The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-26
caNSIBALIsM IN THE C4RS.
BY MARK TWAIN.

| forty-hvc or may be fifty, came IN ae one VI Gnc
way stations and sat down Deslde me; We
talked together pleasantly on various subjects
| for an hour, perhaps aud I found him exceed
ingly interesting and entertaining. When he
| learned that was from Washington, he lmme-
| diately began to ask questions ABOUT various
public men, and about C3neres Nonal afalrs;
and l saw very shortly that was convcrslnS
with man who was perfectly lanllar WIN tnc
ins and outs of political life ut the capital,
even to the WAYS and manners and customs OF
| procedure of Senators and Representatives ID
the chambers of tho National Legislature.
Presently two men hailed near us for single
moment, and one said to the other: -,.,
Harris, it you'll do that for me- LII never
forget you, my boy" -,.,-.
The words had touched upon happy memory,
lhourht Then his face settled into thought
fulness almost into gloom. He turned TO me
and said:
"Let me tell you story-let me give you a
secret chapter of my lite-a chapter that has
never been referred to by me since It's events 1
transpircd. Listen patiently, and promise that
you will not interrupt me-"
SAID 1 would not, and he related tho follow
ing strange adventure, speaking sometimes
with melancholy, but always with feeling and
carnestness
THE STRANGERS NARRATIVE.
o. the 10Th Of December, 1858, started
from st. Louis in the evening bound tram lor
Chicago. rhero were only twenty-four passen-
gers, all told. There were no ladies and no
children. We were in excellent spirits, anu
pleasant acquaintances were soon formed. Inc
| Journey bade fair to be q happy cne an he ln-
dvdual in the party, think, had even the
yaguest prcsentimenl Of the horrors we were
soon to undergo. cut.
At II P. NJ. 1t began TO snow haru. onotIiS
after leaving the village of Weldon, we entered
upon that tremendous prairie solitude that
stretches it's leagues on leagues OF hnuseiess
dreariness far away toward the Jubilee Settle
mcnts. The winds, unobstructcd by trees or
hills, or even vasrant rocks, Whlrled nerceiy
across the level DESERT driving the falling snow
before it like spray from the crested waves ESQ OF
stormy sea. The snow was deepening fast,
and we knew by the diminished speed OF the
II ain that the engine was ploughing through
it with steadily increasing difficulty. Indeed,
II almost came to dead halt sometimes in the
midst of great drifts that piled themselves like
colossal graves across the track. Conversation
began to flag. Cheerfulncss, gave place to
grave concern The possibility of being inn
prisoned in the snow, on the bleak p-airic,
fifty miles from any house, presented itself to
every mind, and extended its depressing infiu-
ence over every spirit
At two o'clock in tho morning was aroused
out Of an easy slumber by the ceaslns OF all
motion about me. The appalling truth flashed
upon me instantlv-we we're captlves IN asnoW-
drift ''All hands to the rescue" Every man
spranr to obcy. Out into the wild night, the
pitchy darkness, tho billowing snow, the dri-
wing storm, cvery soul leaped with ii o con-
seriousness that q moment lost now might
bring destruction to US all. ShoVels, hands,
boards-anythng, everything, that could dis
place snow-was brought into instant requlsl-
ton. 1t was weird picture, that small conf
pany of frantic men fighting tho banking
SHOWS. half in the blackest shadow and hall in
the angry light of the locomotives reflector.
One short hour suficed to provo the uttor
uselessness of our efforts. The storm barri-
cadod the track with u dozen drifts while We
dug one away. And worse than this, it was
discovered that the last grand charge tho en-.
cino had made upon the enemy had broken the
fora-ani-aft shaft of tho driving wheel With
n frec track before US we sholld have still been
heIplcss. We entered the car wearied with Ia
Dor and very serrowlul. We gathered about
the stoves, and graycly canvassed our sltua-
lion. We had no provisions whatever-in this
Law our chief distress. We could not freezc,
for there was good supply OF wood in the
tender. This was our only comfort. The dis
cnssion ended at last il accepting the dishcart-
epine decision of the conductor, that it would
be death for any man to attempt to travel fifty
miles on foot through snow like that. We
could not send for he p, and even if VIC could,
it could not come. We must submit and walt
as patiently as we might. succor or st 'rvation
think the stoutest heart there felt monieM-
tary chill when these words were altered.
Within an hour conversation subsidcd to a
low Hurmur here and thcre about the car,
caught fitfully between the rising and falling
of the blast the lamps grow dim and ma
jority Of the eaStaways settled themselves
among the Pickering shadows to think-to for
get the present if they could-to sleep il they
might.
The eternal night--it seemed eternal to US
wore it's tagging hours away ut last, and the
cold gray dawn broke in the east. As the light
grew stronger the passengers began to stir
and give signs Of life, ono aI,cr another, and
clch in turn pushed his slouchcd hat up from
his forehead, stretched his stiifcucd limbs,
and glanced out ut the windows upon the
checrless prospect. 1t was chccrless indeed
not living thing visible anywhere, not o
human habitation nothing but vast whlto
desert uplifted sheets sf snow drifting hther
and thlther before the wind-a world of eddy
ing flakes shutting out the armament above.
all day we moped about the cars, saying
little. thinking much. Another lingering,
dreary highland hunger.
Another aawning- another day OF silence,
sadness, wasting hunger, hopeless Watching
for succor that could not come. a night OF
restless slumbcr, filled with dreams OF fca5iine
-wakings distressed with the guaS:as:s Vi
hanger.
fifth Five days OF dreadful Imprisonment
A savage hunger looked ont at every eye.
There was IN it sign of awful imporl-Slc
fsrcshadowing or something that was vaguely
shaping itself into every heart--a something
waich nc tongue cared yet to fran, into words.
The sixth day passed-the seventh daWncd
upon as gaunt, and haggard, and hopeless q
company OF men as ever stood IN the shadow
of death. 1t must out now! That thing
which had been growing upln every heart was
ready to leap from every lip at last Nature
had been taxed to the utmost-shc must yield.
Richard II. Castor, Of Minnesota, tall, cadaye-
rous and pale, rose up. all personal---very.
emotion, every scmbIance of excitement was
smothered-only calm, thoughtful serious
ness appeared in the eyes that were lately so
wild.
"Gentlemen, it cannot ba delayed longer
The time is at hand We must determine
which of us shall die to furnish food for the
rest u
Mr.. john ], Williams, of Illinois. rose and
said: "Gentlclncn, / nominate the Rev. James
Sawyer, of Tennessee"
Dir. William B. Adams, of Indiana. said:
81 nominate 4r; Daniel Slote,, OF New York"
MIR. Charles J. Langdon: nominate Mr.
Samuel A. Bowcn OF st. Louis"
Elr. Slotc: "Gentlemen, 1 desire to decline
in favor of Mr.. John A. Van Nastrand, Jr., OF
New Jersey"
Mr.. CASTOR {. If there be no objection, tho
gontleman's desire will be acceded to-"
Mr.. Van Nastraud 1Ejecting, the resignation
of Ar Slo,e Was rejected. The designations OF
Messrs. Sawyer and Bowen were also offered,
and refused on the salne grounds.