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the jubilee Settlements。 The winds； unobstructed by trees or hills； or
even vagrant rocks； whistled fiercely across the level desert； driving
the falling snow before it like spray from the crested waves of a stormy
sea。 The snow was deepening fast； and we knew； by the diminished speed
of the train； that the engine was plowing through it with steadily
increasing difficulty。 Indeed； it almost came to a dead halt sometimes；
in the midst of great drifts that piled themselves like colossal graves
across the track。 Conversation began to flag。 Cheerfulness gave place
to grave concern。 The possibility of being imprisoned in the snow； on
the bleak prairie； fifty miles from any house； presented itself to every
mind； and extended its depressing influence over every spirit。
〃At two o'clock in the morning I was aroused out of an uneasy slumber by
the ceasing of all motion about me。 The appalling truth flashed upon me
instantlywe were captives in a snow…drift！ 'All hands to the rescue！'
Every man sprang to obey。 Out into the wild night； the pitchy darkness；
the billowy snow； the driving storm； every soul leaped； with the
consciousness that a moment lost now might bring destruction to us all。
Shovels； hands； boardsanything； everything that could displace snow；
was brought into instant requisition。 It was a weird picture； that small
company of frantic men fighting the banking snows； half in the blackest
shadow and half in the angry light of the locomotive's reflector。
〃One short hour sufficed to prove the utter uselessness of our efforts。
The storm barricaded the track with a dozen drifts while we dug one away。
And worse than this； it was discovered that the last grand charge the
engine had made upon the enemy had broken the fore…and…aft shaft of the
driving…wheel！ With a free track before us we should still have been
helpless。 We entered the car wearied with labor； and very sorrowful。
We gathered about the stoves； and gravely canvassed our situation。 We
had no provisions whateverin this lay our chief distress。 We could not
freeze； for there was a good supply of wood in the tender。 This was our
only comfort。 The discussion ended at last in accepting the
disheartening decision of the conductor； viz。； that it would be death for
any man to attempt to travel fifty miles on foot through snow like that。
We could not send for help； and even if we could it would not come。 We
must submit； and await； as patiently as we might； succor or starvation！
I think the stoutest heart there felt a momentary chill when those words
were uttered。
〃Within the hour conversation subsided to a low murmur here and there
about the car； caught fitfully between the rising and falling of the
blast； the lamps grew dim； and the majority of the castaways settled
themselves among the flickering shadows to thinkto forget the present；
if they couldto sleep； if they might。
〃The eternal night…it surely seemed eternal to us…wore its lagging hours
away at last； and the cold gray dawn broke in the east。 As the light
grew stronger the passengers began to stir and give signs of life； one
after another； and each in turn pushed his slouched hat up from his
forehead； stretched his stiffened limbs； and glanced out of the windows
upon the cheerless prospect。 It was cheer less； indeed！…not a living
thing visible anywhere； not a human habitation； nothing but a vast white
desert； uplifted sheets of snow drifting hither and thither before the
winda world of eddying flakes shutting out the firmament above。
〃All day we moped about the cars； saying little； thinking much。 Another
lingering dreary nightand hunger。
〃Another dawninganother day of silence； sadness； wasting hunger；
hopeless watching for succor that could not come。 A night of restless
slumber； filled with dreams of feastingwakings distressed with the
gnawings of hunger。
〃The fourth day came and wentand the fifth！ Five days of dreadful
imprisonment！ A savage hunger looked out at every eye。 There was in it
a sign of awful importthe foreshadowing of a something that was vaguely
shaping itself in every hearta something which no tongue dared yet to
frame into words。
〃The sixth day passedthe seventh dawned upon as gaunt and haggard and
hopeless a company of men as ever stood in the shadow of death。 It must
out now！ That thing which had been growing up in every heart was ready
to leap from every lip at last！ Nature had been taxed to the utmostshe
must yield。 RICHARD H。 GASTON of Minnesota； tall； cadaverous； and pale；
rose up。 All knew what was coming。 All preparedevery emotion； every
semblance of excitementwas smotheredonly a calm； thoughtful
seriousness appeared in the eyes that were lately so wild。
〃'Gentlemen： It cannot be delayed longer！ The time is at hand！ We must
determine which of us shall die to furnish food for the rest！'
〃MR。 JOHN J。 WILLIAMS of Illinois rose and said： ' GentlemenI nominate
the Rev。 James Sawyer of Tennessee。'
〃MR。 Wm。 R。 ADAMS of Indiana said： 'I nominate Mr。 Daniel Slote of New
York。'
〃MR。 CHARLES J。 LANGDON： 'I nominate Mr。 Samuel A。 Bowen of St。 Louis。'
〃MR。 SLOTE： 'GentlemenI desire to decline in favor of Mr。 John A。 Van
Nostrand； Jun。； of New Jersey。'
〃MR。 GASTON： 'If there be no objection； the gentleman's desire will be
acceded to。'
〃MR。 VAN NOSTRAND objecting； the resignation of Mr。 Slote was rejected。
The resignations of Messrs。 Sawyer and Bowen were also offered； and
refused upon the same grounds。
〃MR。 A。 L。 BASCOM of Ohio： 'I move that the nominations now close； and
that the House proceed to an election by ballot。'
〃MR。 SAWYER： 'GentlemenI protest earnestly against these proceedings。
They are； in every way； irregular and unbecoming。 I must beg to move
that they be dropped at once； and that we elect a chairman of the meeting
and proper officers to assist him； and then we can go on with the
business before us understandingly。'
〃MR。 BELL of Iowa： 'GentlemenI object。 This is no time to stand upon
forms and ceremonious observances。 For more than seven days we have been
without food。 Every moment we lose in idle discussion increases our
distress。 I am satisfied with the nominations that have been madeevery
gentleman present is； I believeand I； for one； do not see why we should
not proceed at once to elect one or more of them。 I wish to offer a
resolution'
〃MR。 GASTON： 'It would be objected to； and have to lie over one day under
the rules； thus bringing about the very delay you wish to avoid。 The
gentleman from New Jersey'
〃MR。 VAN NOSTRAND： 'GentlemenI am a stranger among you； I have not
sought the distinction that has been conferred upon me； and I feel a
delicacy'
〃MR。 MORGAN Of Alabama （interrupting）： 'I move the previous question。'
〃The motion was carried； and further debate shut off； of course。 The
motion to elect officers was passed； and under it Mr。 Gaston was chosen
chairman； Mr。 Blake； secretary； Messrs。 Holcomb； Dyer； and Baldwin a
committee on nominations； and Mr。 R。 M。 Howland； purveyor； to assist the
committee in making selections。
〃A recess of half an hour was then taken； and some little caucusing
followed。 A