Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-04-20
A "Reminiscences ofthe Green Noun
tains.
BY DIR. J. p. WARREN

given to the public through the press,
and thus have become matter of his
tory, yet, a more full account in detail
by the solicitation of friends of the
writer, is still urgently requested.
On the morning of the Goth of De-
cember, 1921, Mr.. Harrison G.. Blake,
with his wife and infant daughter
about seven months old, set out from
Salem, N. Y, whittier they had been
on visit to friends, to return to
their home in Marlboro in this county.
When they arrived at the hotel
then kept by Mr.. Hicks in Sunder-
land, VT, on the west side of the
mountain, it was showing fast, but as
they were anxious to reach home, if
possible that night; and being told
by the landlord there would be no
difficulty, they pursued their journey.
Late in the afternoon, with feeble
horse, and sleigh unsupplied with a
buffalo robe, or anything but an ordi-
nary blanket, to protect them from
the cold and the "peltings of the pitt
less storm" they reluctantly started
to cross the mountain, the distance O.
ten miles to the nearest inhabitant at
its foot on the east side in the town OF
Stratton.
The then travelled road, it may be
proper to remark. was the one first
laid and opened from Arlington.
through Sunderland to Stratton, in the
year 1913, and is not now, except a
part of the distance, the present thor
oughfare or turnpike, so called.
AS they assembled the mountain the
snow became deeper and deeper of
course at every mile, rendering the
travelling slow and difficult; and when
they got so far US the Beaver Meadow,
so called, distance of six miles, their
horse tired and gave out. Four drea-
ry miles still iuttrsened between them
and Torrey'S tavern in Stratton, In
this dilemma, Mr.. Blake rejecting
that they must all perish if they re.
manned where they were, decided to
leave Mrs, Blake in the sleigh and go
in quest of help. Meantime the storm
had abated, the wind arose, the clouds
broke away revealing a fulI-orbed
moon.
On reaching the height of land his
cries for help were heard by Mr.. Levi
Hale i'll Stratton, at about eleven
O'Clock in the evening, distance Of
about three miles; but supposine
them to be, as he afterwards stated
Tin extenuation of his apathy those
Of MIR. Richardson, a neighbor of in
temperate habits, therefore gave nc
alarm until morning.
Mrs. Blake in this state of sus
pense, became anxious Oh account of
the protracted absence of her has
band. and after a while followed hin
with her child in her arms, Becom
ing quickly exhausted by her D., ,rdo,
and the cold, she WRAP, .ho rttI
one in her mantI~ tpeu ''ic i'.I III
snow and >. 80, laid it down in tn
sh. ,,resscd on. Soon, however
was overpowered and sank dow
4 into that sleep that knows no waking
:. "Nor spouse. nor child, no more should she b.
. hold nor friends, nor sacred home"
!, Mr.. B'ake'S loud and persistent call
/ for aid found a response, alas )! to
:. late, from a party of men among whol
q were the sons of Mr.. Hale and NJ
s Grout who started early in the NOR
O ing to rescue the sufferers.
" On reaching the summit OF Il
d mountain they came to Mr.. Blak
l. whom they found unable to stan
1t crawling on his elbows and knees, h
s. hands and feet being badly troze
but retaining enough of consciousne
to enable him to give informati'
a relative to his wife and child. AbO
ly half mile further on they found MI
FL Blake stiffened corpse, and still
ce few yards further, the child wrapp
ne in its mantle and protected by t
ng snow, fast asleep, but on removing
p coverings looked up and sweet
* smiled.
lily The toes of one of its feet or
* were slightly touched by the frost.
ed In due time Mr.. B. and child a
by the deceased were all conveyed
he the house of Mr. Torrey, where tn
lid all were tenderly cared for by XII
re- and sympathising friends, and who
20 the writer of this sketch attend
OF them in his professional capacity.
Ills Next day Mr.. Blake was taken
or my house in Wardsboro, where he
tly manned one week, and then was
the moved to his home in Marlboro, a
lch was under the care of DR., Tucker
an til his recovery. After a protrac
confinement and much suffering lie
covered with the loss of all his t
,os from both feet
III Mr.. B., when last heard from '
,nt living with his daughter in the city
ow Cleveland, Ohio. Six years ago
tho June, he revisited the place of his
, . tivity, and learning that the wri
tho was residing in this village called
~, him. The interview can be bet
IS IS imagined than described. He
~ pressed heartfelt gratitude for
49, kindness shown him during his or
al, affection, with the assurance of cl
al ishing those sentiments to the end
i, 70 his life.
otto Notwithstanding that now near
;.aI half century has elapsed since
above event occurred, all the ate
ing circumstances are recalled
- memory with clear and vivid
one tinctnes, and will be, | trust to
yep close of life.
S of 1t was this event, it will be rem
and bered by some of our readers, the
the now, so fIaught with sad inter
and that elected the theme for those b.
=, :, t;e,I ond ;mprocciya poofio Inns