Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-11-23
The Yagaries of a Starving Man.

Mr.. EyARTs. who was lost in the Vel
lowstone, contributes to Scribncrs an in
tensely interesting account of his "1hir.
ty-sevcn days of Peril" We quote:
Il lost all sense of time. Days and
nights came and went, and were numbered
only by the growing consciousness that
was gradually starving. | felt no hunger,
did not eat to appeasc appetite, but to re-
new strength. ! experienced but little
pain. The gaping sores on my feet, the
severe burn on my hip, the fostering crev-
ices at the joints Of my fingers, all terrible
in appearance, had ceased to give me the
least concern. The roots which supplied
my food had suspended the digestive pow
er3 OF my stomach, and their tibers were
packed in it in IA matted, compact mass.
Not so with my hours of slumber.
They were visited by the most luxurious
dreams. | would apparently visit the
most gorgeously decorated restaurants OF
New York and Washington; sit down to
immense tables spread with the most APP
petizing viands partake of the richest
oyster stews and plumpest pies; engage
myself in the labor and preparation OF
curious dishes, and with them ill range
upon range of elegantly furnished tables
until they fairly groaned beneath the ac-
cumulated dainties prepared by my own
hands. Frequently the entire night would
seem to have been spent in getting up a
sumptuous dinner | would realize the
fatigue Of roasting, boiling baking, and
fabricating the choicest dishes known to
the modern cuisine, and in my disturbed
SAUNDERS would enjoy with epicurean rel
ish the food thus furnished even to reple-
ton. Alas there was more luxury than
life in these somnolent vagaries.
"By some process which ! was 100
weak to solve, my legs, arms, ana
stomach who transformed into so many
travelling companions Often for hours
would plod along conversing with
these imaginary friends. Each had It's
peculiar wants which lie expected me to
supplv. The stomach was importunate
in his demand for change Of diet, com
planning necessarily of the roots fed to
him. their present effect and more re
mote consequences. | would try to
silence him with promises, beg of him to
wait a few days, and when tins faIled OF
the quiet | desired, | would seek to In
timidate him by declaring, as sure
result of negligence, our inabliily 10
reach home alive. All to no purpose
he tormented me with his fretful humorr
through the entire journey. The Others
would generally concur with nm III
these fancied alterations The legs I'M
plored me for rest, and the arms com
blamed that / gave them too much 10
do. Troublesome as they were, IL wa,
pleasure to realize their presence
worked for them, too, with right gooo
will, doing many things for their seem
inc comfort which had felt myself alone,
would have remained undone. They ap
peared to be perfectly helpless OF them
selves. would do nothing for me or foi
each other. | often wondered while they
ate and slept so much, that they did mol
aid in gathering wood and klndllng iircs.
AS a countcrpoise to their own lneftia
whenever they discovered languor IN ~.
on necessary occasions, they were no,
wanting in words Of encouragement ane
cheer. | recall as write, an instance
where by prompt and timely interposi
ton the representative OF the stomach
saved me from death OF dreadiui agony
One day came to small stream issuihe
from spring Of mild temperature, on tn1
hillside swarming with minnows.
caught some with my hands and ate men
raw To my taste they were delicious
Rut the stomach refused them, accused
me of attempting to poison nm, al1
would not be reconciied untii l hau
emptied my pouch of the few fsh iiio
mt there for future use"