Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-12-21

and it fell, lodging into q crevice ~
completely beyond my reach a. Vas the
sweet liberty l Vas struggling 20 hard
70 obtain. The only hope left me was
that my companions should find me he
fore the last spark Of life Was extin-
guished. How can they find me when
am eight or ten miles from the track
they would naturally take to 'ook for
ne?
The first day wore away in vain at
tempts; the second night passed with
but little distress. The second day
brought mo face to face with the grim
horrible pain OF inanation. Each hour
increased my misery to q greater de-
gree: thirst began to aid its oxn hor.
rors 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 and water. My stalwart frame
was weakened under the terrible absti.
nence. Hope Was waning as my body
weakened. Great heavens! would they
come too late!
1t was horrible for me, in the vigOr
of manhood, to tamely starve there.
What more could / do? Did Provi-
depce will that should die thus? They
must certainly be looking for me. l
took off my leather jacket, spread it fat
upon the floor, and poured the contents
OF my powder flask upon it. Carefully
dividing it, l found that there were
eighty small charges. These deter.
mined to fire at regular intervals, hop
ing that l might attract their attention
by the reports. BY shooting every half
hour during the day and once an hour
during the night. I would be able to
keep up these signals for two days
longer, before my stock was exhausted.
If they tarry beyond that time. God
have mercy on me! I placed my
rifle close TO crevice aud fred. The
sound of the charge reverberated
through the mountain tops. If they
are within three or four miles of me
they will certainly hear that. During
the fourth day I fired regularly, listen.
ing with feverish anxiety for some
sound to mark their coming. My con-
dition was now becoming appalling;
my form was emaciating, and an intense
thirst made my mouth and throat feel
like fiery furnace. The day passed,
the night drew on; but still they came
not. Sleep was O stranger to my aching
eyes, and to my wakeful musings was
at bounteously-laden tables, drinking
great draughts from Gmpid springs.
I was bordering on INSANITY Tie fifth
day came. With great difficulty
raised the rife. now heavy in my weak
ness, to give the last few signals. Great
blotches began to cover my limbs
would complete insanity follow?
OF what followed l remember only
with slight shade of reason. On the
sixth morning my last signal was fred,
and in the last frenzy of despair com.
menced to scream to the full extent OF
my weakened condition. Several times
I sunk prone down with exhaustion,
but would rally for mighty exertion.
How long remained in this semi-com-
atose state was difficult for me to deter.
mine; but I was aroused by several re.
ports of rifles, and the fierce bowling
of q dying bear. Hope succeeded de-
spair, and with strength amazing to
LILY Sell pun NY OIaChou anu uIcouAHe
lips to the crevice and screamed until
my exhausted frame seemed unmindful
of tho little life it contained. My last
effort was not without avail, for my
friends had heard my cries and hastened
to my aid; but strange to say they had
not heard any of the many shots I had
fred, and would not have found me had
not the wounded and bleeding bear,
which they had followed 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.