Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-02-18
THE TERRORS OF THE LOST.


the moment an almost perfect blank in
the mind. The lost one is incapable of
summOning thought sufficient to realize
anything-to consider his present situa-
tion, or take measures for future action
IL is an indetinable state where all is
chaotic; quickly succeeded, however, by
that all-pervading terror which chains
thought and action in n manner nearly
akin to death-a vague, shapeless terror,
imagining all possible horrible things,
and painting mistily and hazily upon the
numbed faculties nameless miseries yet to
he experienced; slow death by starva-
ton Or thirst; exposure to the devouring
elements or wild beasts tortures of every
imaginable description, always ending in
lingering death; and, above all, never
more to look upon human face, never
more to share human sympathy going
out in utter darkness, perfectly alone.
Then Despair joins Terror, adding her
tortures; and lastly comes that all-pow.
erful, all-pervading yearning for human
companionship which, blending with the
two former feelings, unhinges the intellect
and renders the man insane. The begin
ming of such an experience happened to
the writer once upon time.
started one bright autumnal morning
to visit friend residing five miles distant
from our home. Both houses werU sIUu-
ated on the immediate banks of the As
siniboine River, which took a great bend
between the two, leaving them on the eX-
treme points of the arc. From my door
step the timber about my friends dwell
ing could be plainly seen across the inter-
vening plain, and, 0Gce 0ersG. 1t was an
unbroken prairie country, and the back
door yard may be said to have extended
to the Rocky Mountains. Over this level
eXpanse, however, were scattered clumps
of cottonwood trees and bushes, which
| limited the view of the traveller over it to,
say, quarter of mile in every direction ;
that is, the timber-copses occurred so
frequently that in no locality could per-
spective of greater extent be obtained.
Running nearly parallel with this river,
with an intervening space of six miles,
flowed small creek called Rsgiere Sci.
The banks of both streams were lined
with timber of about equal height, and
the perspective lines of these two rows OF
trees, merging into one in the distance,
seemed to place the traveller over the in
tervening space in the midst of circle.
| From any eminence these dark timber
linoo could be traced distinctly; DuJ, rom
the level prairie, the number Of smaller
trees obstructed the view.
/ started about eight O'Clock of bright
morning, the sun shining clearly in the
heavens. The horse bcstrode was fresh
from civilized stables, entirely unaccus
toned to the prairie, as was his rider. As
| could see my friends house from where
| stood in the doorway, intended strik'
ing to it directly across the cord of the arc
| formed by the river, instead of taking the
more roundabout road along the banks OF
the stream. | entertained not the slight
est doubt of my ability TO find the way
as, in any event, would know my gen
eral position by always having the rive
at my right hand.
l trotted gayly along, choosing my roat
around the clumps OF trees without hesi
fancy. These timber-cOpses were so dense
as not to be penetrated; but, in passing
around them, | cndeavored to keep tht
same general direction, inclining, if any
thing to the right, in order not to lese Tho
river. In this way journcyed on at {
pace of not fewer than six miles an hour
1t must have been AT least two hour!
from the time of starting (having NJ
watch with me was unable To tell exact
ly) when the sun, beating on my heaC
with considerable force, occasioned TIN
thought that | oughttO be at my journey
end. | surely had been travelling lont
enough at rapid rate to reach it, Elk
pecting every moment, however, to SCI
the house standing before me, joggeC
on at increased speed for half an hou
more. At the expiration of that time
saw, looming up before me, the dark lin
of timber bordering stream; and
thinking that, perhaps | had struck th
river too low down, l rode up to il
What was my surprise TO find il wa
the little Ri0ieTe SET that | had reached
instead of the Assiniboine Despite con
tinually leaning to the right, had gon
obliquely to the left felt coAsiderabl,
veXed at my lack Of skillful guidance, .bu
no alarm. knew that was at least 81.
miles from my friends residence, AM
that l must be opposite TO it, or eve
farther on; but, then, all had 10 do wa
to strike straight across to the right, and
must inevitably reach the Assiniboine d
ornearmy destination. So / turned square
ly about, and galioped sharply across th
country
This rate Of speed was continued 70
about an hour, when l again discovered
the trees lining the banks of water. cours
in my way. Feeling perfectly assure
t now that my troubles were over, | rod
up to the stream. There was the RiUie,
, Sci again before mel had simply dc
scribed circle of probably eight mile
in circumference. This time was thor
Oughly alarmed and veXed. The idea {
becoming lost in that limited territory
with such general landmarks to go b,
seemed to me ridiculous. Yet, the sam
thing might occur again. To avoid sue
4 a recurrence, | noted the position of tn
sun, the general direction of the creek
so far as its course could be seen, mad
. calculations of the direction would hay
| to take to reach a point directly opp,
| site the one on which stood, and rod
/ off again.
The alarm OF being lost, though onl
E momentarily, as believed, had made n
nervous and excitaDle, and l put IL
e horse at an increased rate Of speed in m
/ desire TO reach quickly some well-know
a landmark. In doing so was careful
o keep the sun in certain relative pos
= ton on my right, thinking that q sal
guide, as | had often heard OF peop
travelling by il alone, Now, let me 81
, Just here that there is no theory quite !
a fallacious for an inexperienced trayel'
e as this matter OF sun guidance; for,
4 him be as careful as he will, he can ket
O the sun in the position he requires, al
e yet 90 round in circle. A strange taf
) too, is that he will almost universally
s round to the right. After one has becon
If somewhat accustomed to prairie or Oce'
IS travel, he almost intnitively learns how
be guided by the sun, and can travel by
d but | do NOT think il can be learned by
e neophyte at Que lesson.
After three-quarters Of an hours travC
in spite of all my precautions as TO Ian
Il marks aud general direction, aga
" brought up al Ripiore Seii can scarce
sSplsln ,hs feelings which p0ssssssd