The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1886-06-20
FIVE DAYS IN TlAE SNOW.

ments.
FIVE DAYS IN TAE SNOW.
Timothy Carrots Fearful Suffering ON
the Nose Greek Mou ntaiD.
legs, and recently told reporter of the
Rochester Union how it came abolt
that he lost his feet : "The morning
of December 5th," said he, 81 parted
with Major Mcdowell at Idaho City
and started westward for Banner. He
was superintendent of the E.mira Sill.
yer Mining Company, and was going
to Eimira, N. Y, TO pass the winter,
while had charge Of the conpany's
property, at what is called the Ben
ner district, and intended to remain in
Banner all winter. For about five
miles I travelled ON horseback in COM
pany with several friends The others
then returned with the horses and I
proceeded on snow-shoes, the snow be.
ing about eleven feet deep on the level
I still had a long distance to go, but
which were over ten feet in length,
covering about fifteen miles In this
manner, when toward evening I was
taken with cramps and was unable to
walk step. I was then on Moose
Creek Mountafn-the spot where /
was taken with the cramps being about
twenty miles west of Idaho City and
several miles east of Banner. My feet
had irozen without my noticing that
they were particularly cold, until they
suddenly refused 10 obsy my will, and
I became heipiess-unabie TO stand on
my feet. lay down on the snow,
and to keep warm role to and fro.
The snow sank, aud I was buried in
cavity with walls of snow several fee,
high, but With room in which to roll
around, My only hope was to keep
alive until some one would pass along
the path.
"For five days and nights 1 lay
there it is needless to say my suffer-
ings were terrible. Ny provisions
were about exhausted when 1 lay
down, and the third day I became
very hungry, but that was the only
day when desired food. Most OF the
time I was thirsty, and occasionally I
allowed little snow to melt in my
mouth, but this seomsed only to in.
crease my thirst, and 1t would not take
much snow to kill me. II seems TO me
that did not sleep oncs during those
fearful days and nights, but kept NOV,
ing my body as much as possible to
keep from freezing to death. also
kept beating myself with my hands
so violently that my body became
black aud blue over almost the entire
surface. think that if had gone to
sleep there would have been no awake.
ming. 1 had companions part of the
ime, howe ver, but they were any,
thing but pleasant company. Three
mountain lions, about as large as full.
grown Newfoundland dogs, discovered
mo the fourth day and started a watch
over me, evidently waiting for my
death. They kept on the upper crust
of snow and did not jump down in
the cave in which 1 was. They were
afraid Of me, aud was able to keep
them at distance by shouting aud
gestures. l was almost dead when l
discovered them. The warm breath
from one of the brutes leaning down
toward me awakened me from q stu
por in which was fal ling. really be-
iieve that they say ed my life, how.
ever, for the horror excited In me a,
the prospect Of having my body de-
voured by the brutes kept me from
again falling into the stupor which
means death. During these days l
kept my watch going and kept mem-
oranda of what was occurring in a |
small book in order that If 1 died my
identity and fate might be known,
There seemed little hope for me, yet |
to make vigorous fight |
for life and to let those who found my
know that / had not given up |
without struggle.
alt was the fifth day that a mail |
travelling between Idaho City |
and Banner once week, came along |
the path, and my sensations at the |
prospect of relief / can't describe to |
you. 1t seemed an infinit comfort to |
hear a human voice than my own, and |
to be assured of assistance. The mail
carrier did what he could for me, and
hastened to procure help, the lions
then leaving mo to follow him. The
next day he returned with about a
dozen men, who carried me to Idaho
City, where both my legs were ans
putated about nine inches below the
Suee.''