News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-11-20

12r1ngS from friends IN W Orcester, where TIT
last two years of Miss Laws life have beer
spent. Among those from out of town whC
were present were Soils Law of Nashua, II.
H., Cyrus Stickney of Worcester, Mass, Mrs
Helen Story of Johnson. Mr. and Mrs David
Gillon and Mrs. r. Bailey of Fletcher.
AN INHUMAN ACT
MANS inhumanity to man makes count
less thousands mourn, was fully Illustrated
last week Wednesday night in the con-
duet of Messrs. Barney, Castle, Thorp, and
Ellsworth toward another member of their
surveying party, Gates Hawley, of this
place. About five O'Clock as they were re-
turning to their boarding place at Frank
Powell's, Gates, who was a few rods ahead
and little to the right slipped and fell about
% feet down steep ravine, landing on a
narrow shelf which saved him from a fearful
death at the bottom of the gorge, fully fifty
feet below the ledge on which he so prOviden-
tally landed. He called to his companions,
telling them where he was and his inability
to get out. They told him they would get
lights and ropes and come back to his assist
ance, and with that went down the noun
tain to their boarding place, past five or six
houses, in one of which IA dance was being
held. At Mr.. POwell's they found no one at
home, except Mr. Poweli's mother, old
lady. In the barn, however, were two young
men, who had come to the dance and were
putting up their horses. To them one of the
party said: We left one of our men up on
the mountain Which one?" HawleyI'
was the reply. The young men did not think
much about the matter Mt the time, but dur
lug the evening told Mr.. Powell, who thought
they were playing some joke on him. As the
night wore on and they still persisted in their
story, Mr.. and Mrs. Powell started for home
to find out the truth of the matter. Waking
the men from sound sleep Mr. Powell said:
lis Gates Hawley upon the mountain ?"
:" Yes" was answered, and have been wor-
<lhn AMI hAu IaIr nod
''You get out ofthere d quick ~ which they
did. Meanwhile the news had spread and in
a short time party OF men were on their
way to the rescue. The pond is covered
with ice six inches thick, so it is safe to con-
clude that that, the coolest night of the
season, was several degrees colder up there
than here. At any rate the men had hard
work to keep warm as they pulled themselves
up the side of the mountain by bushes and
young trees. In the meantime Gates, left
alone in his perilous position waited in vain
for help. He was afraid to move, by
throwing sticks he found the shelf on which
he stood to be not more than five feet wide.
He stamped and pounded and tried with all
his might to keep warm and awake, knowing
that sleep on that bleak mountain side
meant sure death, either by cold or by the
stones and frozen ground beneath. But at
last, chilled to the bone, completely worn-out
and thoroughly exhausted, utterly unable %
keep awake any longer he chopped hole
about a foot WIDE and three feet long and
curled down to rest-a rest which would have
led to-what? But up the side of old
Mansfield nearer and nearer came the rescu-
ing party, and at about three O'Clock they
found him, almost insensible from cold and
hunger. He was unable to walk without as
sistanee and after a little exercise began to
vomit, but when some stimulant which was
fortunately at hand was administered he raj
lied and was able to proceed to his boarding
place. What that poor boy suffered in that
long ten hours he spent fighting, as it were,
a terrible battle between life and death. no
one can realize, while the men, two of whom
should have remained near him, while the
Others went for help, were comfortably Sleep
ing in their beds, after good warm supper
Had they stopped at the first house, help
could have been procured and Gates would
have been rescued by nine or ten o'clock, saw
ing hours of agony and suspense and ex-
posture sufficient to freeze his toes and the
sides of his feet, in spite of two pairs of wool
len stockings and thick boots 1t is a long
time since anything has so stirred this com
munity, and more than one has been heard
to say that the old-time remedy tar and
feathers" could be found and plenty of men
to see that it was properly applied Gates is
quiet, gentlemanly young man, and
great favOrite with all his acquaintance. He
is as well at present can be expected with
frozen feet aud severe cold.