Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-13
PRAIRIE AND MOUNTAIN LIFE.

and chat, now and then a song, and some
times yarn, either fanciful or true, from
some oil the rude characters about US. En-
camped upon the Wahka-roosi, or Big
Elk, when journeying outward, only some
sixty miles beyond Wesport, we listened
one evening with intense interest to the
following narration, given, perhaps, with
little more effect in the uncouth words Of
the story teller. 1t was one of the first Of
these camp FIRE relations that we heard,
and was SO told as 10 leave vivid impress
sion upon us all.
1t was sometime in 1892, that party of
fifteen or twenty persons COLLECTED among
the little village settlements Of upper Mis-
souri,, for the purpose of bee-hunting ex-
petition out upon Grand River. As is usual
on such occasions, there were more noyIces
than practical woodmen among them, and
in few days, before single bee tee was
found, their provisions began TO run low,
while no sign yet appeared Of either no.
uey or game. Thus critically circum-
stanced, an old man by the name Of Van
derpool undertook with his son, to return
10 the settlements, and bring out further
were only few hours out of sight of their
companions when they became bew.ldcred,
and by nighttall the two were thoroughly
lost. Their only course was now to lay
down and wait patiently until daylight
came 10 assist in setting them right again,
but during The night the unfortunate old
man in some accidental manner discha rged
his rifle, the ball passing through his left
thigh and SCATTERING the bone in a most
dreadful way. Night wore slowly away
over them, while the old man lay in hor-
rlble agony, and without prospect of as
ststance, un'h. as day dawned, it was de-
terunincd tina; the boy should seek the set
ments alone, and hurry back with aid to
his father.
Accordingly, the youth set off alone, in
voklng Providence to guide hun, while an
old and faithful dog was the only living
thing left with the wounded father, to lick
his leverish hand and listen to his means.
More fortunate than he anticipated, the
son did in a brief period reach the settle
ments, from whence he set out again i'm
mediately with every necessary assis' ance
both for his father ana the unlucky bee
hunters upon Grand River. But the poor
boy was now worse lost than ever, and he
could neither find the place where he had
left his father, nor direct the friends who
were with him where to look for the main
party. All this time the old man lay in
most acute atli fiction, unable to Stir an inch
while enduring the madGening agony of
thirst, and with cool stream but few
nr,lS nnrb OLE ~,
the prairie, overhung by a broad spread
ing growth Of timber. He lingsred in this
way until the third day after his son left
him, when the dcsolate invalid began to
feel his brain wandering beneath the seyeri-
ty Of his sutierings, and in this situation
his poor friend, the dog the only thing
that seemed vet imbued with knowledge
and sympathy for him-presented the I'M
happy man with his only, cruel and des-
perate method Of prolonging life.
CoaSing the atiectionate creature near
enough to him by the feeble motion OF his
hand, he made desperate plunge at the
animals neck with his knife. and was
fortunate enough to sever the jugular ar
terry, and the poor dog expired almost
without a struggle by his side! Old Van
derpooI then, by great exerlion, turned
! himself so as to touch the flowing blood
with his lips, and in this way he managed
to imbibe q sufticency Of this strange suste-
nance TO give him partial reStoratio n of
strength, with which he dragged himself
by slow degrees down TO the edge Of the
creek. Here the wounded man sIaked his
three days thirst, and fell al once off into
happy Inconsistencies of pain and suffer
ing, his body quite hidden from view by
leaves and thick underground Of wild shrub
berry around him.
Some hours after, poor Vanderpoo's
companions, the other bse hunters, came
past this very spot, they having waited his
return until patience had expired. and now
having determined to abandon their search
after bee trees and make thsir way home
ward as soon as possible. They found
the dead dog, and already partially torn
/ by wolves, they al once recognized as
Nanderpool's, but neglected to search the
vicinity with such scrun;ty as might have
discovered to them their unfortunate com
panion; and. only satisfying themselves
! that he was not there, they hurried on
| their. way homeward.
The boy, too, at length succeeded in
bringing his friends 10 the spot, and find
ing various footprints around, his father
gone and the dog killed, his natural con-
clusion was, that friends or enemies has
been there and carried the old man off
This opinion fastening itself at once upon
them all, they left the place and turned
back TO the settlements, while poor old
Eanderpool with his broken thigh still lay,
not inseusiole, but speechleSs and power
less among the bushes on the margin Of the
stream! He heard his friends searching
for and wondering what had become of him
but could give them no intimation of his
near or Whereabouts. He heard his son s
voice, and could gasp forth no tone or
mormur load enough 10 give warning Of
ms presence. They were preparing TO de-
part, 10 leave him there for the last time.
anu De could not call to them. They were
/ gone anu he was alone in the desola,e
wilderness, helpless, wounded. 81, rv;nq
and dying. with now not even the doc -
crouch BY his side. and seem in some Sort
IA companion to him. The helpless old