The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-21

W WIS my CUSTOM, SOON ltlt asleep
have no idea Of the time l slept, but upOl
awakening / fastened my belt, scrambled
to my feet, and pursued my journey, A
night drew on Iselected Camping.place
gathered wood into heap, and felt TO
ny tense to procure fire, 1t was gone
II the earth had yawned to swallow mi
| would not have been more terrified
The only chance for life was lost, Tn
last hope had fed | seemed to feel tn
grim messenger who had been SO Ions
pursuing me knocking at the portals Of M
heart, as lay down beside the woOd.pilG
and covered myself with limbs and sag,
brush, with the dreadful conviction tina
my struggle for lie was over, and that
should rise no more. The lloOdgates o
misery seemed now TO be opened, and i
rushed in living tide upon my soul. Will
the rapidly of lightning, ran over every
event Of my life. Thoughts doubled anC
ttebled upon me, until saw as II in vision
the entire past Of my existence, 1t wa!
all before me, as II painted with sun
beam, and oil seemingly faded like the
phantoms of vivid dream,
AS calmness returned, reason resumed
her empire. Fortunately, the weather
was comfortable. l summoned all the
powers of my memory, thought over
every foot of the days travel, and con
cluded that the glass must have become
detached from my belt while sleeping
Five long miles over the hills must be ~
traced 10 regain 1t. There was no ultern
alive, and before daylight had staggered
over half the distance, l found the lens
on the spot where had slept. No Incl.
dent Of my journey brought with 1t more
of joy and relief. gga
Returning to the camp Of tho previous
night, | lighted the pile l had prepared,
aud lay down for night OF rest 1t was
very cold, and towards morning com.
mencGd showing, With difficulty kept
the fire alive, Sleep was impossible,
When daylight came, was impressed
with the idea that l must go on despite
the storm. A lash-momentary but
Vivid-came over me, that ! should be
saved. SnatChlng d lighted brand, /
started through Tue storm. In the after.
noon the storm abated and the sun shone
at intervals. Coming TO small clump
of trees, | set TO work to prepare q camp.
| laid the brand down which l had pro-
served with so much care, TO pick up a
few dry sticks with which to iced it,
until could collect wood for camp.
fire, and In the lew minutes thus EN-,
plOyed 1t expired. sought to revive it,
but every spark was gone, Clouds OBJ.
secured the sun, now near the horizon, and
the prospect OF another night OF exposure
without fire became fearlully imminent
sat down with my lens and the last re.
naming piece Of touchwood possessed TO
catch a CLEAN Of sunshine, feeling that my
life depended on it. In u lew moments
the cloud passed, and with trembling
hands | presented the little disk to tho
face Of the glowing luminary. Quivering
with excitement lest u sudden cloud
should interpose, a moment passed before
could hold the lens steadily enough to
concentrate n burning focus, At length 1t
came. The little thread oil smoke Curled
upwards from the Heaven.
lighted spark, which, q few moments az
forwards, difEused with warmth and com.
Tort my desOlate lodgings.
resumed my journey the next morn.
Ing, with the belief that | should make no
more fires with my lens. must save
brand, or perish, The day was raw and
gusty; an east wind, charged with storm,
penetrated my nerves with irritating
keenness. After walking few miles the
storm came on, and GOODNESS unlike any
other | had ever felt seized me. 1t enter
ed all my bones | attempted to build Il
fire, but could not make ii burn. Selling
a brand, i stumbled blindly on, stopping
within the shadow Of every rock and
ctump TO renew energy tor u tinal conflict
for lie. A solemn conviction that death
was near, that at each pause made my
limbs would refuse further service, and
That / should sink helpless and dying In
my path, overwhelmed me with terror
Amid all this tulnult of the mind, l felt
that had done all that man could do. |
knew that in two or three days more !
could effect my deliverance, and | derived
no little satisfaction from the thought
that, as | was now in the broad trail, my
remains would be found, and my friends
relieved Of doubt rs to my fate. Once
only the thought flashed across my mind
that l should be saved, and ] seemed to
hear whispered command to struggle
on" Cropping along the side Of hill, l
became suddenly sensible Of a sharp reileC.
ton, as Of Furnished steel. Looking up,
through half closed eyes, two rough but
kindly faces met my gaze. .ia-t
'"Are you Mr. Everts?"
Eyes. All that Is left Of him"
1--WE have come for you" ......
"WhO sent your" ..
"Judge Lawrence and other friends"
E"God bless him, and them, and you !
Am saved y and with these words, power.
less OF further effort, | fell forward into
the arms Of my preservers, in a state Of
Inconsistencies. ] was saved. On the
very brink Of the river which divides the
known from tho unknown, strong arms
me from the final plunge, and
kind minlstratiOns wooed me back TO life.
Baronet and Prichette, my two pre-.
servers, by the usual appliances, soon re.
stored me TO consciousness, made n camp
upon the spot, and while one went to Fort
Ellis, distance Of seventy miles, to re.
Gurn with remedies to restore digestion,
and an ambulance to convey me TO that
post, the other sat by my side,
lnd with all the care, sympathy, and
Of q brother, ministered
10 my frequent necessities. In two
days l was sufficiently recovered In
strength 10 be moved twenty miles down
The trail TO tho cabin of some miners,
who were prospecting in that vicinity
From these men received every possible
attention which their humane and gener.
Ons natures could devise. A good bed
was provided, game was killed to make
broth and the best stores Of their larder
placed at my command. For four days,
1t o time when every days labor was IN.
In their pursuit, they abandoned
their work to aid In my restoration. OR.
ing to the prottaCttd inaCtion Of the sys.
mn, al Ala lnufy t,nrinI Nhinl1 nu