The weekly Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 1882-188?, 1886-11-04
HOW sIssOxI~As SAVED.


About Christmas. in the 1856, SNOW
Nc Thompson saved the life Of James
sson, who had been lying in an old
Heserted cabin in Lake Valley twelve
(days with his feet frozen. There was
some -four in the cabin, and on this
pSisson had subsisted. lie was in the
cabin four days without fire. During
that time he alto the flour raw, just as it
came from the sack. On the fifth day,
while rummagiag about the shan.y, he
had the good fortune 10 find some
matches. These were where no one
would have thought OF looking for
matches, as they we're scattered about
under some hay that lay on the floo:.
After finding the matches SissDn made
q fire and thawed out his bots, when be
was able to get them Off For four days
he had lain in the cabin with his boots
frozen to his feet. When found by Mr..
Thompson, eight DAYS later, SissOn's
legs were purple to the knees. Sisson
was confident from the appearance Of
his legs that modification had set in
lie knew that unless his legs were am
putated he must soon die. As he could
expect no assistance from the outside
world h, had concluded TO himself 10
undertake to perform the required oper-
alton. There was an axe in the cabin,
and with this he had determined to cut
oil his frozen legs. But for the oppor-
tune arrival Of Thompson, Sisson would
the next day have attempted to disioint
his legs at the knees; for that was the
day he had fixed upon for undertaking
the operation.
At the time he found SissOn, Thomp
son was on his way from Placervilic to
Carson Valley. 1t was in the night, and
on coming to the log house which was
occupied in the summer as trading
post-Thompson halted for IL moment
and was knocking the snow of his shoes
by striking them against the cabin when
he heard some one cry out. Going in
side he found Sisson situated as related
above. A considerable amount OF pro
visions had been left in the cabin in the
fall, but all except the -four had been
stolen by the Indians.
Thompson chopped supply OF wood
for the unfortunate man, and making
him as comfortable rs possible with the
means at hand, left for Genoa to obtain
assistance. While Thompson was cut
ting the wood Sisson called out to him
and begged him not to dull the axe
the place being full Of rocks as he
might yet want it for the purpose Of
taking oil his legs. SissOn was firmly
of the opinion that when Thompson left
him he would never see him again. He
thought Thompson would never be Gblc
to get down out of the mountains, and
was of the opinion that in case he did
succeed in reaching the valley he would
not attempt to return to the cabin.
Thompson told Sisson he would surely
return and take him away, and advised
him not to think of attempting to am
putate his legs, as, on cutting the ar
tcrics he would bleed to death. But
Sisson had thought of that. lie intended
to make sort of compress or turniquet
of some pieces of bailing rope, which he
would twist around his legs with stick
In such q way that bit of rock would
be pressed upon the arteries Their
with firebrands he would scar the end.
of the arteries and the raw flesh Of the
stumps of his legs. SissOn's mind was
SO much occupied with his plans for the
amputatiOn OF his legs that Thompson
was almost afraid to leave the axe where
he could get hold of it; he did so only
upon receiving from Sisson solemn
promise that he would wait three day.
before attempting to use it on hi
knees.
On leaving the cabin Thompson trav
eied all night, and early next morning
arrived at Genoa. He there raised
party of six men w. b. Wade, Harris
Jacobs and other Old settlers - to return
with him and bring Sisson down to thu
valley. BY Thompson's advice the party
carried with them few tools for use il
making sled Snow-shoes were alst
hastily constructed for the men compos
ing the relief party. As none of thcs'
men had ever done much travelling OF
snow shoes, they furnished Thompson
not little amusement during the Jour
ncy by their mishaps and involuntar,
antics.
After much hard work, the party ar
rived at the lone cabin late in the eve
ming, to the great joy of Sisson, who a
sight of SO ma y men felt that he wa
saved.
That night they constructed hand
sled on which to carry the frozen ma
uONn 10 NdTSOn ' dlley. Ill lne Ill THIN;
they awoke 10 find that nearly two fee
of new snow had fallen; there was
depth of eight feet before. The ne,
snow made it very hard to get alon
with the hand-sled Under Sissor'
weight it ploughed deeply along, and a
times was buried almost out of sight.
The first day the party got no furthe
than to Hope Valley, where they en-
camped. Sisson was made as comforts
bic as possible on a bed of boughs. A
they had expected to reach Genoa i
one day, they had taken along wit
them no blankets, and but few otho
comforts for the frozen man.
The second day they reached Genoc
and at once procured the medical assist
ance which SissOn's case so urgcntl
demanded. The doctors found that
would be necessary to amputate both {
Sisson's feet. Before the operatio
Could be performed, however, the phys
clan said he must have some chloroforn
As Snow shoe Thompson never did an
thing by halves, he at once set GU
crossed the Sierra, and Travelled all III
way to Sacramento. in order to get til
required drug. Finally, the long dC
layed operation was performed. Sisso
survived it, and at last accounts WI
living somewhere in the Atlantic State