The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-11-04
misrellanp.
The vagarfes Of 81 Starving MAN.


Mr.. Everts, who was lost in the Yellowstone
contributes to S-ri5ner's intensely interesting
account of his "Thrty.seven Days of Peril
We quote:
81 lost all sense of time. DAYS and night:
came and went. and were numbered only by the
growing consciousness that l was starving
l felt no hunger, did not eat to appease
appetite, but to strength. l ex.
perienced but little pain. The gaping sores on
my feet, the severe burn my hip, the festei ing
crevices 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 power of the stom-
ach, and their fibres were packed in it in mat
ted compact mass.
"Not 40 with my hours of slumber. They
were visited by the most luxuriant dreams. ]
would apparently visit the most rorGeou-ly dec
grated restaurants of New York and Washing.
ton sit down to immense tables spread with
the most appetizing viands; p>rtake OF the rich
est oyster stews and plumpest pies; engage my
self i'll the labor and preparation of the most ca.
rious dishes, and with them fill range upon
range of elegantly furnished tables until they
fairly groaned beneath the accumulated dainties
prepared by my own hands. Frequently the en-.
tire night would seem to have been spent in get.
ting up sumptuous dinner. l would realize
tho fatigue of roasting, boiling, baking and fab.
ricating the choicest dishes known to the mod.
srn cuisine, and in my disturbed slumbers wonld
enjoy with epicurean relish the food thus fur
nished even to repletion. Alas there was more
luxury than life in these sOmnolent vag-re' 4
"By some process which l was too weak to
solve, my arms legs, and stomach were trans
formed into so many travelling companions. Of
ten for hours l would plod along conversing
with these imaginary friends. Each had his pc
ouliar wants which he expected me to supply.
The stomach WAS importunate in his demand
for change of diet-complained necessarily of
tn roots I fed to him, their present effect and
MI rHGtots consequences l would try to
silence him with promises, beg of him to wait a
few days, and when this failed Of the quiet
desired, would seek to intimidate him by de.
claring, as sure result Of negligence, our ina
biiity to reach home alive. All to no purpose
he ,orMented me with his fretful humor through
the entire journey. The others would generally
concur with him in these fancied alterations.
The legs implored me for rest, and the arms
complained that l gave them too much to do
Troublesome as they were, it was a pleasure to
realize their presence I 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 APP
peared to be perfectly helpless of themselves :;
would do nothing for each other. / often won
dered, while they ate and slept so much that
they did not aid in gathering wood and kindling
fires. AS Il connterpoise TO their own inertia,
whenever they discoy cred languor in me on
necessary occasions, they were not wanting in
words OF encouragement and cheer l rec III AS
write an instance where. by prompt and time
~ Interpolation, the representatives of the stom-
ach saved. me from death of drendful agony
One day came to small stream issuing from
aspiring of mild temperature on the hillside,
sw"rminy with minnows. l caught some with
my hands and ate them raw. To my taste they
were delicious. But the stomach refused them,
accused me OF attempting to poison him. and
would not be reconcied until had emptieG nv
pouch of the few fish had put there for future
use."