Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-02-02
Wiseellanp.
How Man Feels when He is Frozen

How Man Feels when He is Frozen.
Many years ago wanted to go across the
HUDSON river from New York to Jersey City
one cold night, to take the stage for Trenton
at o'clock the next morning. II was mid
night Of a cold bitter night in December. The
ferry-boais had all ceased their trips till day
light, and | could not think of that; so | hired
a boatman with heavy bribe, and the promise
of more il we successfully crossed within an
hour, and left the shore. Il was very dark and
clustering The tide was not so furious in the
river as now, for the piers were then fewer,
and not extending into the channel, but the
northwest wind added heavy sea 10 the
danger Of the night, and taking all things to
gether, the prospect was poor. But had
been in rough seas, and running ice before,
and taking an oar pulled a stroke that evil
6ently surprised my boatman and added to his
hopes Of successful voyage. 1t was one
o'clock when we left the shore. AT half past
three we were under the lee Of Governors 5
Island coming up the Buttermilk channel on
the return Of the food. AT four O'Clock we
were making the shore near the old Brooklyn
distillery, when a cake of ice came in on the
sea, and closed round, our egg-shell of boat,
and it cracked and crushed precisely as yon
would have crushed an almond in the nut
cracker. Unfortunately, there was no one to
pick the valuable contents out Of the broken
shell, and if we had not been remarkably quick,
and the ice remarkably strong am not alto
gether certain that should have been here to-
day. On the contrary, might have gone out
to sea, on the next ebb tide, under water in
stead Of above il, or a cake Of ice as now
seemed probable. BY this time was cold, as
you may imagine. Rowing was on, of the
question, and had been forced to heat my
hands until they were sore, in vain efforts to
keep up some sort Of warmth in my numb fin
gers. And now, on this cake Of ice, must
keep still, motionless, or should 60 through
So sat down, holding the oar which had
never left my grasp, and looked about for my
bOatman. He was missing. A shout brought
back reply. The ice had parted, and we
had parted company, and we did not meet
again till some weeks afterward. We had no
| time or inclination to exchange parting saluta-
lions or good wishes. In truth, | had no good
wishes for him. | reserved them all for nv
self. | was thinking Of no one else, and his
fate formed no part Of my apprehensioRs. Let
me tell you that freezing to death is very
painful affair after all. II has none of the deli
cious sleepy qniet about j, that some persons
imagine. It is no lotns eating death, passing
away into dreamy hstlessness and profound
slumber. il is worse than nightmare, a ihous-
and fold. II is the Struggle Of prisoner in
an iron cell, fierce fsrions struggle, mad
struggle, a terrible Struggle. felt the grasp
of death, cold. Tightening, chilling, deadening
on wrist and ankle, on neck and waist, on
brain and heart. sat motioaless, and fought
as no man ever dreamed Of battling, except in
such case bu, what avail is it 10 resist when
the weight Of the world is pressing you steadi-
ly down! II was just that feeling. saw a
star over me, and it seemed 10 come down to
me, and To grow larger and larger, and the
silver point become a balD, globe, sphere, a
world, hiding everything else and all could
see was, that one great stream Of starlight,
shivering my eyeballs over, and ten thousand
sharp pains darted through every part Of me,
and then | fancied | shreked aloud, a lone
some cry that might starile the gvlls in the
harbor, from their resting place on ihe Aoating
ice, momentary flashing thOUgki Of the sea-
bird rising on his white wings, was in my
agony ending in insensibilty took possession Of
me- was frozen to death.
MY neAt sensations were the thrilling pains
Of recovery, sharp, shooting, piercing, stab
bing, twisting, in fact, every sort Of pain con-
ceivable. was surprised to find myself alive
This was my first Ineligible thought, for
believe that had known that | was frozen :
and deliberately given up after struggle,
was rather astonished at finding myself likely
to thaw out after all. But had fallen into
good hands.
had gone ashore below Red Hook, and
been picked up by some scamPs, who cleaned
out my pockets. aad my coat and the chief part
of my clothing, for certainly did not seem 10
need any Of it, But a better specimen of hu-
manity followed them, and took me to his
house, where DR. Davidson, who then lived in
the neighborhood, found me aud resuscitated
me- His attention was unwearying, and be-
lieve he saved my life dozen times that day.
| shall always remember that fearful night. |
am now past the meridian of life. Then l was
young and full of hope.-Joar. of Com.
The man who was frightened by the bark of
a tree must have been of nervous tempera-
mpnt.