Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-10-13

unsatsfied. longing cry Of our stomaehs was sCive
Siye.-inore mOrei' But no dainty little frogs
nor even snake responded; and we went viii
out We Thought we knew what ii was 10 feel hui :
CRY then; we found afterwards that we were oniy
taking the first rudiments in lesson.
We made up minds TO lodge in the shantY all
night-and as It was evident that the creek had been
used for drifting lumbeP,--probabiy to the Ottawa
in the morning we would build raft, and follow
ils course as far as we could, living CLAIMS and
frogs, on the way. Alas it was easy 10 talk about
cams and frogs, but It was not easy to get them
we found crossed small raft AMI sent 1t back
~ Ir. Ha.ldOck-but be was the largest man; the
raft rolled heavily under him, and he was pre-
ciritated into the stream, having to swim for dear
life to shore This was very uncomfortable. We
had no means Of kindling fire to dry the garments
Of the dienciied UOyQTter. We found in the shanty
straw that had been used by its occupants for
beds. tried to strike FIRE in the Indian fashion. by
rubbing two sticks together. and by drawing a small
piece OF rope found rapidly across peg, but
both faiied after using eli my strength, ! only got
up heat Of about one hundred degrees. So we
crawled under the straw piled II around, and made
the best of circumstances. But we ware both very
wet. and consequence our rest was mach broken
by dreadful cold ami chills.
In the morning we took tho scooped boards from
the roof Of the shanty lashed four them together
with grass ropes, and started down the stream At
this place. we afterwards learRed, we were within
less than three miles OF cleared tract OF two hun
deed acres in the heart Of the woods used for ras
ing fool for the lambeFmen OF GilmouP Co. If
we ind only been aware CT the fact then, how much
subsequent suffering we might have avoided
Afler going Obout twelve rods from the shanty
we came upon pine tree which had fallen directly
the creek. and rendered it necessary take
our raft apart. While was doing this, we heard
two distinct shots from gun, apparently NOT far
distant We shouted repeatedly with all cur might
and getting raft together as soon as possible
hastened down the stream, but came upon no one
We concluded thea we must have been mistaken:
but afterward learned the shots heard were
mads by the COOK OF the farm, who was killing par
tridges in the woods.
After travelling about three miles down the creek
we came upon a lake. We padded in search of an
outlet entirely around this lake. distance Of about
five mies; then found it turning to the right about
four rods from the point We started. Entering tits
after travelling about four miles, found that we
had been retracing our steps, as We came upon
signal on the bank erected to indicate the point
where we had abandoned the balloon. We eOntin-
ped polling down the stream all day; and yet seeing
nothing 10 indicate any probability of relief for
sure distresses As night approached, cold driz-
cling rain commenced falling. But there was no
life for there-our only hope, if hope there was
was in pushing and still on. So the poles splash
ed in the water, and We crowded upon them our
heavy weight until l04 O'Clock al night Then we
were obliged 20 stop, and having selected the for
bidding banka spot more favorable for landing nan
any other, we pushed our imprOmptu vessel ashore
climbed over the clayey soil and curled ourselves
up musket fashion, under projecting and partially
protecting shelf of eaFth-auP hacks poorly serving
umbrellas, IN shield the rest OF hOlies from
the storm that would beat upon u.s. And SO ended
the second day Of our experience in the woods.
We could not slcep. We were too weary, too
chilly, too sad. too anxious. soon after II O'Clock
the rain sIaekened. aud we took advantage Of iho
pause pole a short distance, when the fioOgates
were re-opened, and the storm beat upon Us once
more Again were obliged to atop; again we
cOurted sleep in vain. Tho winds sighed mourn
fully through ths branches Of the trees, like the
wailiag Of funeral dirgc AMI the feeble rippling
nf she creek was in nOurnful harmony with the
ehhiRg flow OF our lives anI spirits. We could not
stand the dPeariness OF presages of Our own
thoughts; 50 up, and of again. Daylight found Us
policing down tho creek; dripping with water chilled
TO the very marrow OF our bones. pale and hollow
eyel and with those terrible sensations OF ringing
IN the head dryness of the lips and parching Of the
throat. that precede starvation. We had not sl,.nt
over an hour in the night and only the most eN-
treme exhaustion could have iusured US 40 much
rest.
About o'clock We reached rapid half a milo
in length. bottomei with rocks. We abandoned th,
raft here. hut after walking mile found our saiva-
tion depended upc1 going back, and getting il down
the creek. We had IL apart, and hoatci it
down stick by stick, wading up to our waists on the
spp9ry stones of the rapids to dislodge the tnbars
tbera Mr.. Haddock fell three times doing this
work, at one time breaking the compass, and rem
dering it completely useless About lG4 O'clock the
raft was below the rapids, together again and wa
were policing down the stream. Ii WAS sabbath
but in these woods Sabbath was eternal and un-
broken,
At II o'clock we entcred large lake. Never
more cherries prospect opened ON mortal vision.
Perhaps weeks must pass before we would find the
outlet And then-What then! Never mind; on We
went, striking to the right close TO the bank and
policing policing along the numerous bays
and indentaIionS. Eye never looked upon more
ma rnifcent scenery. EmbOsOmed in a great basin
scoopcd out amid noble hills; surrounded by beaut-
full evergreen trces; dotted with little islands, and
Pehecting in its pelucid hosOm the deep blue of the
sky Painter could not have had more noble study.
But where was our brother man;-the curling smoke
of human habitatiOn.-the welcome face of sympa-
thy!-the beamng eye of intelligence? Alas alas (!
without these, cold, dreary and sOnlbre. to two
wcrn starving men-lGst in the trackess wilder
uess-wOUd have heGn the most matchless scene in
Natures broad domain.
So We strained on Night found us not more than
one-faluth Of the way around the lake and still no
sirns of its outlet We had eaten nothing but high
bush cranberries acrid and destitute OF nutriment
an injury rather than benefit, About o'clock
ths wind commenced blowing, and as were on
the lee shore we decided to travel further that
night 80 we drew raft up the bank, went
int, the woods and lay down. We had nothing else
to do No supper troubled our digestion. Another
awful shivering, dreary night, and gray. hazy,
co1nfortless morning We were dying, starving,
pcrshing by inches. And Yet something whispered
| to me that we should be saved.
We started again, the sunboams breaking for the
! first time in two days. Three miles progress
brought us 10 what appeared 10 be the outlet Of
! river. opening into smaller lake. This cheere,i
| us We began to hope We had reached a large
| stream BUT when we reached the end misery
there was no outlet small creek set iato the lake,
With hope almost gone We started wearily back to-
| ward the large lake we had left. Mr.. HaddOck
here be gan to look upon our fate as sealed lie was
| brave ~ man could be. The thought of death had
| no tPPrors for him. But lac mQurned 10 think of
| the desolstlon Of his wife and family. How little
! we kReW what God had in store for us. ! cheered
my friend as well as could, and with great regI e.
| we turned hack, We had gone hut a mile when We
| heard the Pepart of gun--qnieEly succeeded by
| another. How the blood hOunled in our veins
! Hope revived within our breasts. We hailooed rs
! loudly Us our feeble strength would allow u.s. but
| got no answer. and heard no other reports. We
were beginning 10 despair again. when Mr.. hadlOck
called my attention 20 smoke curling over the trees
near the GppOsitg shore OF the lake. dis sight had
become DIM anil he could not surely distinguish il
| from fog. But mine was better | knew it came
| from a fire. And as looked oh, jOyl there was
| canoe hauled upon the bank-thOugh it looked like
| n log at first. We were strong men again. Noise
lessy we padded fearful if the fire that
| OF an unciyEzed Indian, he might be frightened
| away without assisting us. The canoe was turned
bottom side up on the bank Under it was a gun
! two coats. and a sack containing dead duck. Mr.
HRddOck started 70 hunt up the oNicff anu SClZGu
and commenced stripping the duck, intending to
| il uncooked But that was not necessary. In less
than five minutes an Indian body appeared upon the
| bank | addressed him first in English then il
| French He answered in the latter, and asked me
to follow him. l did So hardly able 10 drag my
| body along. About twenty rods from the IN re
| amid the woods entered the shanty from which
| the smoke had eurled God be praised There was
| nv companion, conyersing with generous looking
| ScOtcbman. around him numberof athletic timber
cutters and near by table lsden with carrots, pO
| tatoes pork &c-all the heart could wish for The
revulsion was almost too much; but Providence was
| kind Everybody imagine the rest At first
| food had no more taste 10 Us than chips. We atC
| spapingly al frsI our stomaohs were able tC
| boar and were more ravenOus rs we became
| stronger few words viii tell the story. Tht
| marty was under the direction of Mr.. Angus Cam
| eron who was selecting timber fng Giimnur 4 Go.
nf Ottawa. He Vas as nohle-hearteda "A man Us eyel
| breathed All the parties, whites and Indians wer,
| OF like stamp We were one hundred and hfty
miles from Ottawa and civilization. Those wood
we should never have left alive had we not foun'
the party. They only happened TO be there at tn
time. Tho woods we're destitute of roots. animal
or nutrcious vegetation; and in about two days W,
would have persisted from hunger.
CHARLES B. HALL,
WHOLESALE AND REPAIL DEALER IN