was
wrong, and decided upon pursuing the
trail to its termination at the other end.
| retraced my steps and followed it about
three miles, when laid down though
could not sleep. My feet were worn out,
and looked more like two Jumps Of decay.
ing flesh than the pedestals of a living
beng. When | attempted TO rise in the
morning, could not stand, my shoes
would not contain my feet, thought my
time had come, and wished fervently
prayed. that it might be so. at length
succeeded in walking, though it was some
time before | could wear my shoes.
At ten, on the 18th day, | found myself
at the plantation of Mr., Lee. | had sui
fcient strength to cross his fence, but
when walked few rods, found was
not able to proceed further in the open
fe!d-my ieet could not bear the neat OF
the earth, aud the sun seemed to exhaust
the little remaining strength which | had
left. stretched myself on the ground
and halooed at the top of my voice.
Mr.. Lee heard me and came to my assis.
lance. He received me with the utmost
kindness, furnished me with clothing, as |
was literally naked, and bestowed on me
every attention which my deplorabe sit.
uation required and in remembrance of
which, beg leave TO offer him and his
amiabe family, my sincere gratitude for
their agency in restoring to health one
who had laid himself down on the earth,
to rise no more, if it had not been for their
humanity.
VIM. ADAMS.
Bayou Sara, June &c, 154l.