The Cordova daily times., 1919-04-10

by bleak barren snow-clad mountains that raised their towering peaks against the sky. knew that my only chance was to keep to the river, which had just frozen over, making good swift current, it was very unsafe. Yet knew the river, such as it was, was my only hope, and it passed through my mind that if did break through the ice my troubles would soon end That did not break through the ice was mystery, as l crossed places that, at any other time, would not have dreamed of crossing. For the first five miles got along fairly well, although I had hard time to keep grip of myself. All kinds of thoughts were rambling through my brain and feared I might go crazy from the ex- cruciating poin in my head and being weak from loss of blood.
 To make the last mile from our camp called for the supreme test of endurance I was then almost blind and staggered like drunken person. and, to make matters worse, my legs at this stage were seized with cramp and I had to constantly rub them to keep up the circulation. To rest l knew would mean to be lost, and l struggled against the desire 70 tie down on the river in the snow and end ny suffering.
 When within sight of camp-less than half a mile off ran into open water in a canyon having perpendicu- lar walls fifty feet or more in height. As it was impossible for me to keep to the river any longer the only al- l>ternative was to climb around the bluff which, in my exhausted state, seemed beyond my waning powers. After struggling against what seemed | impossible odds and after many pain full falls through my moccasins (satur- ated with blood) slipping on the snow, | I finally got over the rocky bluff and
 back to the river. Travelling after this was better, although it probably took me an hour to crawl and stagger the last mile. At the end of strug, gle l would not again undergo for nine lives, I finally reached camp. Luck ily my partner had left kindling wood and this enabled me to start fire. Had this not been the case l would in all likelihood have frozen to death, as my clothes were saturated with
 blood and the temperature was below zero.
 Having started the fire my next move was to try and drink some whis- key, for, although a temperate man, always, when in the woods, kept a bottle for emergency, and, from that time until now, whenever I see bot tie labeled "John Dewar" it vividly brings the experience back to me. After emptying some of the whiskey into a cup tried to drink it, but was unable to do so on account of my broken jaws. However, I finally hit upon the plan of putting the liquor in shallow basin, mixed with cold tea, and on putting my face in the basin, l was able to swallow some. This re- vived me somewhat and I was able to crawl into my bed of spruce boughs, lying down as I was--a sorry spec tacle. Here I rolled myself in fur robe and lay for hours in great agony awaiting the return of my partner. When at last he did arrive-five hours
 later-the reader can imagine how glad I was to hear the tinkle of his dog bells as he came through the woods, with load of moose. Upon his entering the cabin l tried to speak to him, but he did not recognize my voice and took me for an Indian. l at length gave him to understand that I desired him to take a Stimulant be-