Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-11-08
The Los, Man at ,he wM,,e moun,a.ns.


The Lost Man at the White Mountains.
DR.. Ball, whose remarkable escape from death
by exposure at the White Mountains, has been
already mentioned, reached this city last even.
ing. We have from his own lips the following
account Of his adventures:
DIR. Ball left the Glen House on Wednesday
afternoon, at clock, to take short walk up
on the new carriage walk which has recently
been built. That brought him to small shanty
at the foot of the ledge. After arriving there
he thought he would go up the ledge for short
distance. Finding it very stormy after travel
ling mile or two, he returned back to the
shanty, and by this time it was seven o'clock in
the evening. The occupants of the shanty de-
sired him to remain over night, and he did so.
The next morning it still rained, and seeing
the path over the ledge quite clear of snow, he
thought he would 90 over the ledge. With an
umbrella to protect him from the storm, he
travelled over the mountain, towards the sum
nit. After going mile and a half it began to
snow very violently. The path was so covered
that it could not be seen, and he made the best
way he could in various directions, still going
up. He had passed the second mountain, and
thinking himself near the summit, was induced
to 90 on. AS he came upon the third noun
tain the wind blew a hurricane, completely
cutting off all observation. He continued,
however, to ascend, and finally reached the
fourth mountain, on which stands the Summit
House There the storm was even more vio-
lent than on the third mountain, the wind
sometimes throwing him off his feet, and fore
ing him to turn to get his breath. After bat
Ting with the storm for two hours, not being
able to detect the Summit House, he concluded,
N m RI ratr dnu "a
mountain.
Turning them he commenced the descent but
could not find his tracks, and went on merely
guided by the fall of the land He finally came
upon some stakes put down in laying out road
to the summit. He followed these down until
near night, intending to follow them to the
base OF the mountain, as he had no idea on
which side of the mountain he was. But
finally losing them, and night coming on, he
was forced to look for place of shelter from
the storm. He fastened his umbrella between
a rock and some bushes, and then pulling up
some dead wood and brush, he pulled them
over the top of the umbrella, and then laid
down under it.
There he remained the whole night con-
stantly moving to prevent being frozen. He
was very drowzy and sleepy, but managed to
keep awake until daylight. Then he arose and
al outietJ IL pclug logpy AT lIie time
notsstormy. He spent the whole day in wander
ing in different directions and finding no out
let, returned to the same place. Night again
came on, and he made preparations to spend
it on the mountains. He tried to light a fire.
but the wiud was so strong, and there was so
much snow that he could not
The night was passed the same as before
without sleep, and the next morning he arose
at daylight, came out and leaning on rock
exercised his feet which we're both frozen be-
low the ankles.
After two hours exercise he set out again to
try to get off the mountain. While standing
for few moments to consider which way to
go, he saw the party who we're in search of
him. He cried out to them, and they stopped
short and came to his relief They were much
amazed to find him alive and able to walk
With their assistance he walked down to the
shanty, which was about two miles distant
which place he reached on Saturday at o'clock
p. m, DR.. Ball having been without food or
sleep for sixty hours.
Both feet were here found to be badly frozen,
and also most Of the fingers on both hands
After waiting half an hour he was conveyed to
the Glen House, where he received every posi-
bic attention.
Yesterday, at s o'clock, DR.. Ball left the
Glen House and reached this city last evening.
He was Immediately taken to the American
House. where he is at present stopping. He
is confined to the bed, his feet being perfectly
useless. The surgeons have as yet given no
opinion as to the rehabilitation Journal