The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-12-08

felt that Il was quite at nome, NaTInlHS dit
driving nv clothes which were frozen ol
NV back; and falling gently to sleep tool
very fine nap until the return of daylight
when awoke and renewed my fire. | re
mained here all day, not pretending t.
leave the bosom of the old tree, only whe1
/ crawled out to rekindle my fire.
SOMETIMES SEVERE GUST OF WIND
would blow the Goals of fire and the sparks in
upon me. burning my clothes very badly. I'M;
tree in the course Of time had been burnt out
and the hollow of it was black, and had turned
and twisted about so much in 1t that my face
and clothing were equally as black as the hoi-
low of the tree was ITSELF and if the rebels had
come upon me at this time they might well
have been frightened at my appearance, and
probably would have imagined that was one
of old Nulcan's Cyclops who had become tired
of forging tiunderbolts for Jupiter, and had
left his smthy and had taken up his abode IN
this dark aad dreary mountain.
When night came bade my old tree fare
well and started on again. 1t was clear, cold
night. The ground was covered and the bushes
hent down To the earth with the frozen seet
but pushed on down the mountain and then
crossed number of creeks, all of which l had
TO wade. which proved to be very dsagreeable
task, as the water was exceedingly cold.
crossed Corper Ridge and Little Poor Valley,
aud also the main road leading to Bristol and
Sneedville. and then | began to climb up the
stepp side of Cliuch Mountain, which was ex-
tremev difficult. as it was so completely COW
erred with the frozen snow. When | got to the
topof the mountain scraped the snow away and
made up fire for by this time was almost
frozen The fire soon melted the snow and ice
around il. and lay down upon the wet ground
and endeayored TO sleep; but this WAS unable
10 do for nv he'd was cold and uncOmfort-
7 irelv m tO
the gentle influence of sleep TO rest upon my
eyelds / therefore arose from my cold bed
and started down tho mountain; but there was
SO much ice that ] could scarcely stand and
very often / slipped down over rocks and fell
over icy brush. At last, after many hard falls,
reached the foot of the mountain. nearly fro
zen to death. i gathered some dry wood and
bark from an old pine tree and having some
tow in nv pocket endeavored the best could
with my frozen hands to kindle up fire. On
taking ont my matches | found that / only
had five of them. | Immediately struck one
of them and
1T FAILED TO IGNITE.
Striking three more of them, they also
failed as did the first. j now had but one
more match, which to me at this time was OF
far mere intrinsic value than all the gold of
Californa or the silver of Peru. / held it in
nv hand for some time fearing to strike it, as
] thought that my life now depended on that
last match for my legs and arms were numb
and chilled TO my body, and there was no
house near that could 90 to. With trembling
and fearful emotions ! now tried my last
match. The first time ! struck it it failed, but
struck it again, and to my great and mex
pressbe Joy il caught in a blaze. / was very
careful of that little blaze, and touched it very
tenderly the tow. which caught at once and
/ soon had a blazing fire which | built near a
large rock about three feet high, and lying
down between the, rock and fire L soon got
warm. Here / remained all day, which was
quito drearv, for the sky was overcast with
dark and dismal clouds. Snow began to fall,
and The wind blew very cold. As soon it
got dark started Oh my weary journey, and
after tniling over a number of ridges and wad-
ing few creeks reached the north fork of
Holston River which was full, and ice frozen
upon its shore. / took off my clothes and tied
them around my neck so that if | should be
washed down by the strong current of water l
thought that cond swim. out without losing
them. j now took my stick, broke the ice at
the bank Of the river and started into the
stream. The water was very cold and came
nearly up to my shoulders and at times /
thought could not succeed in crossing; but
plunged forward amid the cold, angry food, un-
til at length ] got to the bank. My flesh was
soreiv cut in several places by the floating
masses of ice that came in contact with, and
blood was flowing from the gashes. | was
nearly frozen again, and how it was that /
ever did survive the suffering of that awful
day aud night is mystery to me. If / had
persisted in that river or upon the snowy
monntain which | had crossed. my friends
conld never have been informed of my end,
for was entirely alone
As cold as ] was after crossing the river
PUSHED ON ALL NIGHT,
and just at daylight ! reached the house of
Mrs. Grills in the White Oak Flats. j knocked
at the 1oor, and she arose Immediately and let
me ia. She made up good fire 10 warm me-
for in fact / was nearly chilled to death. She
also gave me good breakfast, which revived
me very much. told her that L would now
go TO the woods aud stay there until night, but
she said there was no need of doing this. as
there were nc rebel soldiers about and thought
il ] wnnld get under the feather bed and be
very stlll so tha; anyone passing could see me,
/ could stay In the honse very safely. was
now so nearly dead with cold and exposure
that / concluded 10 take her advice, and after
covering my boots to keep them from soiling
her bed for I was afraid TO pull them off 1
got under the feather bed as she had directed.
She now commenced ironing lot of clothes.
which she placed the bed under which
lying covering over my head very nicely
with them. ] had not been under the bed long
when she came and told me that there
about 20 rebels coming toward the house, also
81 the door. They came in very quietly and
asked Mrs. Grills if she had "seen any con-
scripts lately" She told them she had not
and continued to iron her clothes. They
searched under the floor. up in the loft and
under the bedstead on which was lying, but
they did not discover me. They then, to my
very great JOY. left the house. This. thought
was marvellous escape from being suddenly
hurled into the jaws of death by these blood
thirsty minioRs of jeff Davis and his compeers
IN wickcdness.
As the rebels got out of sight left
the honse and went into the woods where
passed most OF the day in very disagreeable
manner. for il was desperately cold and had
10 be constantly on the alert in looking out
for rebel soldiers / was afraid to make fire.
and consequently my sufferings during the day
were very severe. which endured with all the
gravity of an auchorte.
Just as soon as dark came
STARTED ON MY JOURNEY
and when ] arrived at Hoiston River had the
good fortune Of finding canoe, in which |
crossed over and pushing hastily on by day
light was among my own native hills again.
The news soon spread through the country that
/ had returned, and before had half recovered
from the terrible fatigue and exhaustion in
dneed bs my recent trip, had many applica-
tons TO start again. Will you conduct me
through the lines?" and when will Won start
again ?" were the interrogatories which were
hourly proponnded TO me. Indeed, | could
scarcely obtain time to eat, only when / con-
cealen myself from my friends.