Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-03


hardships and escapes. He became separated
from the party toward nightiall. In the morn
ing his horse ran away, carrying his gun, blank
cts and other equipments which were tied to the
saddle. The first day or two he was not much
concerned; he found some edible roots and
apprehended no danger except from hostile
Indians. The dangers of the, second night he
thus relates
"a stretched myself under a tree, upon the To-
liage which had partially filled space between
contiguous trunks, and fell asleep. How long
slept know not; but suddenly | was reused by
a loud, shrill scream, like that OF Il human being
in distress, poured, seemingly, INFO the very pOr-
tails OF my ear. There was no installing that
fearful voice. | had been deceived by and an
swered it dozen times while threading the
forest, with the belief that it was a friendly sig
nal. IL was Il Screach OF Il mountain lion, so
alarmingly near as to cause every nerve to thrill
with terror. To yell in return, seize with con-
vulsiye grasp the limbs of the friendly tree, and
swing myself into it, was the work of Il moment.
Scramblng hurriedly from limb to limb, was
soon as near the top as safety would permit.
The savage beast was shutting and growing be-
low, apparently on the very spot | had just
abandoned. | answered every growl with re-
sponsive scream. Terrified at the delay and
paving of the beast, increased my voice to its
utmost volume, broke branches from the limbs,
and, in the impotency OF fright, madiy hurled
lllCu al TIC SpOl NuGllCG JuG COnliiutu uOWllU8
proceeded.
Failing to alarm the animal, which now be-
gan to make the circuit of the tree, as il 10 Sc
lect spot fer springing into it, shook, with a
strength increased by terror the slender trunk
until every limb rustled with the motion. All
in vain. The terrible creature pursued his walk
around the tree, lashing the ground with his
tail, and prolonging his howlings almost to a
roar 1t was too dark to see, hut the movements
OF the lion kept me appriSed of its position.
Whenever l heard it on one side Of the tree
speedily changed to the opposite-an exercise
which, in my weakened state, | could only
have performed under the impulse of terror.
| would alternately sweat and thrill
with horror at the thought of being
torn TO pieces and deyOured by this for
midable monster. All my attempts to
Brighten il seemed unayailing. DiSheartcned at
its pcrSistency, and expecting every moment it
would take the deadly leap, tried to collect my
thoughts and prepare for the fatal encounter
which knew must result. just at this moment
1t occurred TO me that would try silence. Clasp
ing the trunk of the tree with both arms | sat
perfectly still The lion, at this time ranging
round, occasionally sunffing and pausng, and all
the while filling the forest with the echo of his
hOwlings suddenly initiated my example. This
silence was more terrible, if possible, than the
CHATTER and crash OF his movements through the
brushwood, for now did not know from what
direction to expect his attack Moments passed
with me like hours. After lapse of time which
| cannot estimate, the beast gave Il spring into
the thcket and ran screaming into the forest.
My deliveranee was effected,
Had strength permitted, should have retain
ed my perch till daylight, but with the CON
seriousness Of escape from the Jaws of the icru-
ciouS brute came a sense of overpowerng weak
ness which almost palsied me, and made my
descent from the tree both difficult and danger
Gus. Incredible as it may seem, lay down in
my old bed, and was soon lost in Il Slumber SO
10,
| light The experience of the night seemed like
| Il terrible dream; but the broken limbs, which
| i'll the agony of CONSERVATION had thrown nom
the tree, and the lifts made in the fallen foliage
| by my v'sitlnt in his Recommendations were
too convincing evidences Of its reality. | could
not dwell upon my exposure and escape without
shuddering and rejecting that probably like
perilS would often occur under less fortunate
circumstances, and with more fatal issue
wondered what fate was in reserve for me
whether | would ultimately sink from eXhaus
ton and perish of starvation, or become the
prey of some of the ferociouS animals that roam
ed these vast Businesses. My thoughts then turn
ed to the loved ones at home. They could never
know my fate, and would indulge a thousand
conJecures concerning il, not the least distress
ing OF which would be that had been captured
by band of hostile Sioux, and tortured to
death at the stake"
The next two days were cold and stormy, and
Mr. Eyerts was fearfully chilled, but he finally
succeeded in reaching the hot springs or cald-
rons which abound in some parts of the Upper
Yellowstone region. Their steam relieved him
very much, and he boiled his boots in them. He
thought of the power of burning glasses, and
by experimenting, found that he could ignite
leaves by means of the lenses of his opera glass
While asleep he slipped into one of the hot
springs, and scalded his hip. His feet, already
iroSt-5ltten, were fostering, and he had lost his
knives. He used the sharpened tongue of a
buckle as 4 substitute, and cut slippers from his
boots, which he fastened TO his feet with strips
of bark. He then Travelled slowly ON for several
days, encountering another cold and severe
storm.
While in large forest, in kindling fire, he
started conhagraton in the woods, and mar
r0wly escaped with his life.
Hardships and scanty food began to effect Mr..
Everts' mind. He says:
while was considering whether to remain
| and search for passage or to return TO the
| Yellowstone, | experienced one of those strange
| hallucinations which many of my friends have
| misnamed insanity, but which TO me was Provi-
dence. An old clerical friend, for whose char
acter and counsel l have always cherished pecu-
| liar regard, in some unaccOuntable manner
seemed to be standing before me- charged with
| advice which would relieve my perpexty.
| seemed to hear him say, as if in voice and
| with the manner of authority:
go back Immediately as rapidly as your
strength will permit. There is no food here,
''HN nv ANS" VI oN"iiHs tASSS lOSho 10 uluu-
ness"
doctor" l reioined, "the distance is too
great. / cannot live to travel it,
"Say not so. Your life depends upon the
effort. Return at once Start now, lest your
resolution talter. Travel as fast and as far as
possible-it is your only chance"
Doctor, am rejoiced to meet you in this
hour of distress, but doubt the wisdom of your
counsel. am within seventy miles of Virginia
just over these rocks, few miles away shall
ETnsl EFsa dc Oh,
my clothes are in tatters and my strength is
almost overcome. As last trial, 1t seems to
me can but attempt to scale this mountain or
perish in the effort, if God SO wills"
Don't think of it. Your power of endurance
will carry you through. l will accompany you.
FFut your trust in heaven. Help yourself and
| God will help you"
Overcome by these and other persuasons,
| and delighted with the idea of having a travel
ing companion, | plodded my way over the
route had come, intending at certain point
10 change 1t so as to strike the river at the foot
| of the lake. Stopping after a few miles of
travel, had no difficulty in procuring fire, and
passed comfortable night. When resumed
my journey the next day the sun was lust
rising. Whenever was disposed, as was often
the case, to question the wisdom of the change
of routes, my old friend appeared to be near
with words of encouragement, but his reticeuce
on other subjects both surprised and annoyed
me.
lOSt all sense o! 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 APP
peaSe appetite, but to renew strength | eX-
perenced but little pain. The gaping sores on
my feet, the severe burn on my hip, the Tester
ing crevices at the joints Of my fingers, all terri
| Die IN appearance, had ceased to give me the
least concern The roots which supplied my
lood had suspended the digestive power of my
stomach, and their fbres were packed in it in
| 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 aud Washington: sit
down TO Immense tables, spread with the most
| appetizng yiands; partake of the richest oyster
stews and piumpest pies; engage myself in the
| labor and preparation Of curious dishes. and
| with them fill range upon range of elegantly
| furnished tables until they fairly groaned he
meath the accumulated daintes prepared by nv
own hands. Frequently the entire night wonld
| seem TO have been spent in getting up a sump-
tuous dinner. ] would realize the fatigue of
roasting, boiling, baking, and fabricating the
| choicest dinners known TO the modern cuisine
and in my disturbed SAUNDERS would enjoy with
epicurean relish the food thus furnished even to
| repletion. Alasi there was more luxury than
life in these somnoent yagaries"
He now reached the great falls of the Yellow