Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-08-09
M / 8 @ az Ia N x .
From he St. Lonis Bulletin.
INTERESTING NARRATIVE.

A young gentleman, who left Cana
da in July last, and went, via the great
lakes to the Colony of Red River, Hud.
sons Bay Territory, has sent us the
following melancholy account Of the
fate of his two companlons inther SUBJ
sequent journey from that to st. Peters.
ave left the settlement Of Red Ri
yer, DIETER known as Lord Selkirk's
colony,) Hudson's bay Territory, on
the 27th ofFebruary. My companions
were a Mr.. Richard Hayes, and MIR.
Ignatius Parys. We proposed walking
across the plains on sndw-shoes to Fort
Smelling, St. Peters! tie distance, as it
is necessary TO travel in the winter
season, is 100 miles.
We were provided with Metif or
half.blood, native Of the colony, as
guide. aud dogs and traneau TO car
~ our provisions, buffalo robes, blank
els, &C.
None but those who travelled in the
winter season in the great prairles OF
the North and West, can have any
idea ofthe fatigue, privalionS, and dam
yers, attendant on the traveilerin these
dreary regions. Constantly exposed
to cold winds, frequently unable to cross
the long traverses, which "a many in
stances extend luuFs tsau fiity miles
from one pom, OF goods TO another, in
these cases obliged 10 pass the night on
the plain, fortunate if he can find the
miserable shelter of few rushes which
are found near the ponds Of the prairie.
But the greatest of the travellers ma
nylsuherings is from thirst. Even while
walking on frozen water, he suffers the
greatest anguish, which he IN vain en-
beavers to alleviate by eating snow /;
this only increases his sufferings; his
mouth becomes more and more lnfla-
med his desire for drink iearfully
augments, while lassitude comes over
him which water only can dissipate.
The weather in February had been
unusually mild for the northern climate
Of Red River settlement, and at the
time of our departure some of the old
est inhabitants predicted our subsequent
suherings and disasters saying that
March would be terribly cold and at
the same time giving us the unpleasant
information that they not only consld-
cred, but actually knew March to be
the most dangerous month in the year
10 travel the plains in.
We too soon realized the predictions
of the old hunters. From the 4th to
the 25ih of March we had scarcely a
day without storm. In fact, the wea.
Their was a continuation OF storms. At
different times we had been obliged 10
pass eight days in encampments. These
DELAYS had fearfully reduced our food.
We we're aware of our great distance
from any trading post, where alone we
could expect to get relief, knowing that
there were no Indians within three
hundred miles Of our route, from the
almost total absence of the buffalo, as
we saw but nineteen in travelling five
hundred miles.
Our only alternative was to push on
as fast as possible to the trading estab-
lishment ofthe American Fur Company.
But we found it easier to determine
than to effect. Continued exposure 10
the cold, without sufIiciency of food,
(Which little as it was, we had frequent
ly to eat in frozen state, had SO wea-
kened us that it was with difficulty we
could drag one foot after another and
our feet were so severely lacerated by
the frozen cords of The snow. shoes, that
it was no uncommon thing to see the
blood oozing through our moccasins.