Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-24
.sLrp.R FROM THE DEAD.

We have been glad to see In our city Mr..
4. c. Evarts, of Helena, Montana, who Is
visiting his brother, our townsman, Miles
A. Evarts for few days. Mr.. Evarts is
the hero of one of the most remarkable es-
capes from starvation in n wilderness that
we have ever heard of--an escape achieved
by display OF endurance almost without
parallel. Our readers will remember
mention of Mr.. Evarts case, in our paper,
last fall but we did not begin to realize
then its remarkable features These we
have learned afresh from Mr.. Evarts' lips,
and they make a story SURPRISING in in
terest any in fiction. Mr.. Evarts was one
of an exploring party, last September, in
the wild regions about the sources of the
Snake and Yellow Stone Rivers, in Mon
tana. 1t was a high region, over eight
thousand feet above the level of the ocean
--one never visited before by white man.
and which even the Indians have never in
habited. 1t was wooded country its
trackless wilds covered with fallen timber,
making travel very slow on foot or horse
back. The party scattered in search of
game one day, and Mr.. Evarts followed
deers' trail till at nightfal he realized that
he was lost in the woods. He camped out
that night, not doubling hat he could re-
trace his steps, and re join the party the
next day. Starting early next morning,
little too early to see clearly, he dismount-
ed from his horse to examine his trail more
closely, when the beast frightened by some
thing, started away on a run, and he saw
no more of him. Attached to the saddle
was his carbine, pistols, ammunition, fishing
tackle, matches, everything in fact of his
equipment, except the clothes on his body.
OF course he realized that it was now Sc
rious business. Thinking, however, that
some of the party would be back to look
for him. he remained in that vicinity,for a
day or two; but his friends knowing that
he was mounted on good horse, did not
doubt that he would soon overtake them,
and had pu shed on two days journey be-
fore they stopped to wait or make search
for him. In the meantime, the first snow
of the season, two feet in depth, fell, max
ing all following of trails or journeying on
foot impossible for Mr.. Evarts, and peril
ling his life from exposure. 1t was saved
by a provision of nature not known in these
parasitic hot springs. He remembered
that they had passed some Of these five or
six miles from the spot where he became
separated from his party, and succeeded in
making his way back to them. He lay by
these on the ground warmed by the springs
till the snow went off, sustaining life by a
kind of thistle root, which could be eaten
when sodden in the hot water of the
springs, though having little nourishment
in it. There was plenty of elk and other
game in the woods and fish in the streams,
but he was wholly without any means to
take them. Neither did he dare to leave
there without some means of kindling a
fire, for the nights were too cold to be with
out fire. How to get the first spark was
the problem. Fortunately he had with him
his field glass, and using its lenses as
burning glass he succeeded on bright day
in lighting fire with some cotton wood
He then started on the track of the party
sing his burning glass to make a fire il
bright weather, and carrying brands in hi;
lands from one stopping place to another
in cloudy days, burning his fingers terri
bly, in the process, in spite of all precau
tiohS' W. hIEhtS " SptIu Will
out fire, and with the utmost difficulty KEEP
himself alive by constant motion and rub
bling of his stifiening limbs. A single
small bird and small fish or two gave
him all the food he had except the thistl,
roots. His boots gave out and his feet be
came worn to the bone. In spite of all h,
pushed on, and thirty-eight days from tn,
day he was lost he met party coming Il
find not him but his lifeless remains 70
they had no hope of finding him alive. H.
had made his way over a hundred mile
towar DIS civilization. He had become re
duced in weight from l60 to so pounds; bu
he was alive, and is living and health,
man today, though his feet have not We
fully recovered from the terrible wear G
that month Of foot travel.
We remember no instance of enduranc
SURPRISING this, and we should be glad
Mr.. Evarts, who is a Vermonter, born il
Boil ton, and former resident of Burling
ton, would write out for our columns, il
full err details, the interesting story of hi
struggle for life in the Wilderness Bur-
inQton Free Press.