Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-12-08
Noodcl.nrL Saved Him.

around the Hotel Gladstone in Grand
RAPIDS, MINI, is the hero of story OF
indomitablc pluck and courage that has
seldom If ever been equalled in the an
mails of The woods in the far north. Like
typical hero, Gilmore wears his hon
ors modcstly, and il is almost with diff
deuce that his few words concerning
the adventure have been told. His
emacieted limbs and pale, pain-drawn
face tell most eloquent story, how
ever. OF his priyation and suffering.
Gilmore, in legal pailance is ''crui-
ser. Two weeks ago last Sunday he
was up on the BIG Forks river, GO miles
from Grand Rapids, looking over the
timber for the purpose Of finding suit
able place and then taking home
stead He had with him the usual out
fit Of cruiser or explorer-blankets,
provisions and gun. OF course good
Sharp axe was included. As he was
making his way through some thick
underbrush with that implement in his
left hand some twigs caught the handle
and his leg was thrown against the keen
edge with such force as TO sink il clear to
the bone, Just above the knee.
''Therc was not much pain" he said,
in telling his story, "but my leg refused
to support me, and then think must
have tainted When Irevived l found
myself lying helpless in the snow,
which was rapidly being crimsoncd
with blood from my injured limb. My
first thought was to stalrnch the hemor-
rhage. which managed TO do by un-
huckling my leather belt from around
my body and strapping it firmly and
closely Just above the wound. Dark
ness was by that time falling, the snow
was cddying about me, and the wind
was rising. Disengaging my pack,
sack, and blankets, l tried to arise.
The effort was failure, the limb prov
ing useless. Then / realized that l had
before me q struggle against fearful
odds for life. but ! determined to fight
against the grim old monster TO 4 gritty
finish one way or the other.
"There was miles from any human
being or habitation. Where | fell,
however, the brush WAS quite thick.
There ! managed in some way, hard
IL know how, TO clear, one-handed,
with my axe, 4 little open space in
which to lie easily. also contrived to
collect enough wood to make 4 little
fire, for the cold was telling on me and
was nearly frozen. Next | managed
to Get at my blankets and unpack my
sack. Over my fire Of sticks was en-
abled to cook q little food, and from
melted snow l made some coffee.
SIT was nearly midnight before | got
enough hrushwood together by drag
ging myself from bush to bush by my
hands to keep the fire going the rest of
the night. When | cut down bush |
made short pieces Of it, and with a pole
poIed them into a convenient place.
At last dragged myself back and roll
ed up in the blankets. | was very
weak from loss of blood. | could not
sleep much, and would ot.have dared
to any way, us | had the fire to keep
up. 1t was a pretty tough night.
That was Sunday | stayed there
all of Monday, the next day. | en-
larged my camp by dragging myself
around for fuel. Since November /,
and even earlier, that region has been
covered with snow. That Monday
night was one Of the sharpcst Of this
season. The thermometer slid down
to 1Oo below zero, and there was Il
strong north wind. What | endured
rs | lay there wounded and weak from
loss Of blood must be imagined. | can
not describe it.
TUESDAY, the second day after The
accident. decided to tly and get to 4
camp. My wound had become fever
ish. My temples were throbbing like
trip banners, my fingers were be-
numbed and my feet Slightly frost
bitten. l commenced TO Use my
wits still further. In my pack sacl,
was ball Of twine, silch all ex-
pcrienced woolsmcn and packers
always carry for emergencies. That
| measured into three equal lengths Of about
forty feet The end CT one WAS tied to my
rifle that Of another TO my pack. and that OF
| the third to my bundle Of blankets With
the loose ends attached to my well le.
would crawl the forty feet and then draw the
articles separately to me, only to repeat time
and time again the process OF the tedious
| narCn. I)urlnB lndL uUN l l.ltIHdSCI 10 lllahc
about half mile, aud nj night found myself
at the banks of small frozen stream. | made
camp the same as bad the two nights pre-.
vious.
During that night solved the problem OF
proceeding further. With my sharp axe
chopped runners for Il rude sled, and with the
cord that had stood me in such good stead
lashcd the parts together. loaded on my
pack, blankets, and gun, together with my.
self, and with my iron-pointed staff pushed
F! myself nine miles along that stream on tho
ice. getting within a quarter of mile of 4
camp, which l reached Wednesday night, the
fourth after the accident.
There was no one there TO give my niurie:
professional dressing. but bandages were
applied, and the next day, on the bottom OF Z
springess camp supply wagon, l began I.
sixty-milc ride over a corduroy road. That
was the most painful part of the journey, and
it took me three days to get here to Grand
Rapids"
When Gilmore got here he was completely
prostrated from the joitins lie had received
while his injured limb was swollen to twice
its natural size In spite of all that exposure
he is gaining strength and the wound is heal,
ing nicely. No one here, however has any
desire to experience his record in these great
woods Of the nor:hland.-T. Louis Globe
Democrat.
IUaar {J,o C..-..c.l .l,oo 00n Dop-,