The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-10-20

in much better spirits than / anticipated
resumed my journey towards the lake. Al
, other day of unceasing toll among III
tree.tops and thiCkets overlook me, nea
sunset, standing upon a lofty headlan
d jutting into the lake, and commanding
\ magnificent prospect Of the mountain
/ and valley over an immense area. L
c front Of me, at distance OF fifty mile
|, away, in the clear blue of the horizon
!, rose the arrowy peaks of the three TG
tons. On the right, and apparently II
: close proximity to the emilence ocCu
0 pied, rolled the picturesque range Of thl
: Madison, SCARED with CleftS, ravlnes
i gorges, and canons, each of which glitter
cd in the sunlight or deepened in shadow
, as the titGul rays OF the descending lumina
ry glanced along their varied rocky ir
, reguarlies. Above where l stood weTl
the lofty domes of Mounts Langford ant
Doane, marking the limits of that won
derlul barrier which had so long defet
human power in Its efforts to subdue it
Rising seemingly from the promontorJ
which favored my vision was the familiar
summit OF Mount Everts, ut the base o
which | had dwelt so long, and which
still seemed to hold me within It's friendly
shadow. All the vast country within
the grand enclosure Of mountain and
lake, Scared and scanned with the gro
tesque ridges, rocky escarpments, undu
lating hillOcks, and miniature lakes, and
steaming with hot springs, produced by
the volcanic forces Of former era, lay
spread out before me like vast piano.
rama
l doubt II distress and suffering can
ever entirely Obliterate all sense of nat
ural grandeur and magnifcence. Lost In
the wonder and admiration inspired by
this vast vast world OF beauties, nearly
forgot to improve the few moments OF
remaining sunshine to obtain fire, With
u lighted brand in my hand, effected a
most difficult and arduous descent of the
abrupt and stony headland to the beach
Eof tho lake. The sand was soft and
yielding. l kindled a fire, and removing
the stilfened slippers from my feet, at.
.tached them to my belt, and wandered
barefoot along the sandy shore to gather
wood for tho night The dry, warm
sand was most grateful to my laCerated
and fostering feet, and for u long time
after NY wood pile was supplied, | sat
with them uncovered AT length, con.
scious OF the need Of every possible pro
lection from the freezing night atmos.
phcre, sought my belt for the slippers
and one was missing. In gathering the
wood II had become detached, and was
lost. Darkness was closing over the
landscape, when, sorely disheartened
with the thought Of passing the night
with ono foot exposed to freezing TEN.
peraturC, | commenced search for the
missing slipper. | knew | could not
travel alday without II. Fearful that It had
dropped into the lake, and been carried
by some rcCurrent wave beyond recovery,
my search for an hour among fallen trees
and bushes, up the hill sides and along the
beach, in darkness and with flaming
brands, at one moment crawling on hands
and feet into brush heap, another peer.
ing among logs and bushes and stones,
was filed with anxiety and dismay. Sue.
cess at length rewarded my perseverance,,
and no language can describe tho Joy
with which | drew the cause Of 80 much
distress from beneath the limb that, as |
passed, had torn 1t from my belt. With
feeling Of great relief, ! now sat down
in the sand, my back to log, and listen.
cd to the dash and roar of the waves. II
was wild lullaby, but had no terrors for
WORKOUT man. never passed night
of more refreshing sleep. When aw0ke
my fire was extinguished savea few EN-.
bers which l soon famed into cheerful
flame. l ate breakfast with some relish,
and started along the beach In pursuit Of
II camp, believing that II successful !
should find directions what 10 do, and
food to sustain me. The search which l
was making lay in the direction Of my
pre.arranged route to the Madison Noun.
tains, which intended to approach al
their lowest point o! altitude.
BuOyed by the hope OF finding food
and counsel, and another night Of I'm.
disturbed repose in the sand, resumed
my journey along the shore, and Of noon
found the camp last occupied by my
friends on the lake. struck their trail
In, the sand some time before l came to II.
A thorough search for food In the ground
and trees revealed nothing, and no notice
to apprise me of their movements could
be seen. A dinner fork, which after.
wards proved TO DO OF infinite service In
digging roots, and yeast powder can,
which would hold half q pint, and which
| convcrted into drinking.Cup and din.
ner pot, were the only evidences that the
spot had ever been visited by civilized
man. "Ohr' thought |, "why did they
forget to leave me lood?' 1t never occur.
ring to me that they might have cached
It, as l have since learned they did, 10
several spots, nearer the place ofmy sepa.
ration from them. l left the camp In deep
detection, with the purpose Of following
the trail Of tho party to tho Madison.
Carefully inspecting the faint traces CT
their course OF travel, / became satisfied
that from some cause they had made
retrOgrade movement from this camp, and
departed from the lake at point farther
down stream. Taking this as an indica.
ton that there were distractions above, |
commenced retraCing my steps along the
beach. An hour Of sunshine In the afler.
noon enabled me 10 procure fire, which,
in the usual manner, 1 carried to my camp.
ing. place. There | built fire, and to
protect myself from the wind, which was
blowing violently, lashlng the lake into
foam, l made bower Of pine
boughs, crept under 1t, and very soon
fell asleep. How long slept l know not,
but | was aroused by the swapping and
cracking of the burning foliage, to find
my shelter and the adjlcent forests In a
broad sheet of flame. My left hand was
badly burned, and my hair slnged closer
than barber would have trimmed H.,
while making my escape from the semi.
circle Of burning trees. Among the dis
asters OF this fire, there was none felt
more seriously than the loss of my buckle
tongue knife, my pin fish hook, and tape