The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-12-20
Lost In the Snow.

J. Fl. Sporting. assayer OF the Great
Sierra Mining Company, Tioga, who
came near losing his life In the Sierras
week before last, arrived in this city yes
terday morning. He still suffers from
badly frost-bitten foot, but Is able to
limp about pretty well. In other res
poets he looks as hale and rugged rs u
grizzly. 1t appears that he left Bennett
vile, camp on the west side OF tbs
mountains, to inspect for Eastern par
ties some mining property on Mount
Gibbs, Mt the head Of Bloody Canyon.
He had for guide and companion Dau
McKinnen, man familiar with the SEQ
ton of country into which they were
going. When they got mp TO Mount
Gibbs furious snow-stOral set in. The
guide soon lost his way, and for two
nights and two days and half the two
men struggled in tho snow, which was
two feet deep on the level, and in DIanv
places bad so drified that . reached
almost breast high.
They had no provisions with them,
and all they hal that they could eat was
a mall piece OF raw, fat bacon which
they had taken with them for uso in
greasiEg their ynow-shoes. They were
exceedingly hungry the first day, and
divided and ate the bacon raw. After
the first day they did not much feel the
pangs of hunger, but felt great weak
ness. They had no blankets and dare
rot attempt to sleep. phe Place wa
full Of prccipices, and tho nights being
very dark they could only travel during
Daylight. They were obliged 10 stop
wherever dark came upon them.
The first might they stopped where
there was some wood. but the next dark
came upon them in place where all was
bare aud barren. At y distance they had
/ .een what appeared TO BIZ a small grove,
far down in q big canyon, but darkrc;s
came upon thop before they could reach
the place. There were 90 many perpcn-
dicllar terraces and precipices In the
place that they da . not venture TO 90
on in the dark.
4 council of war" was held, and
they decided ~ split to pieces their snow
shoes, making torches OF them, and
push on down to whers they had seen
villa. presented the appearance OF II
grove. The pilchy wood Of their snow
shoes made excellent torcho-, but bein :
flied with grease they burned away rap
idly. The distance ~ the flat In the
canyon, where lay the supposed grove,
was much greater than they had antici.
pated; besides, their progress through
the deep snow WAS slow, and when they
finally came to the Hat their last torch
was almost burned out. Enough of i,
rem .inad, however, to show them tina
what they had taken TO he grove was
only n black patch of sagebru,h, til,
tops OF which they had seen above The
snow. However, as they could make
sufficient fire with the sage brush t,
keep them from freezing, they decided
to pass the night at the spot. They KEEP
awake all night and kept busy abou
half the time pulling sagebrn'h in orde
to keep up their fire.
The next day they discovered tha
they had got down into Bloody Canyon
the mouth OF which strikes the plains il
the neighborhood Of Mono Lake. Thee
pushed on, wAllowing through heay!
drifts and tumbling down the terrace
with which tho canyon IS filed, 1t bein.
the toughest pass in the whole range o
the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Dnrin!
the day McKinnen became delirious all,
Mr. Sporting had great difficulty III get
ting him 10 travel. lie imagined al
manner Of things. At one time he dc
clared he saw horse tied to tree
"There he Is" cried he; "don't you Sc
himp And the dog-there is a dog witt
the horse. There must be man near.
"There is no tree, no horse, no dog,
said Mr.. Sporting; "you only imagin
these things. Come. or VIC shall perish
1t is only little way down tho can
yon." 1t was necessary to haul McKin
ncn along The canyon. as he persisted II
declaring that he saw horse and IA dog
If Mr.. Sporting could not see them h
must be snow blind.
Next McRinnen declared that ho saw
n man but little way off with baske
on his arm. ale is beckoning us /,
come to him." he said. "Let Us 20. H.
is man sent to find US. lie has In tn
baske. something for us to eat" "You
arc mistaken" said Mr.. Sporting
"Thero Is no man there. There |
nothing ut all" al tell you that you ar,
snow blind. There Is man there will
basket, ana 10 wants Us 10 como Il
him" "Come along" cried Sporting
"lhere Is no man, and we shall perish i
we stop here" "Nc," cried Mckinnen
ave shall die Ii We don't 60 TO tn,
man." "You are little tlighty-a it'll,
ont Of your head" said Sperling; "be
lieye what tell Won and come on" al
shall moi 20 on. | see tho man plainly
g., enough. He has 4 basket on his arm
and motions for us to come 10 him. II
you can't see him you are either blind
or crazy. | have rs much right to my
way as You have TO yours, and | say lei
us 20 - the mani" Sporting found 1t
necessary TO drag his companion away
by force. Soon he became so much
worse that he would stop and talk tc
stumps and stones, telling them he was
lost, and asking them to lead him out o.
the mountains.
With infinite toll and trouble Mr.
Sporting and his companion finally
reached rroy's ranch, near Mono Lake
ind all their troubles were soon over
Mr.. Troy was not at home, but his wifi,
did MI that any one could have done 70,
the two mon. Mckinnen came out al
right in mind after no had eaten ant
slept, but still thought he must hay,
seen horse and dog and a man with
basket on his arm. -Yrginia (.Ncr.I
Enterprise.
---Dolicite PUDDING. Ona ou,r,,I .