The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-04-19
The Horrors of Starvation.

The following, which is the experience of
miner, we clip from recent California pa
per. Two men sought distant digging, :"
became completely shut in by heavy snow
and soon consumed all their food. The wri-
ter says: "0n the second day Of our star.
walton found the carcass Of a mule that
had lost in thc fall. which the cayotas had
nearly entirely dovoured but on examination
we found small piece Of flesh remaining on
the lower thigh, which we carefully cut of.
with the hope that we could eat it ourselves
But It was no go; it would not stick. We
tried it in every way possible. but to no pur-
pose. IL was more than our stomachs could
bear. What now to do we could not tell
To get out was impossible. Death seemed to
stare US in the face. My companion become
so respondent that he gave up all hope and
would not leave the camp. although he was a
much larger and stronger man than myself !;
vet kept up much the best. But at the
Same time saw little chance but to starye
vet had faint hope that he would die first
and then-For fear he might take advan-
tape of me, seldom let my rife out of my
hands. l kept on my feet all the time, al
though was getting exceedingly weak and
the snow on the river bar was four feet deep
and from six to ten feet deep on the mountains
Now, all my fairy dreams Of wealth and hap
piness when should get home, were turned
into gloom and darkness; gold lost its lustre.
To become a cannibal was horrifying; the
thought of having to starye to death and be-
come fnod for the wild beasts was intollerOble.
Gold was Of no use | would have gladly
given all possessed for one pound Of bread,
but alas | could not get it. Ny heart grew
faint within me. l knew foil we'll that there
was no chance for my men to get to me before
must starye to death, unless my companion
should die, or To become a murderer
seemed too heartless and treacherous but
what could | do? Is It not better that one
de than both die? Thus I reasoned; and
struggled against reason, until hope was lost
in despair. But bark an idea occurs TO me.
| remember seeing the track Of cayota
near the carcass Of that mule Hope springs
up new vigor is aroused | snatched up
nv rifle and started off in the direction Of the
mule with light heart aud an eager aud
quick step, with nope OF yet escaping ths
dreadful calamity that seemed to await me.
On my reaching the carcass. | saw that there
was a cayota in the habit Of coming there ;
how to contrive some way to kill it was the
next thing TO be done. After some examina-
tion. posted myself behind large rock.
It was now getting near dusk, and no cayota
yet sat with eager expectation hoping the
next momens would bring some wild beast in
sight At the first appearance Of the animal.
threw my rifle to my face and fired, inAict-
ing death shot. Now my heart was filed
with JOY, and felt that He who created me
was able to iced me. and that it was no more
than Just that l should feel the sting Of the
lash had 50 much deserved from the hand Of
Him who had thus far blessed and prospered
me. On my return to camp. | met my CON-
panion. who. but moment previous, strug-
Cling in hopeless despair. might now be seen
with Frightened countenance. with tears Of
joy chasing each other dOwR his emaciated
cheeks"