A DREADFUL ALTERNATIVE.

Southland Times, Issue 556, 7 September 1866, Page 3

A DREADFUL ALTERNATIVE.

A lumberer, noted for his stature, strength, and firmness of character, was at work one cold day in January in the forest, alone. He was engaged in splitting open a long teunk of green hard wood, newly felled. Eor this purpose he used wedges of hard wood, driven in alternately, so as to extend the rift of opening in the tenacious fibres of the tree. Although the day was cold, the woodman's exertions had caused him to perspire freely. He paused for a minute to wipe the moisture from his brow. While turning to replace his hankerchief in the pocket of his coat, which hung on a stump beside him, he did not notice that the wedge which held the tree open had been gradually loosening and working its way out. In the act of resuming his labor, his left foot, which had been resting on the tree, slipt into the cleft, and at this critical moment the wedge was forced out with great violence, and, shooting high in the air, fell at some distance in the snow. Instantly the halves of the tree united with such fearful force as to crush and mangle the imprisoned foot. So intense was the agony at first, that nature was overcome. The strong man became insensible, and fell agamst the stump, which sustained him iv a nearly vertical position. "When he recovered consciousness an appalling alternative lay before him. All eftbrts to withdraw the bruised limb were fruitless, j Night was coming on. A few hours in his present position, with the temperature several degrees below freezing point, involved certain death. A quarter of a mile distant the road wound through the forest. His only chance lay in reaching that road, and being rescued by some chsnee passenger, or his companions raiurning from work to the "* shanty " ta which they camped. His resolution was soon taken. The terrible expedient, even if it failed, would only hasten his inevitable death by a short period. Already he began to feel the numbing eflects of the cold deadening the pain in the shattered limb, the blood from which was freezing on the log. Methodically the brave ; fellow removed his hankerchief, and bound it with all his force around the j left ankle, so as to check aud almost) impede circulation. Then raising the j heavy, keen, glittering axe high above his head, he struck mercilessly, with the strength of despair, below the ligature, on his own flesh, once! The trenchant stroke divided nerve, muscle, sinew, and bone. The foot was severed. He was free. In agony, and faint Avith loss of blood, ho began to crawl on his hands and one knee, dragging the wounded limb in the direction whence succour might be expected. At length, overpowered by a sickening sensation of feebleness, the wretched man sank down in the snow. He was within thirty yard? of the road,

but could go no further. His consciousness was fast leaving him, and he was on the point of falling into a fatal slumber, when the faint tingle of a sleigh-bell reached' his ears. He made one mighty effort, uttering a shrill piercing scream before he fell into a dead faint. Most fortunately the horses were walking, and the jingle of the bells did not smother tbe startling cry. After a search be was found and rescued, and the hardy woodman's constitution enabled bim to rally. A contribution raised by tbe benevolent settled bim in a small farm, and he is still a hale and hearty old man;