The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-13
RemarkabIe story from Nexada.

BADLY-INJUREp MAN LIVES TWO MONTHS on
RAW BEAR NEAT SNOW As A MEDICINAL
AGENT.
From the Virginia City tEevada) Chronicle,
April 22.I
"About fifty miles from Virginia City as
the crow flies Is a little mountain vale known
as GraveIly Valley. In the summer season
it is beautiful spot. green and lnXuriant.
but it is showed in during most OF the win
ter. In February last two hunters named
N. Il. Robinson and David kuox were in
the neighborbood looking for game. At
night they encamped In small cabin which
had been. used in former years by Sleep
hcrders. During the day they explored the
surrounding mountains, looking for bear
and deer. They succeeded In killing large
cinnamon bear. which they dragged to the
hut. The steaks cut from its quarters served
as an agreeable change from their usual diet OF
cured bacon and jerked veniSon. On the
morning of February ID. when twelve miles
from camp, Robinson, in getting on his
horse, accidentally discharged his gun, and
the ball, an ounce 10 weight, passed through
his right heel, SCATTERING it to fragments. His
companion developed the wound in snow
and tied it up in piece OF saddle.banket,
and they started Immediately for the cabin.
Upon their arrival Knox saw at once that it
was necessary to 60 fora physician. Robin
son was weak from loss Of blood, was utterly
unable to ride to the nearest settlement, Il
distance of forty miles, and the nature Of bis
iniury was such that he must surely die I'M
less medical assistance was procured. l. was
probable that it would be judged necessary
to amputate the limb to save his life. They
were sworn friends; and kuoy, after placing
the wounded nun ia i bunk, covering him
with i blanket and leaving him two days pro-
visions, babe him be of good cheer until his
return. He rode all that night through
bliading storm, which set in soon after his
departure, and arrived in Lake Valley soon
after daylight. The road passed over high
range of mountains which separates the two
valleys. There was no cessation in the storm
but having procured the assistance OF 4 ply
sician, who was well known TO Robinson,
they started to return. AS they assembled
the steep side Of the mountain the deter
mined men soon found that it vas impos>i-
ble to proceed further The snow vas
already four or five feet deep, and
was accommodating in great drifts. Half
a dozen times their horses fell into deep
with difficulty, and they were at last CON-
PEELED TO turn mourniElly back for their own
preservation. The regrets they felt ut Robin
sons fate were of no avail, but all through
the winter his unimcIy eud was discussed
by bis friends around their tirpsides. About
ten days ago, when the snow was pretty we'll
OF the ground, q party Of men thought it
their duty to 90 over into the deserted valley
and bury his body. He wasa boon compan.
ion, liked By everybody, and had host Of
ba
cine in sight of the spot where the disaster
hid occurred nearly two months before
with mournrul feelings. They arrived at
the door Of the cabin, and were alighing
from their horses wien a voice within
WIS heard joyfully to eXclaim: Well, have
YOU fellows got here at las,?' and Robinson
came lmping out upon pair of crutcheS.
The amaZoment Of the party may be ina
gned. Noticing their surprise, be said:
You all thought was dead, did you9 L
am not, but am as well as ever was in my
life, except this leg And so it proved. lie
was aware that the storm which set in upon
Kuox's departure would prevent his return,
and at oucc set to work 10 make the best OF
The situation. He kept his wound dressed
with snow, and when his ready provisions
were exhausted dragged himself to the car
cass Of the bear at the door Of the cabin
and cut off a slice with his butcher.
knife. Raw hear meat and water from a
mountain stream which ran near by WAS all
the stlstenancc he had for over seven weeks.
This m-agre diet, 40 doubt, kept his foot
from Notifying. the fever suhsided, the
Inflammation went down, and it soon began
TO htaI. With wire which he tore or an
old broom be probed the wound, and drew
out several pieces of the bone. DE then
made pair OF crutches and WIS able 70 gel
about without difficulty. He considers the
snow-storm lucky thing. as his leg would
probably have been amputaled had the ply
sic:au arrived. Upon his return 10 Lake
Valley be was welcomed as one come back
from the dead, and the affair is the great
theme of conversation throughout the whole
uciuhborhoOd."