Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1868-12-04
Selertrd 8llsrellau,i.
CANNIBALISM IN THE CARS.
BY MARK TWAIN.

BY MARK TWAIN.
l VISITED st. Louis lately, and on my
way West, after changing cars at Terre
Haute, Ind, mild, benevolent-looking
gentleman of about forty-fve or may be
fifty, came in at one of the way stations
and sat down beside me. We talked to.
gether pleasantly on various subjects for
an hour, perhaps, and found him exceed.
ingly intelligent and entertaining When
he learned that was from Wa hington,
he Immediately began to ask questions
about various public men, and about Con-
gressional affairs; and saw vety shortly
that was conversing with a man who
was perfectly familiar with the ms and
outs of political life at the Capt. u, even to
the ways and manners and custo MS of pro-
cedure of Senators and Representatives in
the chambers of the National Legislature
Presently two men halted near us for a
single moment, and one said 10 the other
Harris, if you'll do that for me, I'll
never forget you, my boy"
My new comrades eyes lighted pleas
antly. The words had touched upon a
happy memory, l thought Then his face
settled into thoughtfulness--alm into
gloom. He turned to me and said
Let me tell you a story-let me give
you a secret chapter of my life-a chapter
that has never been referred to by me since
its events transpired. Listen patiently,
and promise that you will not interrupt
me-"
l said l would not, and he related the
following strange adventure, speaking
sometimes with melancholy, but always
with feeling and earnestness
THE STRANGERS NARRATIVE.
On the 18Th IF December, 1853, started
from St Louis in the evening bound train
for Chicago. There were only twenty
four passengers, all told There were no
ladies, and no children. We were in ex-
cellent spirits, and pleasant acquaintances
were soon formed The journey bade fair
to be happy one, and no individual in
the party, think, had even the vaguest
presentiment of the horrors we were soon
to undergo.
At IL p. m. it began to snow hard.
Shortly after leaving the small village of
Weldon, we entered upon that tremen-
dous prairie solitude that stretches its
leagues on leagues of houseless dreariness
far away toward the Jubilee Settlements.
The winds uuobstructed by trees or hills,
or even vagrsnt rocks, whistled fiercely
across the level desert, driving the falling
snow before it like spray from the crested
waves of stormy sea. The snow was
deepening fast, and we knew, by the di-
minished speed of the train, that the engine
was ploughing through it with steadily
increasing difficulty. Indeed it 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. Cheerfulness
gave place to grave concern. The possi-
bility of being Imprisoned in the snow, on
the bleak prairie, fifty miles from any
house, presented itself to every mind and
extended its depressing influence over
every spirit.
At two o'clock in the morning was
aroused out of an uneasy slumber by the
ceasing of all motion about me. TIE ap-
palling truth flashed upon me instantly
we were captiVes in snowdrift "All
hands to the rescue" Every man sprang
to obey. Out into the wild night, the
pitchy darkness the billOwing snow, the
driving storm, every soul leaped, with the
consciousness that a moment lost now
might bring destruction to us all. Shovels
hands, boards anything, every thing, that
could displace suoW-were broughtint in
slant requisition. 1t was a weird picture
that small company of frantic men fight
ing the banking SHOWS, half in the black
est shadow and half in the angry light o.
the locomotives reflector
utter uselassness of our efforts. The storm
barricaded the track with dozen drfti
while we dug one away. And worse thar
this, il was discovered that the last CRANE
charge the engine had made upon thI
enemy had broken the fore-and-att shaf
of the driving-wheel With free tracl
before us we should still have been help
less. We entered the car Wearied witt
labor, and very sorrowful We gathered
about the stoves and gravely canvasseC
our situation. We had no provision what
ever--in this lay our chief distress. w,
could not freeze, for there was good sup
ply of wood in the tender. This was ou
only comfort. The discussion ended a
last in accepting the disheartening decl
sion OF the conductor, viz, that it woul,
De deatn iOr any one TO attempt to trave
fifty miles on foot through snow like thal
We could not send for help, and even
we could, it could not come. We mus
submit and await, as patiently as we might
succor or starvationl think the stoutes
heart there felt momentary chill whel
these words were uttered.
Within the hour conversation subside
n low murmur here and there abou
the car, caught fitfully between the risin
and falling Of the blast; the lamps grew
dim; and the majority Of the castaway
settled themselves among the nlckerln
shadows to think--to forget the present
they could-to sleep If they might.
Tha eternal night-it seemed eternal I
us-wore its tagging hours away at lasi
and the cold gray dawn broke in the east
As the Hight grew stronger the passenger
began 20 stir and give signs of life, on
after another, and each In turn pushed hi
slouehed hat up frsm his forehead, stretch
ed his stffened limbs, and glanced out a
the windows upon the cherries prospec
IL was eheerless indeed l--not hvin
thing visible anywhere, not q human hal
itation; nothing but a vast white desert
upllfted sheetr " snow drifting hither an
thtther before the wind-a world of eC
dying flakes shutting out the firmameI
above.
All day we moped about ths cars, say
ing little, thinking much. Another llnS
eFinQ dearV nipht-aud hungar