Smyrna times., 1888-04-04
DEATH FROM FREEZING.
A TRAVELLER DESCRIBES HIS Ex-
PERIENCE IN THIS LINE.

LlhINCG TN lF1lkO LINE.
From Martigny to the HOSpice Of the
Great st. BeTnard-First Indication of
Something WrOng-Strange and Deli
cious Sensations.
On the particular occasion referred to
started from Martigny at a. m. and in
tended to traverse the thirty miles to the
hosplce of the Great ST. Bernard before
night. Time being of consequence.
thought 1t prudent, so as to get to the
summit of the pass before dark, not to stoD
for meal to be cooked at Orsieres ~.
Llddes, but pressed forward to the last
place before the snow tramp commenced
the Cantine de PROF.. There I met with
young nobleman and his guide. After an
interchange of inquiries, and an offer ON
my part of some chocolate and biscuits to
the other travellers, as the cantine was
hard up that day in eatables, we set ont
together, and had crossed the Plan de Ma
rengo without any presentiment of what
was going to happen. The first indication
OF something wrong was the peculiar an
pearance which my surroundings seemed
10 assume Everything looked hazy to
my Nlslon-eNen the snow and the rocks
] q
log, although the afternoon was beouti-
Iully clear. Then l felt that l must sit
down and enjoy it; but the guides flask
vi vi AlrsCHWasser set me going again Very
soon, however, the former feelino rc-
turned; but the same treatment temno-
rarlly recovered me. At last | tool, to
stumbling along, fell down several times
ana at length could not help myself. NV
companions urged me in vain to arouse to
one more effort, but it was useless.
Inc guide S experience was now of tho
utmost service. Dvining the exact state
Oh Ihe case, and what might happen. he
IoOK very sensible course. Leavin0 tho
marquis to see to me, he hurried forward
To meet the two monks who ALWAYS como
down from the hospice at n particnIor
hour each day, so as to obtain tbc;r
efficient help. On their arrival the mar
quls either went on, on his own account
or was requested to go forward win tho
news Anyhow, ! was informed the nevt
GGay that his report was, that M. Ie -
mad perished IN the SHOWS - In tbo
meantime the two monks and ruido ton1-
me IN hand, and, shaking me m moda
my hands clasp Il belt around the ouida;e
waist and each of the monks fool, an
arm. The former acted as a substitute
Tor morse power and the two latter os
wheels. As for myself was fast becom-
ing dead weight Between the cantine
ana the hospice there is a space of seven
l, anH q, II nan miles OF very rough walking.
uPi4l, oI course and with a depth of
several IeeI OF snow where the cantunuiers
had not cleared a path. | suspect fLof
my deliverers had a very dificnIt to.i,
over at least five miles, to keep me from
getting into that sleep from which there
Is no waking.
The sensations Of that Journey durino
occasional CLEANS of consciousness viii
never be erased from my mind. Is tLero
sHch an essence of ecstatic DELIGHT nc
elINlr morris? If there is, it must have
been something like it, or the very THING
ltSeIl' which l enjoyed that day. M
words can possibly express the surprising
desire which ] felt to sit down and enioy
~! lellclty-and sleep, But my ineXora-
Die trends knew that sleep meant death.
an" though my repeated appeals Of
"Douccment, dOucement," " were Dlaintivn
enough, they were met bv redoubled
Efforts to force me onward, even when nv
own legs would not move any LONGER The
collapse was complete During the sue-
talned efforts Of the three men. | had but
momentary glimpses of consciousness. /
remember seeing two something's. blocl,
one ON each side, bat very indistinct
lhcse, OF course, were the Friendly
monks. The one overwhelming idea that
hlled my mind then was how to get to
that sleep, that blissful euthanasia which
poets have sung about, but which my
were doing their best to rob
me or, just when | had got it within my
grasp.
Another lucid interval occurred inst rs
we approached the door of the hospice. for
l saw TWO or three OF the dogs; and then
was lost again, till found myself in the
IarSe rooh' surrounded by several of the
canons. One administered some extract
of orange flowers, and that was eolIovvod
by some warm broth. Then another
tugged off my boots, socks etc. and be-
tween them, somehow or other. they rot
me into bed. CHhis particular room would
not have been mine if had gone rs an or
dinary traveller usually does. | am undpr
the impression that it was looked upon as
the best bedroom, being the one used bv
Napoleon Bonaparte when he stopped at
the hospice en- route to the Italian cam
paiSn) In the night woke, breathing
very quickly and very hard. The room |
ltselt had the appearance of being one |
mass OF cotton wool. Congestion of the !
lungs had got hold of me now, and felt
very ill indeed. But, however, the next
morning | did what the monks had inef |
iectually tried to impress upon me the
night before, and made an effort. Nv |
first duty to others was to see the excel |
lent guide and make him due acknowl-
edgment; and as the noble and heroic
monks, who live only for others, would
not hear OF anything but thanks. I had
recourse to the trOnc of the church. To |
the three men l am, humanity speaking.
indebted for my life. A grateful heart
need never be ashamed of its precious
Innn.nnl