Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-25

rades take any steps to look for me. Tn,
Will not be alarmed at my being ont for OF
night, and the second nights absence vi
only excite their anxiety, not greatly, indeet
for they trust to my skill and strength
carry me through any ordinary conflict
Two days to excite their alarm, and one
reach me, if they take a direct route for mt
which is not at all likely, and the terrib
storm has washed away the faintest traC
OF my trail. Three days of living death {
least and that may be heightened until
too late ~
My luncheon had barely satisfied th
hunger caused by the hard days struggl
over the mountlins there was an mex
haustible supply of water within three fec
of me, but alas not drop that ! coul
get!
Casting my eyes upon the floor | resolve
to gain what refreshment | might in SCUM
sleep. There was no fear Of a possible intru
sion from any source, and the sweet Oblivion
of sleer soon robbed me of all consciousness
of the horror in store for noe. Would tina
the same oblivion had covered my followin
experience
With the first dim rays OF sunlight, faintl,
struggling through the narrow creyices, | va,
as:ir with mind ana body refreshed for til,
labor before me- L had keen appetite bu
it did not assume any alarming portions
The storm had passed entirely away, and the
sun rode the heavens msjesticslS~, undimmed
by the slightest cloud Yet notwith
standing the brilliancy without the cavern
was only dimly lighted. A fresh fire dis
| PEELED the mornings gloom. How to get out
was the next thing.
| The first step | took was to estimate the
weight of the rock from its dimensions. My
philosophy, confess, was rusty from long
disuse, but this was the result Six feet long,
four feet wide, and three feet thick-seventy-
two cubic feet of solid rock. Specific gravi-
| ty of water to rock, one to two and eighty
| by the weight of one cubic foot OF water
gave the weight, Il. 735 pounds. | smiled
grimly at my desperate attempt to lift
and set my teeth together with the frmness
of despair.
My next calculation was to get the weight
| might lift by using one of the poles which
l had thrown in for wood, as a lever | could
lift little more than one-ffth NY thoughts
flew from one determination TO another. One
project was no sooner determined than an
other was conceived equally infeasible as its
predecessor. A happy thought flashed upon
me. after couple of hours wore slowly away.
If could drill hcle in the rock, might
blast it enough to get out. To think was to
act. Drawing my knife from its sheath, l
began to examine the stone for a soft spot
1t was hard as flint
Finding no choice began to drill careful
ly. Half an hours labor resulted in small
hole about an inch in depth. The knife was
small one, like poinard in shape, and was
wearing rapidly away. My hope here was of
short Duration. An unlucky turn snapped
the slender blade at its hilt. and it fell ring
ing into crevice as completely beyond my
reach as WAS the sweet liberty l was strug.
Cling so hard to obtain. The only hope left
me was that my companions should find me
before the last spark of life was extinguished.
How can they find me, when | am eight
or ten miles from the track they would
naturally take to look for me?
The first day wore away in vain attempts
the second night passed with but little dis
tress. The second day brought me face to
face with the grim, horrible pain OF inani-
ton. Each hour increased my misery to a
greater degree thirst began to add its own
horrors to those OF starvation. That day and
the following night wore their slow length
away the third morning dawned and crept
slowly through its long slow hours Seventy
two hours without food or water My stall
wart frame was weakening under the terrible
abstinence. Hope was waning as my body
weakened. Great heavens would they come
too late?
Ii was horrible for me in the vigor of man
hood to tamely starve there: What more
could | do? Did Providence viii that l
should die thus? They must certainly be
looking for me- l took off my leather Jacket,
spread 1t fiat upon the floor, and poured the
contents of my powder flask upon it. Care
fully dividing it, found that there were
eighty small charges. These 81 determined
10 fire n rerrnlor intervals tor.1pe, that I
might attract their attention by the reports.
By shooting every half hour during the day,
and once an hour during the night, would
be able to keep up these signals for two days
longer before my stock was exhausted Ii
they tarry beyond that time, God have mer-
cy on me. placed my rifle close to crew
ice and fired. The sound of the discharge
reverberated through the mountain tops. If
they are within three or four miles OF me
they will certainly hear that. During the
fourth day fred regularly. listening with
their coming. My condition was now be-
coming appalling my form was emaciating, |
and an intense thirst made my mouth and
throat feel like a fiery furnace. The day |
passed, the night drew on but still they |
came not Sleep was a stranger to my aching |
eyes, and in my wakeful musings | was at |
laden tables, drinking great |
draughts from limpid springs. I was bor-
dering on insanity. The fifth day came. |
With gieat difficulty ! raised the rifle, now |
heavy in my weakness to give the last few |
signals. Great blotches began to cover my |
limbs, would complete insanity follow.
OF what followed | remember with only a |
slight shade of reason. On the sixth morn
ing my last signal was fired, and in the last |
frenzy of despair, commenced to scream at
the full extent of my weakened condition.
Several times l sank prone down with ex-
but would rally for a mighty ex-
ertion. How long remained in this semi
state was difficult for me to deter
mine but was aroused by several sharp
reports of rihes, and the fierce hoviing of a
dying bear. Hope succeeded despair, and
with strength amazing to myself put my
cracked and bleeding lips to the crevice and
screamed until my exhausted frame sunk un-
mindful Of the little life it contained. My
last effort wes not without avail, for my
friends had heard my cries, and hastened 10
my aid but strange to say they had not
heard any of the many shots had fired, and
would not have found me had not the wound
ed and bleeding bear, which they had fol-
lowed several miles by its bloody trail, led
them directly to my prison. They removed
the rock and for many months carefully
nursed me but to this day the indelible
results of that terrible experience have not
been eradicated.