Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-10
A STARVING MAN.
How il Feels TO go without Food for
Half a Dozen Days.

Mr. Evarts, who was lost in the Yel-
lowstone, contributes to Scribner's an
interesting account of his "Thirty-
Seven Days Peril" We quote
" lost all sense of time. DAYS and
nights came and went, and were num-
bered only by the growing consciousness
that l was gradually starving. felt no
hunger, did not eat to appease appetite,
but to renew strength. ! experienced
but little pain. The gaping sores on my
feet, the severe burn on my hip, the fes-
tering crevices at the joints in my fin
gers, all terrible in appearance, had
ceased to give me the least concern.
The roots which supplied my food had
suspended the digestive power of the
stomach, and their fibres were packed
in it in a matted, compact mass.
mot 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 appetizing viands; partake of the
richest oyster stews and plumpest pies;
engage myself in the labor and the prep
aration Of curious dishes, and with
them fill range upon range q elegantly
furnished tables until they fairly groan-
ed beneath the accumulated dainties
prepared by my own hands. Frequent
~ the entire night would seem to have
been spent in getting up a sumptuous
dinner. / would realize the fatigue of
roasting, boiling, baking, and iabricating
| the choicest dishes known to the mod
ern cuisine, and in my disturbed slum-
bers would enjoy with epieurean relish
the food thus furnished, even to reple.
ton. Alas there was more luxury
than life in these somnolent vagaries.
"By some process, which | was too
weak to solve, my arms, legs and stom-
ach were transformed into so many
travelling companions. Often for hours
| would plod along conversing with
these imaginary friends. Each had its
peculiar wants which he expected me
to supply. The stomach was importu-
nate in his demand for change of diet
complained necessarily of the roots l
led to him-their present effect and
more remote consequences | would
try to silence him with promises, beg
him to wait few days, and when this
failed OF the quiet desired, would
seek to intimidate him by declaring, as
a sure result of negligence, our inabili-
ty to reach home alive. All to no pur-
pose he tormented me with his
fretful humors through the entire Jour-
ney. The legs implored me for
rest, and the arms complained that l
gave them too much to do. Trouble
some as they We're, it was pleasure to
realize their presence. / worked for
them too, with right good will, doing
many things for their seeming comfort,
which, had felt myself alone, would
have remained undone. They appeared
to be perfectly helpless of themselves,
would do nothing for me or for each
other. l often wondered, while they
ate and slept so much that they did not
aid in gathering wood and kindling fires.
As counterpoise to their own
lnertness, whenever they discover
ed languOr in me on necessary oc-
caslons, they were not wanting in words
OF encouragement and cheer | recall,
as | write, an instance where, by prompt
and timely interpOsition, the rcpresen-
tative of the stomach saved me from a
death of dreadful agony. One day l
came to small stream, issuing from a
| spring OF mild temperature, on the hill
side, swarming with minnows. Icaught
some with my hands and ate them raw.
10 my taste they were delicious. But
the stomach refused them; accused me
OF attempting TO poison him, and would
not be reconciled until had emptied
my pouch of the few fish | had put
there for future use.