Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-04-04
4fllstellnllp.
4 KeImIuI>cense of The Green
Mountains.
srDs J.p. WARREN.

Although many OF The more prominent IN
cidents OF the following thrilling narrative,
which az the time Of their occurrence ex-
cited a general and painful interest, have long
since been gwen TO the public through the
press, and thus have become matter OF history,
vet a nI0Te iull account IN detail by the soiIc-
Itati0n OF friends of the writer, L. still urgent
Nv requested.
On the morning of the 20th of December,
1871 Mr.. Harrison G.. Blake, With his wife
aud infant d4ug ghtar about seven months old,
set out fron Salem, n Y, whittier they had
"a ON L yiaIJ 10 trien5s, return to their
-l,ue II Marlboro IN this county.
When hey had arrived at the Hotel then
kept by Mr.. Hicks ID Sunderland, VI, on the
west SIDE OF the mountain, II was showing
ta-t, but they were anxious to reach home,
II possible, that night; aad being told by the
landlord there would he no difficulty, they
pursued their urneY-
Late in the lfternoon, with feeble horse,
and sleigh unsupplIed with buffalo robe,
or anything save an ordnsry blanket, TO pro
tect them from the cold and the peltIngs of
the pItIless Storm they reluctantly started
u cross the noun ain, dIstat ce of ten miles
TO the nearest inhabItant at It's foot on the
east side IN the town Of Srratton.
The then travelled road, 1t may be proper
t. remark, the enc first laid and opened
from Arlington, through Sunderland to STRAIT
ton IN the year 1913, and IL not now, except
part Of the distance. the present thoroughfare
OF turnpike, 50 called.
A. they asceude6 the mountain, the snow
became deeper and deeper OF course at every
mile, Ten1eTIng the travelling slow aud diff
cult ana when they got as tar as the Beaver
MEADOW 50 called, 4 distance of SIX miles
their horse tired and gave out. Four dreary
miles stlIl Intervened between them and Tor
rvs tavern IN Strstton. 10 this tilemma, Mr..
Bake rejecting thar they must ali perish If
they remained where they were, decided to
leave Mrs Biaks 10 the sleigh and go in quest
Ol nrIp- Meantime ths storm mai ab ted,
the wind arose, the clouds broke away reveal
IDg full-Orbed moon.
On reaching the height Of land his cries for
ASSISTANCE Were neard by Mr.. Levi Hale in
Stratton, at about eleven o clock In the even
ing, distance OF three miles, but supposlng
them to Je4s he subssq Ienrly stated, IN
tenuatIon OF his ap4thy) those of a Mr.. Rich
ardson,a neIghbOr Of Incorporate habits, there
fore gave no alarm until morning.
Mrs. Blake in this state Of suspense, became
anxious on account OF the protracted absence
Of her husband, and after Il while followed
him with her child ID her arms. Becoming
quickly exhausted by her burden and the cold,
she wrapped the little one IN her mantle, laid
Il down The snow and pressed Soon,
however, she was UverpOwer- q and sank down
into tha- s.eep that - knows no waking"
Nor spouse child more should she behold nor
friendr, nor sacred home
Mr. Blake's loud and persistant calls for aid
found a response, alas 100 late, from party
OF men among whom were the SONS OF Mr..
ii ,le and Mr.. Grout who started earlv in
the morning TO rescue the sufferers.
On reaching the summit OF the mountain
fley nr. HlakP Whom theu nd
unable 70 stand, crawling on his elbows and
knees, sis hands and feet being badly frozen
but retaining enough of Consciousness to en-
able him TO give information relative to his
wife and child About half mile further on
they fount Mrs Bake a stIffened corpse and
still, few Yards iurther, the child wrapped
IN It's mantle end protected by the snow, fast
asleep, but on removing its coverings looked
up a"d sweetly smiled
The Toes of one of its feet only were slightly
touched by the frost.
In due time, Mr.. B and child and the de-
ceased were all conveyed TO the house of Mr.
TOrTy, where all were tenderiy cared for by
kind and sYmpathIzlng friends, and where the
writer of this sketch attended them in his
professional capacity.
Next day Mr. Blake was taken to my hou sc
IN " War1sbOrO, where be remained one week
and then was removed 10 he home in Marl
until bis recovery. After a protracted con
fnement and much suffering he recovered, witt
the loss OF all his toes from both feet.
Mr.. b. when last heard from was living
with ms daughter In the city of Cleveland
Ohio SIX years ago last June, he revisited
the place of bis NATIVITY, and learning thai
the writer was residing in this village calico
on him. The interview can better be imag
med than described. He expressed heartfelt
gratitude Tor che kindness shown him during
hls great affection, with the assurance o
cnerIshIDg those sentiments to the end of hi
life.
Notwithstanding that now near half q cen
'ury has elapsed SINCE the above event occur.
req all the attending circumstances are re-
caiied 10 memory with clear and vivid dis
life -
was this event, 1T will be remembered BY