The San Francisco call., 1910-12-18

appeared in the misty distance where
earth and sky were one.
About quarter of mile from the
spot where Vernon Brewster lay in the
sleep that, undisturbed, must yield to
death Roy Stump and Sam Smith, two
Nome prospectors. were breaking camp
preparing to move toward their cache
some miles away. Suddenly they were
startled by the appearance of two FAM
ished looking dogs, who, barking fran
tieally. succeeded in convincing the
men that some one was in trouble at
no very great distance. They followed
the dogs and presently arrived at
BreWster's camp. Reused by the noise
of their approach, he lifted his head
from his furs and they saw a face white
and haggard, eyes unnaturally brilliant
shining out of the glittering frost on
his hair and stubble beard. form
shrunken and emaciated, looking to his
Mortified rescuers more like a ghastly
specter than a living man. They had
just shot a ptarmigan. and with the
deXterity of the Alaskan "Sourdough"
they soon had a fire and some hot
broth, which Brewster tried to take.
but with little success, for his stomach
was so weak that it could retain moth
Ing. They hitched their pack horse and
Brewster's dogs to the two sleds and
began their tedious journey through
were forced to rest every hundred yards
or more. Brewster was now suffering
intensely from thirst, which he dare
not satisfy with snow, as that had al
ready resulted in severe cramps. He
was longing to reach a place where
water could be found forcing it's way
through the ice on the river. but when
they came TO the first overflow Smith,
an experienced craftsman. knew that
the cold water would mean death in
Brewster's weakened condition and
grimly remarked that they did not
want funeral till they were at home" :"
pushed on to Kenwood.
Here was a relay camp in which were
10 or IL prospectors. who set to work
to save Brewster's life, and, If posi-
bic. his hands and feet. BY the use of
coal oil the frost was finally removed
and everything done to relieve the
agony that comes with the thawing
of frozen extremities. The sensation
is much like that from a burn. and In
his state of collapse. 1t seemed more
than the exhausted man could endure.
Beside his cot, upon a table, lay a medi-
cine kit. and among other things were
some morphine pellets which had rolled
out of bottle. and were temptingly
near. He had asked for the drug. but
had been refused. for his vitality was
at its lowest ebb. and they were afraid
of its effect upon him. His mind held
in the few lucid intervals free from de-
lirium, hut one thought-cessation of
pain at any price. Stealthily a hand
scared as by fire. reached toward the
table, and sticking TO the moist. raw
flesh of the fingers. the morphine tab
lets were safely carried to the parched
and blackened lips. and he fell into q
restful slumber from which, try as they
might. they could not rouse him fol-
many hours.
He was found the first day of Janu-
airy, 1910, and when he could tell his
companions of his wanderings, they
had been at first incredulous and ther
astounded at the fact that he had beer
lost since the 18th of December. They
believed he must be mistaken-that II
would not beNhumanly possible under
such terrible hardships, climatic anC
otherwise, for man 20 survive without
shelter and food; but he showed then
an entry in his pocket notebook:
Dec. 15-Left camp at 9 a. m"
and this was later confirmed by hi:
partner. And now for five days he la,
in the cabin al Kenwood. lowering be
tween life and death, but finally gain.
ing enough strength so that it was de
cided TO start with him toward Ngme
ESQ miles away,