Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-05
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was no way open for him except in the
course of the river through the canon;
and in that direction there seemed not
the shadow of chance that he might
succeed and live. He only dared te
hope that by carefully tying himself to
the raft his body might aoat through
with some portion of it, and be identified
by means Of pocket memorandum book,
which he endavored to secure TO his per-
son, so that his fate might become known
to his relatives and friends. Having
considered these things with the despe-
rate calmness of man who regards HIM
self as doomed to speedy and inevitable
death, be, nevertheless, omitted nothing
which might tend to the preservation OF
his life. First, he overhauled his raft
and frightened its lsshings. Next he
stripped the mezquit bushes which grew
on the island of their scanty crop, with
which he partially appeased his hunger.
Then, with fervent appeal to the Great
Father of ell, he launched his raft, and
hoated away to encounter unknown dan
gers and terrors.
1t is hardly necessary to say that
White kept no "log of his voyage, and
it would, therefore, be impossible to give,
from this point, the details of his daily
progress. Never before did mortal man
perform such a journey. For near five
hundred miles be fosted over a success
sion of cascades and cataracts, varying in
hight from four to twenty feet, with
patches of smooth water between. FIRE.
quently, in plunging over fall, the raft
was overturned, and it was with much
difficulty he saved himself from drown
ing. Once he was so long under water
that he became insensible; but on that
occasion the raft proyidentially emerged
right side up, and when he revived, he
found himself floating along as if nothing
had happened
Below each fall there was an island,
formed by the sand thrown up by the ed
dying waters, affording him an opportu-
nifty Of hauling up his raft for repairs-a
very necessary operation, as the ropes
with which it was bound were frequently
cut upon the edges Of the rocks at the
head of the falls, and place of rest du-
ring the night. At first the mezquit
growing upon the islands supplied him
with scanty allowance of food, but after
the sixth day he found the islands bar
rem. A rawhide knife scabbard then af-
forded him some slight sustenance, and
q good deal of chewing, for couple Of
days. after which he was without food of
any kind until he got through to the
mouth of the Rio Virgin. One day he
saw some lizards, and tried to catch
them, but was too feeble to succeed, and
80 the tempting creatures escaped. To
add to his misery, he was stripped by the
rocks and waters of his hat, pants, draw
ers, boots and socks, while the sun, which
he was compelled almost constantly to
face, sitting 10 constrained posture
during the hottest part Of the day, beat
with burning fierceness upon his unpro-
tected head and legs, the latter soon
becoming blistered and raw from the un-
wonted exposure. And all the time the
dark walls of the canon lowered above
him, nowhere less than thousand feet,
and in some places mile and a half in
hight, to the best OF his Judgment; he
had no means or opportunity of meas
uring the distance Anxiously he
watched for some avenue of escape, some
crevice or fssure in the adamantine walls
which confined him, but there was none.
The consoling reflection remained that
il was perhaps better to be dashed to
pieces, or perish of simple starvation in
the canon, than to scramble out Of it and
add the torment of thirst to those which
he already endured. SO be voyaged on,
now helplessly broling in the merciless
rays of the sun (no one who has not been
upon the Colorado can form an adequate
idea of the heat which prevails there in
summer), as ne fioated calmly yet swiftly
along upon an expanse of comparatively
smooth water then tumbling over cas-
csde or rushing through a rapid, at the
imminent peril of shipwreok upon the
rocks, which bumped aud thumped his
frail raft until its light timbers ratified
again; and now, shuddering and with
bated breath, plunging over fall, for
aught he knew into eternity Day by
day and hour by hour be grew weaker
from want of food, while, from sitting in
a cramped position and from exposure
to the sun, his legs we're so stif and sore
as to be almost entirely disabled. Still
with logged resolution be persepered, i'm
proving every available moment of day
light, aud making, as he believed, at q
moderate estimate, between forty and
6fy miles distance every day,
At length, on the evening Of Septem-
ter 9th, the rsit-wIth our bruised, bat
tered and starving voyager, more dead
than alive, but yet retaining q great deal
Of the wonderful vitality which had thus
far sustained him, still olinging to it
emerged from the canon. Again the
river flowed between low,
green banks. White felt that the vorst
Of bis voyage was over-if he could but
hold out dag or two longer he would be
saved. Bat, though his spirit was un-
iaunted, his physical strength was nearly
gone. He hoated on, watching eagerly for
The sisns Of human habitation. soon be
passed the mouth ofa considerable stream
the Rio Virgin-and almost Immediate
y he heard voices shouting to him. BE
could hardly convince himself that The
soands we're real; and as he gazed in won-
ieFing suspense toward the hank, num-
Der Of Indians leaped into the water,
swan OF TO him and pushed the raft
ashore Being pretty well aroused by this
summary proceeding. Of which be did not
snow whether the intent VAS hostile or
White attempted 10 rise 70 bic
Ieet bat The Indians pulled him down
again 60 violently that the skirts Of bis
10ai, which they took hold Of for the pur-
pose. cane OF IN tbsir hands They then
Isized one Of the two rsv0lvers. which re-
nained hsiensi 10 The rah. bot White, |
icsaiisssi q isurth passl