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。　　At　the　sound　of　the　gavel　the　meeting　reassembled；　and　the
  committee　reported　in　favor　of　Messrs。　George　Ferguson　of　Kentucky；
  Lucien　Herrman　of　Louisiana；　and　W。　Messick　of　Colorado　as　candidates。
  The　report　was　accepted。
  〃MR。　ROGERS　of　Missouri：　'Mr。　President　The　report　being　properly　before
  the　House　now；　I　move　to　amend　it　by　substituting　for　the　name　of　Mr。
  Herrman　that　of　Mr。　Lucius　Harris　of　St。　　Louis；　who　is　well　and
  honorably　known　to　us　all。　　I　do　not　wish　to　be　understood　as　casting　the
  least　reflection　upon　the　high　character　and　standing　of　the　gentleman
  from　Louisiana　far　from　it。　　I　respect　and　esteem　him　as　much　as　any
  gentleman　here　present　possibly　can；　but　none　of　us　can　be　blind　to　the
  fact　that　he　has　lost　more　flesh　during　the　week　that　we　have　lain　here
  than　any　among　usnone　of　us　can　be　blind　to　the　fact　that　the　committee
  has　been　derelict　in　its　duty；　either　through　negligence　or　a　graver
  fault；　in　thus　offering　for　our　suffrages　a　gentleman　who；　however　pure
  his　own　motives　may　be；　has　really　less　nutriment　in　him'
  〃THE　CHAIR：　'The　gentleman　from　Missouri　will　take　his　seat。　　The　Chair
  cannot　allow　the　integrity　of　the　committee　to　be　questioned　save　by　the
  regular　course；　under　the　rules。　　What　action　will　the　House　take　upon
  the　gentleman's　motion？'
  〃MR。　HALLIDAY　of　Virginia：　'I　move　to　further　amend　the　report　by
  substituting　Mr。　Harvey　Davis　of　Oregon　for　Mr。　Messick。　　It　may　be　urged
  by　gentlemen　that　the　hardships　and　privations　of　a　frontier　life　have
  rendered　Mr。　　Davis　tough；　but；　gentlemen；　is　this　a　time　to　cavil　at
  toughness？　　Is　this　a　time　to　be　fastidious　concerning　trifles？　　Is　this
  a　time　to　dispute　about　matters　of　paltry　significance？　　No；　gentlemen；
  bulk　is　what　we　desiresubstance；　weight；　bulkthese　are　the　supreme
  requisites　nownot　talent；　not　genius；　not　education。　　I　insist　upon　my
  motion。'
  〃MR。　MORGAN　（excitedly）：　'Mr。　　ChairmanI　do　most　strenuously　object　to
  this　amendment。　　The　gentleman　from　Oregon　is　old；　and　furthermore　is
  bulky　only　in　bonenot　in　flesh。　　I　ask　the　gentleman　from　Virginia　if
  it　is　soup　we　want　instead　of　solid　sustenance？　if　he　would　delude　us
  with　shadows？　　if　he　would　mock　our　suffering　with　an　Oregonian　specter？
  I　ask　him　if　he　can　look　upon　the　anxious　faces　around　him；　if　he　can
  gaze　into　our　sad　eyes；　if　he　can　listen　to　the　beating　of　our　expectant
  hearts；　and　still　thrust　this　famine…stricken　fraud　upon　us？　　I　ask　him
  if　he　can　think　of　our　desolate　state；　of　our　past　sorrows；　of　our　dark
  future；　and　still　unpityingly　foist　upon　us　this　wreck；　this　ruin；　this
  tottering　swindle；　this　gnarled　and　blighted　and　sapless　vagabond　from
  Oregon's　hospitable　shores？　　Never！'　＇Applause。＇
  〃The　amendment　was　put　to　vote；　after　a　fiery　debate；　and　lost。　　Mr。
  Harris　was　substituted　on　the　first　amendment。　　The　balloting　then　began。
  Five　ballots　were　held　without　a　choice。　　On　the　sixth；　Mr。　　Harris　was
  elected；　all　voting　for　him　but　himself。　　It　was　then　moved　that　his
  election　should