Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1891-12-12

the Goldfish IN the hold renamed un- |
soaked by the sea, some biscuit,
little salt beef and pork and half
barrel of -four. There was some tea,
but this was little use without water,
and OF that the supply was scanty.
There was a small stock OF spirits,
which was reserved as u last resort.
What gave them perhaps the most
apprehension was the question offuel,
OF which there was very little left.
How long would the spars and ship
timbers hold out against the severity
of winter?
Captain Fowler made careful
calculation of everything. Each
article was measured OIL into daily
rations. This distribution all agreed
TO abide by. Jack was also appointed
to keep the log aud each day to make
note OF what passed, even ii only to
set down the date.
There was Bible and a PRAYER
book on board, which had not been
often read. But the solemnity of the
occasion caused them TO reflect as
they had never done before, and every
morning and evening chapter was
read with prayers. The supply of
candles and oil was so short that
most OF the long evenings they sat
and talked in the dark around the
stove. The fuel gave out in December
and they began to break up the spars
and fore part OF the ship for
wood
Christmas and New Years were
anything but festive days. This lit
tie band of lonely men did their best
to be cheerful. On Christmas the last
OF the flour was made into plum
duff that was conspicuous for the
absence OF plums. They drank in
whlskey to the health of the folks at
home, but on the whole they were glad
when the day was done. Early in
January the mate, made desperate by
these terrible hardships, thought he
would try to reach some accessible
spot where he might climb the cliff by
walking on the ice. He was never seen
again. Another of the men soon yield
ed to a chronic disease. This left only
three survivors. The supply OF water
gave out early, but as long as they
were able to keep up fire they could
melt the snow which driited into the
cave and ROBBED the vessel in a mantle
OF ermine. But for this resource they
would all have persisted before Christ
mas, and perhaps it would have been
better for them il it had been so.
In February they had the good luck
to kill pair OF seals which ventured
too near the ship on the ice. This
supply of fresh meat kept them alive
awhile longer. But their hardships
told tearfully on the three who re-
manned, and in March the cook died.
Jack and his father alone remained.
Jack had an iron constitution and in
exhaustible hope. But for him his
father might have died earlier. He
lived for his son. The open season
was now approaching, and al
though near the last gasp, he
| might have weathered these
cruel sufferings ii he had
not been struck down by piece OF
rock falling fIom overhead. This was,
as it were, the last straw. He fingered
in his berth, tenderly nursed by his
| heroic boy. April had come and ii he
could only live few days, a few hours
more, help would come to them. But
it was OF no avail to care about him;
his strength was ended
Jack" said he, calling the boy to
his side and feebly grasping his hand,
Jack, my hoy, you will live to see
them at home again; tell them |
| thought OF them to the last. Be good
to your mother. God bless you"
"Oh, father, not yet; not yet; you
will be all right again; know you will.
| | am sure we shall be saved yet"
| sobbed Jack, with streaming eyes.
But while he spoke a slight spasm
| shook his fathers frame, and he pass
ed away with a deep, gasping sigh.
| For the first time Jack gave up all
hope. Who would not, situated as he
was? It was appalling. Without
| strength, without food, without FIRE.
| alone with the dead. The second day
! after his fathers death, Jack lay on
the cabin floor wrapped in a blanket,
! his emaciated hand clinched over his
/ last biscuit, and his teeth set in the
\ last agony. A noise was heard and
then an old man and a boy stepped
! into the cabin. They started back in
| amazement and horror.
Then recovering themselves they APP
preached and found Jack still breath
| ing. The old man pulled out flask
and poured a few drops down his
throat. They also chafed Jacks
hands and feet. The boy then went
out and in flew minutes brought back
some warn tea and little porridge
from the cuddy in their fishing boat.
1t is enough to add that Jack was
brought back to life just at the mo-
ment when his soul was fluttering on
the bounds Of the spirit world. The
spring had returned indeed, but after
what winter.
The Old Santa Fe Trail.
Thirty-fve years after Columbus