Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-07-22
q95sIlI9IslaMTr, IMItsGIsttlh Amy.
From the New Orleans Bee, July J..
REMARKABLE ADVENTURE.

hE VI AhhaDBt ADf EN- y re
The following is the narrative Of Mr..
Adams painful wandering during fourteen
days in the swamps and morasses of Ba-
you Gross Tete. 1t is written with great
simplicity, and is deeply interesting.
For Tie 81. FrancisriHe Chronicle.
Mr.. EDITOR In looking over the
Picayune of the 14th instant, perceived
that some friend had made mention of the
fact that an individual had been lost in the
swampa near Bayou Gross Tete, and
feel il my duty to give, through your pa
per, to the public, brief sketch OF the
suffering consequent upon fourteen days
sojourn in a cane brake.
left the east bank Of Bayou Alabama,
six miles above Whiskey Bay, on the
morning OF the 18th of May, on hunting
expedition. Leaving Bayou Alabama on
my left hand and travelling south by west
for about two hours, shot n deer. After
divesting the animal Of its head, &C., |
tools>it on my shoulder and started for the
encampment. When retraced my steps
some distance found where a panther
had recently been scratching the ground;
the track on the soft earth was easily fol-
lowed, and his course being near the same
as mine, followed him, keeping on my
guard, as well knew the "nature OF the
beast" had not pursued more than
forty rods, when heard him in the edge
Of g small cane brake; threw off my
burden to enable me TO use my rifle, with
more ease and certainty. He immediate
ly made his appearance and | retreated,
leaving the deer between US. When he
came to the carcase, he then stopped,
placing one foot on it, his eyes on me, and
mine on him. He was the largest animal
Of the species had ever seen. and the dis
lance was not more than twenty-five
wards between us. After looking at him
a few moments, brought my rifle to bear
upon his head-at the report of which
he fell. remained in the position until
had reloaded my rife, when | approach'
ed, as | supposed, my dead panther; but
to my surprise, he rosa and made the best
OF his way to the cane he had just LETT. l
had shot him too low. followed him
from one small cane brake to another, for
near an hour, and finding that could not
get second shot at him, abandoned the
pursuit, turning in search Of the deer |
had unburthened myself on my first Ell
counter with the panther. | soon found
IT, and resumed my supposed course TO.
ward camp. BY this time it had become
cloudy, and had no means OF ascertain
ing the certainty Of my situation how
ever, | travelled on, and soon found, by
by coming in contact with small stream
Of water, that was pursuing wrong d.
rec,ion-l turned and found another
stream. then came to the painful con-
cusion that | was "lost."
Time wore away, and it had reached
the Meridian of the day, and the sun was
yet clouded, when | threw down my bur-
then, hoping by renewed energy TO yet be
enabled to regain the encampment ere
night. travelled on, knew not With
er /; had lost all conception OF latitude
or longitude, and at four in the afternoon
found myself on the margin of an open
swamp. The sun again made his appear
ance. supposed myself to be near the
borders of Whiskey Bay, and shaped my
course accordingly, but soon found | was
surrounded by waters, and prevented from
following any direct line in search for
high land, and al last compelled TO take
the water. After wadlng for about two
miles, waist deep the greater part Of the
way, fortunately found small spot.
Here examined my ammunition, and
found both caps and powder wet. cut
some palmetto, strewed part on the
ground, kept the balance for covering,
aud laid myself down for the night, as it
was quite dark, and although the musqui.