Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-08-16
ApvENruREs AND surrER1Nes OF

| AOOO'
ADVENTURES AND SUFFERINGs OF A
PIoNEER.-The Ironton Register is pub
fishing a series of sketches of the old
French settlers of Southern Ohio. We
have read several of them with much
interest. The Register of the 18th inst.
contains long and well written biogra-
ply of "ANToINE CLAUDE VINCENT" /"
who was born within sight of Paris in
1772, and left for America when a
young man, during the troubulous times
of the French Revolution. After vari-
GUS adventures, he finally settled on the
"Grant," on the Ohio, about SIS miles
below Gallipolis. We copy an adven-
ture that belel him in February, i799:
Then residing at Marietta. "he went
on trip to Belpre settlement, some
miles below Marietta. He went in a
canoe alone; itturned stormy; the wind
blew and the river was rough; it snow
ed fast; water splashed into the canoe;
it became very cold and the water in the
canoe froze; he was polling the canoe,
erect, his feeeslipped on the ice, and he
fell overheard, bift he regained the ca
noe. He was no~miles from any hu-
man habitation, perfectly wet; it blew,
it showed, it froze, and unless he could
keep warm he must soon be frozen
He abandoned his canoe and took the
land for it, endeavoring by brisk walk
ing to keep from freezing. He started
on the road for Belpre; the snow fell
thick and fast and hid the guiding
marks on the trees; he lost the way and
came to tree top, as he thought; he
attempted to go around it, thought it
very long tree, and at last a thought
struck him that it was brush fence
and it was-and he tried to climb over
it: It was now thick night; the winds
had 81 psided, clouds passed away. but
poor FRcent had alost all hope, his feet
were frozen solid in his boots; his gar
ments were stiff with ice; his hands and
arms had lost all sensibility. He, with
the last efforts of despair, had reached
the top of the fence, but when there, he
lost his balance and fell forward in the
deep snow. Hope was all gone now,
and he made no effort to arise. He felt
no pain, but a deafness in his limbs
opposed all efforts at locomotion. He
had lain about half hour in this al
most unconscious state, when he heard /
a COW bell, and opened bis eyes; the
Sky was now clear, the stars shone
brightly and he saw the bright moon
just rising. Between the moon and |
himself be saw the roof of house, and I
hope returned. He attempted to call I
aloud, but no word came from his pale
lips. After some efforts he got on his
elbows and tried to drag himself along.
Hope gave energy to his frame; his
heart beat quicker, and he slowly NOV
ed along, using only his elbows, for his
legs were entirely chilled. He reached
the door about midnight; and in vain
tried to rouse the inmates. He at last
got on the steps, and reached ard raised
the latch. The inmates were alarmed,
thought him intoxicated; but soon re
him, and treated him as best
they could. They prepared warm wa
ter for his hands and feet, but he knew
what the effect would be and refused.
He was conveyed to Marietta, and plac-
ed in the care of the best physicians
Their utmost skill was exercised, but he
soon lost confidence in the Yankee doc
tors, and longed for French treatment.
He accordingly was taken TO Gallipolis
in a canoe. Lime water had been Of
fered at Marietta, but he refused it;
the French doctors apply it the first
thing. At evening his hands and feet
were perfectly black in the form of jel-
ly; by the use of lime water, by morn
ing, all this decaying flesh was remov-
ed. and bis feet and hands were as white
as linen. the pearly bones of the first
joints being perfectly naked. For six
weeks after that fatal night he did not
expect, nor did others expect him to
live. Ittook place just one month after
his nuptials. He lost thereby most of
the joints of his fingers and toes, which
nearly disqualified him for the exercise
Of some of the arts in which he was well
skilled" i
We have seen it stated that, since the {
case of Mayberry, who was lynched in Z
Wisconsin by the indignant populace, I
because there was no law to hang him,