Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-04

be death for any one to attempt to travel
| fifty miles on foot through snow like that
We could not send for help, and even if
we could, it could not come. We must
submit and await, as patiently as we might,
succor or starvation l think the stoutest
| heart there felt momentary chill when
| these words were uttered.
Within the hour conversation subsided
| to a low murmur here and there about
| the car, caught fitfully between the rising
and falling of the blast; the lamps grew
DIM and the majority of the castaways
settled themselves among the Pickering
| shadows to think-to forget the present it
| they could-to sleep If they might.
The eternal night-it seemed eternal to
us-wore its tagging hours away at 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, one
| after another, and each in turn pushed his
slouched hat up from his forehead, stretch
ed his stiffened limbs, and glanced ont at
the windows upon the cherries prospect
| 1t was cherries indeed mot living
| thing visible anywhere not human hab-
| itatiOn; nothing but a vast white desert /;
uplifted sheets Of snow drifting hither and
thither before the wind-a world of ed
dying flakes shutting out the armament
above.
All day we moped about the cars, say
ing little, thinking much. Another ling
ering, deary highland hunger.
Another dawning-another day OF
sadness, wasting hunger, hopeless silence,
watching for succor that could not come.
A night of restless slumber, filed with
dreams of distinguishing distressed
with the cravings of hunger.
The fourth day came and went--and the
fifth Five days of dreadful imprisOn-
ment A savage hunger looked out at
every eye. There was in it a sign Of aw-
full import--the foreshadowing of some
thing that was vaguely shaping itself in
every heart-a something which no tongue
cared yetto frame into words.
The sixth day passed-tLe seventh
dawned upon as gaunt, and haggard, and
hopeless company of men as ever stood
in the shadow Of death. 1t must out now
That thing which had been growing up in
every heart was ready to leap from every
lip at last /! Nature had been taxed to the
utmost-she must yield. Richard H.
CASTOR, of Minnesota, tall, cadaverous and
pale, rose up. All prepared-every emo
smothered-- only calm, thoughtful seri
lately so wild.
Gentlemen, it cannot be delayed long
er The time is at hand We must de-
termine which of us shall die to furnish
food for the rest!"
Mr. John j. Williams, OF Illinois, rose
and said: Gentlemen, nominate the
Rev. James Sawyer, of Tennessee"
Mr.. VIM. b. Adams, of Indiana, said:
q j1to ,>F Mo-
York"
Mr.. Chas. J. Langdon. "I nominate
Mr.. Samuel A. Bowen, of st. Louis"
Mr.. Slote. Gentlemen, | desire to de-
cline in favor of Mr.. John A. Van
Nastrand, Jr., Of New Jersey"
a Mr.. CASTOR. ."If there be no objection,
the gentleman's desire will be acceded to."
Mr.. VanNastrand objecting, the resigna-
ton of Mr. Slote was rejected. The
designations of Messrs-Sawyer and Bowen
were also offered, and refused on the same
grounds.
MI. A. L. Bascoln, of Ohio II move
that the nominations now close, and that
the house proceed to an election by ballot"
Mr.. Sawyer Gentlemen l protest
earnestly against these proceedings. They
are, in every way, irregular and unbecom-
ing. must beg to move thss they be
dropped at once, and that we elect Chair
man of the meeting and proper officers to
assist him, and then we can go on with the
business before us understandingly."
Mr.. Belknap, of Ohio. Gentlemen, |
object This is no time to stand upon
forms ard ceremonious observances. For
more than seven days we have been with
out food. Every moment we lose in idle
discussion increases our distress. | am
satisfied with the nominations that have
been made-every gentleman present is, |
believe-and |, for one, do not see why we
should not proceed at once to elect one
or more of them. wish to offer a resolu-
ton" . t.a.
Mr. CASTOR. "It would be objected to,
and have to lie over one day under the
rules, thus bringing about the very delay
you wish to avoid. The gentleman from
New jersey"
Mr.. Van Nastrand. Gentlemen, I am
the distinction that has been conferred
upon me, and feel delicacy."
Mr.. Morgan, of Alabama =" / move the
previous question"
The motion was carried, and further de-
bate shut off, of course. The motion to
elect officers was passed, and under it Mr.
CASTOR was chosen Chairman, Mr.. Blake,
Secretary, Messrs. Holcomb, Dyer and
Baldwin, Committee on Nominations,
and Mr. r. M. Rowland, Purveyor, to
assist the committee in making selections
A recess of half an hour was then taken,
and some little caucusing followed At
the sound of the gavel the meeting reas-
sembled, and the committee reported in
favor of Messrs. George Ferguson, of Ken
lucky, Lucien Hermann, of Louisiana, and
w. Messick, of Colorado, as candidates.
The report was accepted.
Mr.. Rogers, of Missouri "Mr. Presi-
dent. The report being properly before
the house now, move to amend it by SUBJ
stituting for the name of Mr.. Hermann
that of Mr.. Lucius Harris, of ST. Louis,
who is well and honorably known to US
all. l do not wish to be understood as
casting the least reflection upon the high
character and standing of the gentleman
from Louisiana--far from 1t. | respect
and esteem him as much as any gentleman
here present possibly can; but none Of US
can be blind to the fact that he has lost
more flesh during the week that we have
lain here than any among you; none of
US can be blind to the fact that the CON-
mittee has been derelict in its duty, either
through negligence or graver fault, in
thus Offering for our suffrages a gentleman
who, however pure his motives may be,
| has really less nutrinent in him -
The Chair: The gentleman from Mis-
| souri, will take his seat. The Chair can.
not allow the integrity of the committee
| to be questioned save by the regular