Lincoln County record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1900-1905, 1901-08-16
A MINER TELLS HOW
IT FEELS TO BE DEAD.

According TO the PhoenlX hepubll-
can j A. Portiere is probably the
only man in that place who ever
persisted on the desert, and after
being practically dead for week,
returned to life and vigor so he |
could tell about it. He says he has
realized fully every sensation of a
man who perishes of thirst with the
burning sunshine beating down
upon him. He was found and re-
suseitated, but he had long passed
beyond the period of consciousness
before help yan,e.
He was north of the Colorado and
was going to Arizona by way Of the
Virgin river and was shown the
road.
When he got down into the valley
he missed the trail but kept travel
ing all that day and the following
night Some time the next morning
when the sun got pretty hot and he
was almost exhausted, he stopped to
make some coffee, still having one
canteen of water left. He was hold
ing his mule by the bride when
along came a desert whirlwind and
enveloped them, frightening the
mule, which dragged him through
cactus plant, and breaking away
from him started back over the trail.
He followed the mule for couple
of miles, then gave up the chase
and started toward the Virgin river
on foot and without water or any
thing else to save an unquenched
thirst.
Just how long he wandered he
does not know, but before night he
began to get delirious and after that
he remembered nothing except the
hallucinations that passed through
his mind before he became uncon-
scious. He was, oh, so thirsty 1t
seemed like his throat was literally
on fire and he was aching all over
his body. He tried every method
he knew of moistening his throat,
but the relief was but temporary.
He tore open the cactus plant and
everything that gave promise OF con
tanning the slightest bit of moisture
but his thirst seemed to be an ever
increasing one. He could think of
nothing but water.
Finally, as his strength gave
way, pleasant dreams began to fit
through his mind. He fancied he
saw the Niagara Falls and the vast
ness of the rapids below them. Then
he seemed to face the broad expanse
of great fresh water lake. lie
could not see across it. 1t looked
: so cool and refreshing he could moi
restrain himself and waded into II
clear up to bis neck. Then he fanclec
he could feel fish cavorting abou
his feet. and everything seemed SC
peaceful. He was perfectly happ,
and contented; did not know
g whether ne was alive or dead, an'
did not care.
h About week later when he re
y covered consciousness, he found him
self in the camp of some cattlemel
Y who had found him some hours afte
n he lost track of himself. His llp
> were swollen and full OF cactu
thorns where he had chewed up I'd
u prickly pear in his desperate thlrs
II The cattlemen said that when the
h found him he was stark nake(
doubtless having disroped an
thrown his clothes away when
fancied he was going down into tn
e. lake. His fingers were raw an
IN bleeding from wounds made viii
#; digging in the sand for water.
He says that the agony that com
OF over one when he first begins
he realize that he is about to perish Il
of water is simply indescribable. and
We increases every minute till he begl'
he to lose consciousness. But VINE
as the body gives up the struggle :
Dr. mind seems to become unnatural
he active in its efforts to soothe
raj seemingly furnising that for VIII
en- the body suffers, and the final hou
IN of the thirsty victim are hours
is sweetest anticipation.