Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-05-28
VOL. 2.---NO. Al.
A FEARFUL ADVENTURE.

L
The Missouri Republican, in letter from a
Kansas correspondent, has the following:
At ST. Joseph I saw Mr.. A. T. German, OF
! New York, who had Just come in from the
mountains in such state OF prostration and
affiiction as could only have been occssioned
| by such exposure, hardship, and suffering as
! perhaps no other man ever survived In COM
/ pany with a Canadian Frenchman and two
! kentuckians he left the country ofthe Black
/ Feet Indians last fall to join Culverson aud
! party at Fort Pierre and accompany them 10
the States. They arrived at Fort Pierre two
| days af:er Culyerson's departure, and hasten
ed on after in the hope of overtaking him.
On the third day one of those snow storms
known only on those bleak and elevated re-
gions opened upon them. 1t came down in
solid masses to the depth of four feet, and was
blown about by drifting winds, levelling un-
even places, penetrating and filling their wag
ons and clothes, and obstructing their progress.
Evening was approaching, aud they resolved
to make one effort TO reach a more protected
place before the. night set in. They urged
their horses forward, but had not proceeded
more than few hundred yards, German being
mounted on one Of the teamsters and his COM
panion in the wagon, when suddenly he felt
himself prccipitatcd, be knew not how far, in
to an abyss of snow. He was completely Gov
cred over, and could not tell which way to
turn. He struggled on, however, making
slow and tedious way, until she came to the
surface. he supposed a hundred yards from
where he sank He looked around for his
companions, but neither they nor the wagon
could be seen. The place where they had fal-
len into the chasm was smoothed over and
presented plain of snow. He called aloud
for them, but was only answered by wild and
wailing winds.
A feeling of dread and desolation and des-
pair came over him, and he was about to yield
himself to that death which seemed inevita-
Bile. Already had the cold penetrated his
frame: darkness was covering the skies the
increasing winds whirled the falling snow
more turiously; he was alone in a vast, inhos-
pitahle, unknown country, without provisions,
without shelter, without ammunition or arms,
and he was fearful 10 take step in any direc-
tion lest. he should be buried in deep abyss
His manhood was subdued, ne wept like
child; the memories of his happy home and
OF his mother came fresh upon him. He
knew the many anxious hours, the miserable
years, that his unknown fate would cause her
II he could only send one word of affectionate
adicu he could die in peace but that could
not be, and he must rouse himself.
He offered his first prayer for heavenly aid.
He arose and moved forward through the dark
ness and the drifts. He some times fell of ex-
haustion, and felt inclined TO repose but he
knew that one moments pause was fatal, and
he struggled on. The next day he saw some
bushes, which gave him hope of rest and
warmth, but when he reached them he found
TO his dismay that the matches in his pocket
we're wet and spoiled, and could not be ignited
His feet had become SO sore and swollen from
constant walking as to burst the soles from
his shoes, and he compelled TO crawl and
tumble along. Thus he worked his way slowly
but increasingly through the next night and
the day, becoming more fain. each hour, and
suffering athou3and deaths from hunger, thirst,
frosted limbs, feet, weariness, and drow-
siness, when he deserted hut short way Of.
Suddenly revived, like candle fiickerins
in the socket, he sprang and ran forward few
steps and screamed fer help, and fell sense
less in the snow. Some Indians at the hu.
heard and saw him, and went and brought him
in, and used all their rcstoratives upon him.
but it was several days before he returned TO
consciousness, and six long weeks before hs
left his bed. He lost several of his toes and is
otherwise injured, but through the assistance
OF some generous gentlemen of St. Joseph,
he will be enabled to reach home His com
panions have never been heard Of