Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-03-07


were accustomed to meet at each other:
houses, where they frequently remained all
night. On the evening in question meet.
ing was to be held at Etertrony, place
distant twenty miles from Hogg's residence
over a wild and rugged country. He had
written what he terms a flaming bombasti-
cal essay, and set off with it in his pocket,
to attend meeting Of his compeers. AS
he was trudging along on foot, he thought
he perceived symptoms of an approaching
storm, and that of no ordinary nature.
There was dead calm, accompanied by a
slight fall Of snow, and very unusual APP
pearance was presented by the distant hills.
He thought of the flock of sheep, that was
usually under his care. but which was now
consigned to the charge of another, and he
began to think that il would be prudent to
retrace his steps. After long contest be-
tween his inclination and his sense Of duty,
he turned back with heavy heart, and
wendell homewards. On his road he called
at the house Of an elder relative, who told
him that the symptoms foreboded snow
storm during the night, and advised him to
hasten home with all speed. The old man
further stated as to guide Hogg, in conduct
ing the sheep to aquarter where they would
be best sheltered, that if, during his journey,
he should see an opening in the rhine or
frost-fog, he might conclude that the storm
would spring up from that quarter. Hogg,
however observed no such opening in the
fog, and finally reached home, when he went
to bed, intending to rise at very early
hour, and 90 out to find shelter for his
sheep.
Just before he retired to rest, he observed
a brightness in the north, and remembered
his friends advice; but thought that he
might postpone acting thereon. About two
O'Clock in the morning storm commenced
with such suddenness and fury, that he was
startled from his bed, and, on putting his
arm into the open air, he found the air so
completely overloaded with falling and drift
ing snow, that, but for the force Of the wind,
he felt that as if he had thrust his arm into
wreath of snow. He slept in kind oil
clubhouse, distant about fourteen yards from
the dwelling house and, upon going down
stairs, he found this place packed with snow
nearly as high as the walls Of his house.
With great difficulty he reached the dwell |
ing-house, and found all the inmates in a |
state of dismay. The state Of the sheep be-
longing to the farm became an object of
anxiety to all eight hundred of these poor
animals being out on very exposed hill
at considerable distance from the houses. |
They made hasty breakfast, joined in
simple but earnest prayer for the safety of
all, and the male inmates started on a per-
ilous venture, having previously filled their
pockets with bread and cheese. sewed their
-. l. Ii. LII II -
and provided themselves each with staff,
As soon as they got out into the open air
two hours before daylight) the darkness
was so great that to grope their way was the
only method Of proceeding. Sometimes
they had to wade through masses Of snow, at
others to roll or Chamber over them while |
the wind and drift were so violent, that the
travellers were forced, every three or four
minutes, to hold down their heads to recov-
er breath. So perplexing we're the difficult
ties which they had to encounter in the ut
ter darkness, that they were two hours reach
ing distance of three hundred yards from
the house. As day dawned, they were able
to advance a little faster, one taking the
lead, and the others following close in the
rear. This leadership could only be main
tanned three or four minutes at a time, on
account of the piercing wind which blew
uninterruptedy in their faces. In short
time one of the party, who, as leader, had
been unconsciously leading them out of the
way, was found nearly nsensible shortly
afterwards Mr. Hogg fell down precipice,
and was nearly buried in the snow.
After innumerable disasters, they at
length reached one of the hocks of sheep.
The sheep were standing in close body,
one half of the number being covered with
snow to the depth Of ten feet, and the other
half being forced up against a brae. The
outer ones being with some difficulty extri-
Gated, the rest were, to the agreeable sur
prise of the shepherds, able to walk out
from beneath the superintendent load of
snow which had consolidated into mass
Mr. Hogg quitting the other shepherds, pro-
ceeded onward to spot where another flock
had been left. He was able to extricate a
bout half Of these, and to procure them
place of safety; after which he made the
best of his way home again, cropping along
as well as he could, for although day time,
it was impossible to see twenty yards around
and the snow was so deep as to conceal ev-
cry vestige of the lofty trees in some of the
glens. Day after day the party sailed forth
until they had found and brought home, Ell
ther dead or alive, nearly the whole of the
sheep, most of which were found buried to
the depth of six to ten feet in snow. All
were alive when found, but large number
died shortly afterwards.
By this one nights snow storm, seven
teen shepherds in the south of Scotland lost
their lives whila unwards of thirtu mara