Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-10-05
For the Grant County Herald.
Early ReCOlkections of PedKar,s
Creek.
CO NTINUED. |

Creek.
| CONTINUED.
The fall Of 1928 was remarkably drv
and favorable fol mining, and the miners
generally prosecuted their work with
great zeal, though it must be confessed
IN most cases with very little Judge
ment. Mineral at this time was worth
ten dollars per thousand /; but it was
confidentally believed, by both miner
and smelter, that it would be eighteen
or twenty upon the opening of naviga-
ton. This winter was the first that
ever spent in this northern region and
the common report was that man cod
hardly step out of his cabin during the
winter months, without being chilled
through and through by the rude north
western blast, or having his nose and
ears frost-bitten. A severe frost which
Tell on the night Of the first of Septem-
ber' killed the vegetation, both upon the
NILS and hollows, and seemed buta con-
hrmation Of the above reports. This
winter however, was remarkably dry
and pleasant for this latitude. The
nights to be sure were cold, and the
ground frose to considerable depth
indeed deeper than | have seen it since.
There was no snow this winter until
the first day of February, 1929, this be-
ing Sunday I; it commenced showing,
think about noon, with the wind in the
northeast, and was showing when re-
tired to my bunk. On Monday morning
the wind had changed to the northwest.
The snow was about two feet deep
where ii lay still, and the weather about
as cold as 1t ever gets. The wind blew
perfect gale, the snow was fying in
every direction, and all the stories we
had heard of the dreadful cold weather
IN the mines seemed but feeble pictures
OF the reality which we were compelled
to endure: several persons were frozen
to death during this cold snap, and some
ox-teams likewise persisted, being unex
pectedly caught out from home and in
endeavoring TO reach their several des-
tinations, they became exhausted with
plunging and rolling through the snow /
winch was drifted to the depth of six,
eight and even ten feet in the hollows
and ravines it some time happened that
Inc unfortunate teamster became ex-
nausted and frozen to death before his
cam, and poor creatures after wander
ng round untI quite spent, lay down
Upon the snow to freeze, and were pro-
oably not found for some time after
The spring of '29 was memorable for
he fall of mineral it fell this spring
IS low as five dollars, and that in store
foods and provisions. The pressure
vas felt by all most of the miners that
lothii.g and provisions while the
melters was in debt to his merchants
n St. Louis, Boston or some of the 9TH
n large cities. This produced quite
Encouraging times among all classes
mineral was so low,
provisions were very high. We had to
pay from ten to fifteen dollars per bar
rel for flour, and from fifteen to twenty
for pork !; in fact early in the spring
before supplies could be got from St:
Louis, there was no flour to be had; and
in the month of March myself and part
ner lived for three weeks on peas, pork
and coffee, (the peas were brought from
Prairie du CHEN by Capt. Estes, 9TH
ers might have done longer without
bread for aught know. PIONEER.
T%Will the writer please favor
nc With sop,a moro Of his ga rlv recol-
lections Ed. HERALD.