The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-10-12
a Man Frozen to Death.

nc lOlloWmS truly SAD description
of the death ola draughtsman attached
to the Geological Survey Expedition
at Portage Lakc-Mr. ScHLATTER-
is from the Lake Superior Journal Of
the 18th ult.
"Not many days since, We had a
conversation with one of the persons
who first saw Mr.. Schlatter after he
was frozen to death, last winter, near
the Quincy mine, on Portage Lake.
The whole affair is so sad and striking
that it deserves more notice than it has
received. Mr.. s., it is well known,
was one Of the best draughtsmen in
the United States. His maps made
fol- the Geological survey we're mis-
taken by many persons at Washington
City for engravings. His sketches
and plans Of mines arc famil ar to every
one who has visited Lake Superior. lie
had been in the country from the com
mcnccment of mining operations, en-
gagged in surveys, explorations and
mapping Of locations, and was a good
woodsman. His health and strength
owing to an unfortunate failing not un.
common in the carly days of tie min
ing region, had become impaired, and
as he had some pride in performing
his part well, he set ont Tor Portage
Lake, on the day previous to his death,
atone. lie did this because he knew
the country we'll, although there was
no road, and because his surveying
instruments were with lin. There was
track in the snow made by snow
shoes Of other parties who preceded
him. lie left the North American
location about ten o'clock in the nom.
ing, without blanket or food, and
without matches or flint and steel, cx-
/ pccting to reach the Quincy mine that
night.
1.-The distance is about fifteen miles,
/ through the woods, and is easily walk
ed on snow shoes, in half a day. The
next day some parties came through.
and stated that Mr.. Schlatter had
started i'll the morning just related,
ana that on the way his track had
been seen leaving the usual route. Mr..
Sheldon, Mr.. Van Andcn, and others
at the Quincy. at once concluded he
must have been lost, and although it
was now night, Immediately started
out to find him. About sundown they
discovered the place where he left the
track, and following his trail entered
a thick cedar swamp. 1t was evident
lie had been in the swamps the night
previous. and that lie was lost. lie
had crawled under logs and tree tops
to find shelter from the snow, and
wandered about, crossing and re-cros-
sing his own track as people do when
they are bewilderel, but did not 90 to
sleep Or remain long il a place. 1t
is supposed that in the morning he left
the swamp, but did not take the prop
er course for the mine, and did not
use his compass to determine the di.
rcction,
"Athough the night was cold
one, even for this region, ard the snow
deep, it does not appear that his feet
or hands were frozen. When it became
dark, the party lighted torches, and
pursued the steps Of the lost man by
the blaze Of parcels Of birch bark.
His strength was evidently falling; his
places were slow and short with fire..
quent rests-he was no doubt aware
thar he was in a bcwildered state, for
he followed not straight course. but
the valley Of a brook. About Q O'Clock
in the evening, the party came upon
the body, lying at full length under
the shelter of stout cedar. The tops
and dropping limbs Of this tree arc so
thick as frequently to keep the snow
from falling for a space around the
roots. Mr.. Schlattcr, concious that
his fate was fixed, had crawlcd under
this shelter, and calmly lay down to
die-his compass was laid one side, lis
hat and wig remained on the other:
and he was founl-thc vital warmth
not all gone-lying with his hands fold,
ed across lis breast, his limbs and body
perfectly straight, and his face upward.
"What a scene The venerable
cedar crested with snow, the winter
wind moaning sad dirge through lis
branches, the torches Illuminating for
the first time its black limbs, and the
dreary eXpanso of snow that lay on the
surface Of the ground. In the midst
Of the circle, a head body, not frozen or
the countenance not even
disturbed by agony, the eyes closed ;
but no doubt remained that it was the |
repose of death. BY the glare of the |
lights the face of the living contrasted |
wildly with that of the dead, express
sing the deep emotions of the human
heart, pity, wonder, and sympathy. !
The body was taken on litter to
Quincy mine, and is buried there"