The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-03-15

exercising. kept myself awake through
the night, but my feet froze harder. the
cold being intense. Thursday morning
I s;aid in my house, or nest. until about
8 o'clock the sun shone little warmer.
which was quite relief. My clothes
being frozen. took the most Of them of
and dried them in the saa.
Ny feet thawed someto day but swell
ed worse than ever. Took my other
shoe and both stockings off; considers
bic of the skin pulled from my feet when
1 took, or rather tnre eff Che ssoekings.
sly feet being now nearly useless. / did
not leave my camp this day. The night
was spent similar TO the one preyious.---
My feet seemed to freeze harder in spite
of my exertions. Ay fingers, also. be-
gan to be frosted. I kept awake. but
what fearful forebodings would occasion
ally creep over my senses. none but the
poor, sleepless. frozen. famished sufferer
can imagine.
arose Friday morning about 10 o.
clock, and summoning ali the remaining
energies left, determined to End water.
being extremely thirsty. The snow of
which eat did not satisfy my craving
thirst. Having scarcely any control over
my feet, which would slide around as my
weight seemed to force them, went but
a few steps, and with great difficulty re.
turned to my nest without water. This
day, as well as previously, / rubbed my
feet and legs to kep up circulation OF
btood; but sun grew weaker, had less
energy, and felt more like going to sleep.
Coula not turn myself at night, or move
my jaws. Whilst in pursuit of water, |
tried once more to knaw some bark from
the elm, but it was useless effort. Ra-
vens and hawks hoyered over me rs if
waiting impatiently for the last spark of
life to go out. that they might feast on
the body which lay beneath them, with
the lamp of life but family glimmering.
Hope did not utterly abandon me; .
slight shadow of anticipation seemed oc-
casionally to flitaeross my haggard mind.
that help would come from some source.
and this alone nerved me up to greater
effort to keep myself from falling asleep.
which seemed almost impossible.
This night was the warnest of any
that lay out. butts great ways from be-
ing comiortable-ieet and hands contin-
ued about tho same. l tore up my dress
anA saaPtabess my feet which prevent
ed their freezing any harder; indeed it
seemed almost impossible to freeze them
any worse.
Saturday morning / gave myself up to
die, being fully conscious that nature
could not hold out through, another night,
and probably not through the day. |
thought of my fatherand mother-ifthey
only knew where | was, but no: here
must die, away from home. alone in the
snow, my body eat up by wolves, no one
10 tell my suiferings. no one to soothe
my head, or TO wipe away tear, or speak
consoling word. No; here | must
freeze to death on the plains of Kansas,
in which beautiful land had anticipated
many happy day. thought to mark
the day of ,lle month on some ice, so If
they found me. they would know lived
until thea.
Just at this time, it being about 10 o.
clock. = NJ. thought | heard some ens
not far oil. driving team. then hailced
to the exlentof my voice, which was get
ting weak, knowing that, in all probable
ity. this was not only the first, but the
last chance to be found alive. heard
voice in return. Could it be- 2 Ny heart
throbbed with extaeies; fora moment |
forgot my sutferings. / still continued
my halloing, and soon was sure that sonse
one one heard me. and from their sepa-
rated answers, knew they we're fast APP
preaching me. My feelings can never
describe, as two men came in sight. who.
proved to be John Bayless aud Edmund
Andrews. They very kindly took their
coats from their backs and wrapt me
therein. These were the first voices
had heard, or human beings had seen,
since Thursday morning. Quite CON-
pany of the neighbors. who. it appears.
were in seach of me. attracted by my
cries, soon came to my little camp Mr.
Bayiess had previously gone for team.
which presently arrived, and. after an
absence of four days and four nights
from any human habi;ation. without
sleep, fire, or food. or clothes sufficient
to shield me from the unprecedented iu-
ciemeneies of the chilling blasts Of win
ter. | was carried TO my fathers house
to once more gree. their happy smiles
TO congratulate those. Notwithstanding
my weakness andunparalleled sutTsring,)
who had given me up for lost, expect.
ing never TO behold my face again. or
to see theirs. The scene through which
| passed. the agoniss and sufisrings, TO.
gether With the feelings corrected there.
with, would require more tlian mortal
tongue TO express, and it is even 9 cause
of wonder and astonishment that ] lived
50 long and came of 50 well."
Her first nights eacampment alluded
70. was only about naiie from her faith
|er's, the sthsr lodge eas about tvs
miles from heme. ana oss uils from Dir.
BaYless. who i is supposed she heard
driving team. The most remarkable Ip-
cidsnlin ths whoie aisair Is. that she
coald i've through one nigh much nora
The Eoar d sncssssion She manifested
. gseat deal Of pEe1szes ef mild e ssll
e mafuss Judgement fsr one nf hsr sga.
and lis donbiful undz ~ circups:Ances
xhefhsr history can afford 5 pafzlIel.
WILLIAM D0oaTTLE