National Republican., 1885-01-17

with heavy load over the shoulder, but
nevertheless wo stood IL like men and |
mover heard single murmur of discon-
tent, We stumbled along until about
o'clock, when 1t became so dark that we
wcrc forced TO 90 into camp.
We unloadcd our frozen sleeping bag
and after putting tho frozen man in II
Rice and Linn wcdgcd themselves on
each side Of him, whilo | stopped out to
prepare some warm TODD for them. IL
was dark as pitch and q strong hrcozc
llrw from tho northwest. Tho air was
filled with drifting snow and it was with
the greatest difficulty | got some warm
food for my poor
STARVING AND FREEZING COMPANIONS.
If we only had little shelter our work
would not have been 50 trying, but to
halt and lay your sick on Au open fold of
ice, with nothing tu shelter them from the
Arctic breeze that has fair sweep over
the frozen plain, was trying indeed.
Nov 81 turned out about q. IN. and
prepared warm food for my comrades,
which they enjoyed very much. Whom
Rice and Linn got up wo found that Eli
son was altogether helpless, and to save
his lifO IL became necessary to abandon
the meat We had labored so hard to get
and put him on tho slodge, after marking
well tho place whero we left the meat
with the Springfield rife. We got along
very well for the first few hours, but MS
we all grew weaker every hour with bolp-
less man on our hands, you eau imagine
our slow progrCsS After toiliug along for
about ninc or ten hours we reached
Esquimaux point, where wo cncamped
for the night. We commenced ut once to
cut wood from the ice-boat for fire. to
thaw Ellison out and to dry his clothing,
which was perfect sheet of iCo In tho
meantime we cooked him some supper.
The way the poor fellow suffered when
the artificial heat began TO thaw out his
feet, hands, aud face was enough
TO bring tho strongest 10 tears. Rice and
did not retire until about l u. M, work.
ing to got everything in good shape for
the following day.
Nov. lO-Broko camp about 8 q. m,
ELLISON LOOKING MUCH BETTER.
The morning was very cold, so we started
Ellison out at once ON foot TO keep him
from freezing but wo found that he
could not keep the track, so Linn went
ahead with him while Rice and packed
the traps on the sledge and followed.
When we caught up with them We found
that Ellison had frozen his face and
hands again. The travelling was very
heavy, aud Linn had to como and help
drag the sledgo. We tried to keep Ellison
ahead of us, but to no avail. He would
stagger of to one side or the other, and 1t
seemed that every moment the deadly
frost would gnaw its way deeper into the
poor mans flesh, while we stood helpless
at his side.
The load on tho sledge was too heavy
for two men to drag, and it was impossi'
bio to let poor Ellison travel by himself,
so we fastened IA rope to his arm and then
to the sledge, and the three of us took to
tho traces and tried to make time, but
every few rods the poor fellow would
fall, and then, sometimes, before we
would sec him, we would drag him sew
eral feet, No one can possibly Imagine
how that poor man suffered.
When We got to Ellison bay tho wind
was blowing u hurricane, and il was get
ting very dark, aud we saw that there
was no earthly hope of dragging along
turther, for We saw that poor Ellison
would perish on our hands before We
could get him to Camp Clay, so we went
into camp there, and it was agreed that |
should remain with Ellison and Linn,
while Rice went on to Camp Clay for
assistance. As soon as wo had Ellison
and Linn in the sleeping bag Rice and
tried to make a fire or light the lamp to
warm some food, but as the wind was
blowing 80 hard, and we could find no
shelter, we both frosted our fingers and
had to give it up, and poor Rice took q
piece OF frozen meat and started for Camp
Clay, which was about seventeen miles
away.
Az RICE BABE US GooD-BY,
with tears in his eyes, we clasped his
hand and wished him Godspeed. then
took the AK and cuts piece of frozen meat
Tor my comrades, and then got in the
sleeping bag to put in this wretched night.
Linn laid on one side of Ellison and on
the other trying to keep him warm, but
~ we lay there helpless and shivering
with the cold, with poor Ellison groaning
with hunger and pain, you can imagine
how we felt lying pOwerless at his side.
Linn was a strong aud able-bodied man,
but he was very weak and helpless on ac-
count Of the mental strain caused him by
the suffering of Ellison-in fact, / was
afraid at one time that his mind would be
impaired, and | had to use all my per-
suasiye powers to keep him in the sleep
ing bag. We were in the bag but few
hours when 1t became frozen 30 hard that
we could not turn over in il at all, and
were forced to lay In one position for
about eighteen hours, when, to our great
relief and joy, We heard
bhNlNAAD NuEENlNf VOICE
at our side. Nothing could have been
more welcome than the presence of that
noble man. He had come on in advance
of the rest of the party with some brandy
for Ellison, and food for Linn and my
self After preparing some warm food
and making some warm tea and giving it
to US, he said ho would return to meet
Lieut.. Lockwood and the party, aud re-
turn as quickly as possible. Brainard
was accompanied by Frederick, the E5qui-
maux, and we felt much bettor aud re-
lieved of anxiety to know that Rico mad
got back all safe, and that relief party
would soon be with us.
Brainard was back with us again be-
fore long and gave us more warm food,
and in about two hours Lieut.. Lockwood
and the rest were with us. 1t was a
GOdsond to be released from our icy bag
prison. 1t was impossible to got US out
the way we had crawled in, 10 il became
necessary TO cut the top of the bag oil tC
release US We were unable to stand
alone, our clothing being frozen as sti1
rs boards, and our good companions
helped US to dress anl gave us dry gloves
and stockings. Linn aud began to walk
around to Timber up and as We were Of
40 use to the party they wanted us to go
On to Camp Clay, because thoy had t.
move very slow with the frozen man on
the sedgo. Linn and | therefore started
ill., and got along very we'll until we gO
20 Buchanan strait, whore broke through
aud got my feet wet. i noticed shortly
After that Linn was eating snow, and hit
steps became slower and unsteady. / wa
frightened for fear it would bo another
Ellison case, and spoke TO him, warning
him Of the Importance Of abstaining from
eating snow, and in u few hours We
brought up at Camp Clay. am sure thai
there is no one living that ever found q
parlor in this city, or anywhere, that il
half 80 inviting as that small ice hut wa
10 me. As We entered we found our com
pauiOus with outStretChed arms 10 wei,
ooHe us, and our commander ordered thu
hospital steward to give us some rum
then Bierderbeck took OIL some of our we
rLnthirn nnh naXn ma dry nnnR tn nnt ON