The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-31
A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

4 letter from an army officer in Montana
contains the following account Of a terrible
and almost fatal adventure in an alkaH de-
sert, experienced by the writer of the letter
last summer 4 was lost in an aIkali desert.
/ was without food or water and made de-
termined effort to reach the river Mvmules
became exhausted from thirst and hunger.
and then l walked. I led the mules while
my driver went behind and pushed the wa.
gon. In this way, after desperate struggle.
we reached the rivers bank. only to encouD-
ter new difficulties which were wholly IN
suTmOuntable. The bank was sandstone
about zoo feet high and perpendicular. I
f ollowed it up and down for miles. occasion
ally finding a broken place, hut no place
where a descent could be made I was al
most dying Of thirst, and looking down upon
the shining waters below, whose musical
ripples only taunted my sufTerings. ! re-
turned TO the wagon, night came on, and I
almost concluded 70 give up the struggle and
die there. Then 7 thought it would not he
brave thing to give up and die ike that. hut
re solved 70 die manfullv, fighting for fife
So I took nv rife and spent the night firing
signals If distress. and rs the sounds would
roll across the drearv waste they would ONLY
be answered w the how1ing wolves. who
were on hand in force anticipating nv sftua-
sion and thinking of n good square meal
To ten the truth they made me mad. and 7
resolved to fool them. and even looked over
the brink and thourht Of throwing myself
down. Il was about rs lonesome n night rs
I ever spent The driver. a big. strong fal-
. Tr~ h1 -T-
I proaninr. while I stood nv ground and
fought nff the wolves As the m0rnfnr he
can to dawn took survey Of my situation.
/ and resolved upon another STRUGGLE The
driver was a little rested hut we rad bpen
fortv-eicht hours without food OF drink
+ The mn1ps were used M and not ahln 70 null
+ the wagon. so 7 abandoned everything taking
only my ammunition and rifle and started
. across the desert on foot I'm search Of tHe
. camp. Nothing hut the nen Of on inspired
/ writer could describe the sufTarinrs Of ths'
/ DAYS march II was n dreadful hot day.
. There Yas nc. tree. 3 shrnh, or even q
blade Of grass t0 protect mo from tho hot
rays Of the sun IKE blasts from fnrv Fur
mace. Not living thing was there. oven Q,
/ a flv or Grasshopnpr. There was only the m
. venous wolves that were following MS un
ready to pick our bones before life became
extinct Several tfmag 7 laid down 20 die
hut after a little rest 7 would change m,
mind ON the subject rally and 90 on T ro
beyond rhe no,rt of hunger. or 7 would hav.
killed the poor unfortunate mule who WA
p'oddinp sorrowfu1lv along with ne. p mart
nar in orr suffprinrs. The resolution E,
struggle on crew stronger with me while i
grew weaker with the driver. and found s
hard to rally him. felt that 7 was 1asin,
my reason. fancip7 7 saw fountains and wa
terfallS in the distance and greeted frn 7r
yer as 2 party sent - my relief One thin,
! kept unnerm0st in nv mind was 20 Sf-up
ole on and never give m. Then f1rorrh
Of familvard friends and an 7 had to live fa
and the whisper would come almost audr,Iv
''PUsh on push on 90 As the sun was de
snpndinC 7 reached camr. staggered to my
trnt, fell upon my bed and # was q N over -
The last g'immpr If pxnirfnc rpas son wen
ont and left me in the gloom Of INSANITY
which led me hack again 70 the desert To-
davs and NIGHTS 7 rprpyvpd the sf-urrl.
across the burning sands. and sometime
would GET almost home only 70 no syveu
back gain NV constant crv was for water
and I drank at shady fountains that neve
quenched my thirst. bnt always lured me on
Nv wife came and nursed me back 70 hpaItl
and reason, hut if was long and tedious -
The horrors haunted me in my dreams To-
weeks. and never went % he'd without m,
canteen Of water. Even now I am thirst-
thinking Of it,"