Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-11-11


Iombed in the snow through whose great
white wall enough light comes into nv
living tomb to enable me to write. have
now become so resigned to my situation
That ! can calmly note what has taken
place, so that, if | die here, there may at
some time be found this record of who
am and how died. My name is Robert
Freehold. was born at Bridgeport,
Conn, and am a doctor of medicine Two
lays ago ! assembled this mountain in
search of mineral and botanical curosties
] had with me guide named Monroe
After we had lunched wandered about
looking for Alpine flowers, and seeing at a
distance rock with a strange bush grow
ing upon it ! walked toward it. 1t was
then showing. and the flakes fell faster
md faster until thought it prudent to
return to my guide. ! could not see him,
but ran in the direction in which thought
lie was. After going some distance !
stopped and shouted but got no answer ]
lad evidently lost my way, and now the
snow was coming furiously down, and the
wind was driving it into my face and eyes
AT the same time | reasoned that the
guide, who, trust, has escaped my fate,
was looking for me. After blindly wan
Herring about-for how long do not know
mountain.
81 had just entered when heard a noise
II thunder, and looking up beheld great
masses of snow sweeping over my head.
Then came mighty avalanche, as if the
whole top of the mountain had tumbled
lown upon me.
Fortunately, as ] thought, but unfor-
tunately, as ] now perceive, the recess
shielded me from the snow which soon
walled me in from the outer world
After long hours of Stygian darkness ]
law the light again straining through the
now and in hope of reaching it ! began
TO dig, ! worked until became ex
austed, but still the light ahead grew no
brighter ! seemed to have made no prog.
less through the fathomless and i'm
penetrable wall of snow, and returned to
where | had left my knapsack 1t con.
ianed two pieces of cheese, some crackers,
h piece of dried meat and a spirit lamp.
November IL have had a good sleep
1t is not as cold here as one would imagine
Neither have suffered from want of air
rs had suspected 1t must be that the
mir permeates through the particles of snow
IN sufficient quantity TO keep me alive
Had little coffee for breakfast this morn
ing made III tin cup over my spirit lamp
that can perceive the outline of every
thing about me After breakfast hope re-
vived in my heart, and again resumed the
digging of the tunnel.
IL must have worked until the middle of
the afternoon, and was beginning TO think
that the light ahead was growing brighter,
when, on returning for rest the great mass
Df snow above fell down and blocked up
The tunnel
November 3-This is the fifth day of
my imprisonment My appetite seems to
be unimpaired. Indeed ! am sure it has
increased, for now see the necessity of
rating sparingly of the little supply of food
! have still on hand. Feeling that it is
better to die in an effort at liberty, have
ngain resumed work on the tunnel
sixth Day, 4 p. MI have just eaten the
last of my cheese and crackers. The alcohol
for the spirit lamp was exhausted yester-
Hay, and ! quench my thirst by eating
inow, of which there is such deadly
bundance about me.
Seventh Day-liad to give up work in
The tunnel, as my strength is giving out.
Am getting discouraged. The knawing
hunger feels like an internal fire
Eighth DAY. can scarcely distinguish
between my sleeping and my waking
hours | found in my knapsack today my
old pipe and little tobacco. In the hope
of its appeasing my hunger ! smoke at
the risk of sulfocating myself Indeed
nm becoming indifferent TO life, and when
doze off, which is frequently, it is with the
suicidal hope that may not awake again.
worked this evening about an hour in the
tunnel, but now find difficulty in getting
rid of the Stow which already nearly fills
the space in which have sought refuge.
ninth Day-Driven to desperation
today made furious effort to dig my way
out, casting the snow behind me- but all