Plymouth weekly banner. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1856, 1856-05-15
Correspondence OF the No.. Re publican.
Narrative of an Adventure and Snf-
feriuO

Thrilling Narrative of an Adventure and Suf-
fcring.
At ST. Joseph | saw. Mr.. H. 7. Cor.
man, Of New York, who had just come in
from the mountains. in such a state OF
prostralion and sffliction as could only
have been occssioHed by such exposure.
hardship and suffering as. perhaps. no
other man ever survived. In company
with o Canadian Frenchman and two
Kentuckians. he left the country of the
Blockfool Indians last fall TO join Culver.
son and his party at Fort Pierre, and &C.
company them to the States. They arri.
yed at Fort Pierre TWO days after Culver
sons departure, and FASTENED on after. in
the hope Of overtaking him. On The third
day one of those snow storms, known on
~ in those black and elevated regions,
opened upon them. 1t came down in
solid masses to the depth of four feet. and
was blown about By drifting winds, level
ing uneven places. penetrating and filling
their wagon and clothes and obstructing
their progress. Evening was approach
ing and they resolved to make one effor:
TO reach moro protected place before the
night set in. They urged their horses
forward. but had not proceeded more than
few hundred yuros-Gorman being
mounted on one Of the teams. end his
companions in the wagon. when sudden
ly he felt himself precipitated-he knew
not how far-into an abyss of snow He
was completely covered over and could
not tell which way 10 turn. He strug-
gled on, however, making n slow and te-
dious way. until he came to the surface.
some distance-he supposed 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 fallen into the
chasm was smoothed over and presented
a plain Of snow. He cried aloud for them
but was only answered by wild and wall
ing winds.
A feeling of dread and desolation and
despair came over him. and he was about
to yield himself TO that death which
seemed inevitable. Already had the cold
penetrated his frame; darkness was COW
ering the skies; the increasing winds
whired the still! falling snow more furi
ously; he was alone In vast, inhospi
table, unknown country, without provis-
ions, without shelter, without arms or
ammunition, and he was fearful 10 take
step in any direction, lest he should
again be buried in some deep abyss. His
manhood was subdued, he 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. tina. his unknown fate
would cause her; If he could only send
her one word Of afTectionaie adieu, he
could die in peace, but that could no, be,
and he must rouse himself. He offered
his irst prayer for heavenly aid; he arose
and moved forward through the darkness
and drifts. He sometimes fell from ex-
} haustion and felt inclined to repose, but
he knew thot one moments pause was
fatal, and he struggled on. The next day
| he saw some bushes. which gave him
hope of rest aud warmth, but when he
reached them he found TO his dismay. that
the matches in his pocket were wet and
soied, and could not be i2nited, His
Fee, had become so sore from constant
walking. as to burs, the soles from his
shoes, and he was compelled to crawl and
tumble himself along. Thus he worked
his way slowly, but Increasingly. through
the next night and the next day. bocom.
ing more faint each hour. and suffering a
thousands deaths from hunger, thirst,
frosted limbs. sore feet, WEAKNESS and
drowsiness, when he deserted hut o
short way off. Suddenly revival, like a
candle Pickering in the socket. he sprang
and ran forward few steps and scream
ed for help, and fell senseless in the snow.
Some Indians at the hut. saw aud heard
him, and went and brought him in. and
used all their restorativvs upon him; but
il was several days before he returned to
consciousness. and six long weeks before
he left his bed. He lost several Of his
toes. and is otherwise permanently injur
ed, but. through the assistance Of some
generous gentlemen of St. Joseph. he will
be enabled TO reach his home. His CON
panions have never been heard Of. The
place where they persisted, Mr.. German
ascertained TO be about thirty miles from
where the steamer White Cloud lies; but
the snow was still deep in the gulches
when he left there. He gave me their
names, hui regret that they have escsp
ed my memory. My thoughts were SO
that forgot his companions.