The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-08-13
NO WATER FOR THREE DAYS.
The Terrible sunerings OF Traveller

/ Inc ~
DR.. Tanner has found no particular diff
ficulty In going for days without water.
This fact has brought out all sorts OF
stories, and iu this connection the experience
of an Australian traveller is Of interest.
The story is related by j. Z. Richter in the
Scientific american for May 9Th:
In 1864 | started alone on horseback over
the stony plains, in the vicinity Of Lake
Gardiner. The climate Of this part Of Aus
tralia IS some what like that Of the water
Iess, arid regions Of New Mexico, Arizona
aud Lower California. 1t was in the mid
die of the summer and the days we're dread.
fully hot. There was no grass or berbage
aud the sun shone down upon the smooth.
CLASSY stones with glare and recoil that
we're extremely irritating to the eyes.
took with me a canteen of wase-, besides
my usual kit, travelling 80 miles till sunset,
| arriving at q lagoon which I had always
supposed was permanent water. 1t was
all dried up. There was pint Of water In
! my canteen, which was divided between
| myself and horse. An irresistible drowsi-
| ness then came over me and l slept until
midnight, when was awakened by chill.
At daylight l started on my journey. l
felt sure Of finding water 10 20 miles. After
sunrise began to feel the panes Of thirst.
Ny horse hung his head nearly to the earth.
Toward evening / suffered much. My
tongue and lips began to stick together, al
though had in my mouth two bebbles,
and these are said to cause moisture. Time
seemed to be very long over those weary,
chee-less plains, and imagination led me to
the belief that the sun stood for hours in
one spot. A mirage appeared about noon
and continued all the afternoon, incitiDg
me to the hope that there was lake of wa
ter in the distance, though | knew no lake
existed in that direction. was obliged TO
rest several times because Of exhaustion.
My skin began to sLrivel up. came to q
agoon formerly mile long and wide.
There were few yards of shallow water,
which could not be got at for the mud. /
drove my horse to we'll two miles away.
fourd rope, bucket and all gone. pass
a dreadful night. could not sleep. Sud-
denly it occurred to me to kill my horse
and make we'll rope of his hide. Then
found had no knife. The next morning
managed to swallow few mouthfuls OF
meat and sugar. kept on my journey till
midday, driving my horse before me, when
had to rest. was then suffering from
vertigo. My horse lay down and did not
| care to eat what was offered him. Six
hours afterwards tried to eat, but could
not swallow anything. intended tc open
a vein of my horse and drink his blood,
but had no instrument In the cool Of
the evening started on again. Delirium
seemed to be setting In, There was con-
slant ringing IN my ears, my tongue was
greatly swollen aud had an irrepressible
desire to close my eyes. l Travelled till
midnight and there seemed always to be .
| dog at one side of me and q bird like an
owl flying overhead. cannot now say
whether they were real or imaginary. l
went to rest, but could not sleep. /
seemed to dream with half closed eyes of
banquets. At daylight l saw hills few
| miles off where knew there was water, but
| felt no inclination to 60 there. From
this time to the time drank tie first drink
Of beautiful spring water in the hills have
TO recollection whatever, nor did know
| what became of my horse until I discover
ed his skeleton some time afterwards.
do not know how long it took me to &c,
over those three or four miles. My senses
came to me when drank water. Ny
body was like skeleton, though l was
in full flesh four days previous. could
swallow with difficulty. After the first
draught or two | drank moderately and
took little su gar. never vomited.
drank about half gill every few minutes
fn about "a hours, when my thirst firs'
gave signs of being satisfied. think thai
drank about quart an hour during thi'
period. 1t would have been very inter
estiug to know what was my weight wher
first arrived at the springs and What i
was 40 hours afterwards. ..... ..--. a
was at least 70 hours without water
perhaps 90 hours, as do not know ho~
long I was delirious. As soon as my thirs
was satisfied became hungry and ate wha
had left. Then, filing my canteen,
started across the hills and reached q hu-
man habitation late in the day.
L Y. -------.-s--r------ ~ NE#.
4 lwhy Snow at Great Attitudes Does Not