Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-11-27

''ie00 'nnuehce OF tne c0lu. Men ike McUary
and Bonsall, who had stood out our severest
Marches were seized with trembling fits and
short breath and, in spite of all my efforts to
keep up an example of sound bearing, tainted
twice ON the snow
We had been nearly eighteen hours without
water or food when new hope cheered US.
think it was Hans our Esquimaux hunter, who
thought he saw u broad sledgc-trlck The drift
had nearly efaced it, and we were some of us
doubtful at first whether it WIS not one of those
accidental riffs which the gales make in the sur
face OF the snow But as we traced on the deep
snow among the hunmocks, we were led to
footsteps, and following them with religious
care, we at last came in sight ofa small Ameri-
can flag futtering from hummock, and lower
down little Masonic banner hanging from
tent pole hardly above the drift. 1t was the
camp of our disabled comrads; we reached it af
ter-an unbroken march of twenty one hours.
The little tent was nearly covered. was
not among the first to come up; Hut when
reached the tent curtain, the men were standing
in silent file on each side eff it. With more
= kindness and delicacy than is often supposed to
belong to sailors, but which is almost character.
istic they intimated their wish that | should 90
in alone. AS crawled in, and, coming upon
the darkness, heard before me the burst of wei
come gladness that came from the four poor fell
lows stretched upon their backs, and then for
Ai
the first time the cheer outside, my weakness
and my gratitude together almost oyercame me.
They expected me; they were sure l would
comc'
We were now fifteen souls, the thermometer
seventy-fve degrees below the freezing point;
and our sole accommodation II tent barely able
to contain eight persons; more than half our
number were obliged to keep from freezing by
walking outside while the others slept. We
could not halt long. Each Of US took turn of
two hours sleep; and VIC prepared for our home.
ward march.
We made by vigorous pulls and lifts nearly
: mlcan hour, and reached the new foes before
we were absolutely weary. Our sledge sus-
tanned the trial admirably Ohlsen, restored by
hope, walked steadily at the leading belt of the
sledge lines; and began to feel certain ofreach
ing oar a'fway station of the day before, where
we had left our tent. But we were still nine
niles from it, when, almost without premoni-
tion, we all became aware of an alarming fail
9 ure Of our energies.
l. was of course familiar with the benumbei
and almost lethargic sensation OF extreme cold
and once, when exposed for some hours in the
midwnter of Bafin's Bay, [ had experienced
symptoms which compared to the diffused par
aysis af the electro -galvanc shock. But
had trea led the sleepy comfort of freezing as
something like the embellishments of romance.
had evidence now to the contrary.
Bonsall and Morton two Of our stoutest men,
came to me, begging permission to sleep: 'they
were not cold; the wind did not enter them now:
little sleep was all they wanted Presently
Hans WAS found neatly stiff under drift; and
Thomas, bolt upright, had his eyes closed,
and could hardly artculatc At last, John
Blake threw hims If on the snow, and refused
to rise. They did not complain of feeling cold:
but it was in vain that wrestled boxed, ran
argued, jeered or reprimanded; an immediate
halt could not be avoided
We pitched nur tent with much difficulty.
Our hands were too powerless to strike fire;
we were obliged to do without water or food
Even the spirits (wl'isky)h frozen at the mems
iect' under all the coverings We put Bonsall,
Ohlsen, Thomas and Hans with the other sick
men, we'll inside the tent, end crowded in AZ
many others as we could. Then, leaving the
party in charge Of Mr.. McGary, with orders to
come on after four hours rest, pushed ahead
with William Godfrey, who volunteered to be
my companion My aim was to reach the half
way tent and thaw some ice and pemmcan be-
fore the others arrived
The foe was Of level ice, and the walking cx-
cellent. | cannot tell how long it took us to
make the nine miles, for we were in stranpe
sort of stupor. and had little apprehension OF
y time. 1t was probably about four hours We
- kept ourselves awake by imposing upon each
3 other continued articulation of words; they
" must have been incoherent enough recall
y these hours as among the most wretched have
ever gone through; we were neither of us in oul
IS right senses, and retained very confused recol
d We both 0f us, however, remember bear WHIT
'e walked leisurely before us, and tore up as hi
ID went jumper that Mr.. McGary had improvi
g dentialy thrown off the day before. He tore i
into shreds and rolled it into ball, but never
II offered to interfere with our progress. renem
4 ber this and with it II confused sentiment tia
IN our tent and bufftlo robes ght probably shar
m the same fate. Godfrey, with whom the mem
4 ory Of this days work may atone for many fault
e. Of later time. had better eye than myself
OF and looking some miles ahead he could see tina
s- our tent was undergoing the same unccremc
oil nious treatment. | thought saw it too, bu
pc we were so drunken with cola that we strobe o
steadily, and for aught know, without quick
nu ening our pace
n Probably our approach saved the contents o
IL the tent; for when we reached it the tent WI
q unnjured, though the bear had overturned i
at tossing the buffalo robes and pemmican into tt
ne snow we missed only couple of blanket. bag
ay What we recollected, however, and perhaps u
: we recolect is, that we had great difficulty
m raising it. We crawled into our reinde sleel
en ing-bags, without speaking, and for the ne,
as three honrs slept on in q dreamy but inten,
'ed slumber When awoke, my long beard ";
IN a mass Of ice, frozen fast TO the buffalo ski