The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-01-09
MNPN
CITY ITEMS.

CITY ITEMS.
A NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH-THRrLL.
ING ADVENTURE OF A MAN LOST IN THE
SwAMPs.-Many of our readers are acquain-
ted with Fred Walters, formerly Porter in
the store of B. Presley, Esq, on the Levee.
1t seems that some weeks since he went up
to tho neighborhood of Princeton, on Rum
Rive, about ninety miles above st. Antho-
ny, on hunting expedition. He boarded in
the meantime at the house of Mr.. Hopper
(who is our informant) about three miles
from Princeton. About the sixth of Dccem
ber, he started out in the morning, promis ing
Mrs. H. to return about o'clock. He did
not come back that night, and it was suppos-
ed he had tarried at the house of another
German, over the river. As he did not re-
turn the next night, nor the next, fears for
his safety were aroused, and about half a
dozen men of the neighborhood, well acquain-
ted with the country, started in his tracks
in search of him. The search was kept up
until the snow fell, on Thanksgiving day, COW
ering his tracts, and rendering the pursuit un-
availing. p: 3-.. 90
From Walters own account, he wandered,
after getting lost, over great extent of
country, perfectly bewildered. He found no
game, and no signs of life. His strength
gradually failed, and terrible death stared
him in the face. His faithful dog still kept
with him, but he threw away his heavy rife,
too fatigued to carry it. For four nights and
five days he wandered thus, with nothing to
eat, no fire, no place to sleep, and saw no sign
of human being' he says, all that fearful
period. At last his strength failed, and he
sullenly set down, resolved to die, as he
knew he could never make his way out ofthe
interminable labyrinth of swamps, His dog
had even to be coaxed to follow him it too,
was worn down by hunger and fatigue
Calling it to him in this last desperate ex-
tremity, he plunged his knife into its breast,
and tearing out its liver, devoured part of
it raw and bleeding. Even famished as he
was, this unnatural mess sickened him, and
he threw it away. The last hope that nerv
ed him vanished, and discourage forsook him.
Unable to go farther, he lay down under
some bushes, and made sort of shelter by
pieces of bark, &C., resolved to calmly await
the death he knew must soon relieve him.
What feelings must bis have been Lying
down to await slow and terrible fate, no
eye to witness his last moments, far from
home, in wilderness, where no rites of sep
ulture, even-would await his body!
But hark-the sound of q human voice
thrills through him,-no, he Is not deceived
--=it is! he eagerly springs to his feet, as we'll
as his frozen limbs permit him, and hail the
party. His halloo is answered, and in mo-
ment more, he is surrounded by fiends.
This, was the hour of his deliverance, and
by miracle. A party of three gentlemen
from st. Anthony, were looking for Pine
claims, and by mere chance strayed in that
direction. But difficulty still lay in the
way. Walters could not walk and it was
many miles to the settlement from which he
had started. One Immediately started off
for bel p, and the Others remained with Wal
ters. A fire was built, camp made, and
some nutriment given him. He had now
been lost four nights and fue days, and before
the person returned with wagon, it was fre
days more A road had to be cut through
the greater part of the way, and the swamps
were scarcely frozen up.
After being taken to Hopper's house, he
remained 10 days in an exhausted state, ere
it was supposed his injuries were so severe.
His lower limbs then began to mortify, and
it was apparent, even to the uniformed set
tiers there, that the only way to save his life
was to bring him to St. Anthony or St. Paul,
and have them amputated. This tedious
Journey over rough roads lasted two days
during which time he had to be held like an
infant, and hal no rest.
The operation took place on Wednesday
last at the County Infirmary at St. Anthony,
by several Surgeons. So herculean, we are
told, is the constitution of Walters, that af-
ter twenty days of almost unparalleled suf-
fering, the Surgeons we're compelled to give
him an otherwise fatal dose of chloroform to
keep him from struggling during the opera
ton.
He is remaining there at the expense of
Ramsey County, of which he is citizen, and
should be removed here. 1t is a case, too,
for the sympathies Of our citizens, if, as we
are told, Mr.. W. is really needy.
A CRAZY MAN.-On New Years day, a
gentleman, having in charge crazy brother,
passed through the city en- route for his folm-