Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-11-07


In one of the interesting series of papers
on Terra Nova, or Coast Life in Newfound-
land, by Harry Bolingbroke." which ap-
pears monthly in the Riuerside Magazine.
"Skipper Nat" thus tells how he was snow
ed up in Labrador:
In the fall of 81 volunteered to remain
on the Labrador all the winter, because
there was good deal of stuff of one kind
and another that our vessel could not take
away. AS there was a small settlement
uitner down the coast, l thought l
shouldn't want for company although in
dee d it was dreary prospect had before
me, and not without considerable danger.
However, when the schooner put to sea,
and found myself all alone, contrived to
made the best of it, and went about pre-
pairing things for the long winter.
My tilt was built under the brow of a
steep hill. not far from the shore; and with
little fixing up-such as covering the
roof with sods and stogging the seams with
moss-I contrived to make it snug little
nest enough. Then I had good stock of
wood, plenty of ammunition, a Bible and
some other books, with large supply of
provisions. / soon began to like my Cru
soc mode of life, and enjoyed myself much
more than any one could suppose. Some
times-just about teatime mostly-a fit of
loneliness would come over me; but it grad
ually wore away, until it seemed like q
dream that ever l had mingled with my
ow-creatures in a civilized land. 1t took
me some weeks to get my hut in order, my
wood cut, nv provisions slowed away, and
everything put sbip-shape in comfortable
trim against the dreary days ahead.
1t was well 1 didn't daily in my labor i;
for no sooner was l in a condition to face
the winter than he began to face me, and
almost every day he assailed me with wind,
frost and snow, hail. sleet and rain.
About the first week in December it be-
gan to come down in real earnest, and the
wind being low, there was, in two days, an
even fall of from six to eight feet, which,
indeed, was almost even with the caves of
nv house. By hard sboveling l kept an
open path to my well, that gushed up at the
foot of a rock, and. being spring, it never
was much frozen. thought it wise thing,
however, to set up pole. with remnant
of an old sail near by, so that in case the
we'll were covered up, should know just
where to search for it.
On the thi I'd night of the storm the snow
came down thicker and faster than ever,
the wind increasing from the northwest
perfect hurricane. 1 got in good supply
of water. piled up roaring fire, and sat
down to listen to the bowling wind, to read
my books, smoke my pipe. mend my tOggs
and cook my meal-sIlch being my indoor
employments. Somehow did feel low spir-
tied that night. l couldn't help thinking
OF those who were so far away from me.
felt my utter loneliness weigh upon me till
] actually began to pity myself, as if was
some poor, forlorn creature, cast adrift from
the world and all its cares and comforts
pented that had undertaken to remain at
all. However. when began to consider
that the same God who was watching my
loved ones at home was also present in my
humble abode, amid the storms and SHOWS
and night; say, when [ thought of this,
gained comfort, and, wrapping myself up
in my blankets, lay down to rest like lit
tie child that goes to sleep holding its
mothers finger in its fist.
But oh, how the wind roared, and howl
ed, and whistled! Sometimes great gust
would come, carrying a shower of bright
down as if it was some demon that wanted
to get into my house. Then again the gale
would moan and whine like some one in
pain; or pant and shrek, as though some
poor creature were perishing in the drifts
then would come roar like furious wild
beast.
At length the sound grew gradually
fainter and fainter; the wind seemed to bt
dying away until at last all was as still
and silent as the grave, except, it may
be, low, muffled growl, very, very fal
off. .i I=e
dropped to sleep. How long slept
knew not; but when [ awOke all was dark,
and my ire was nearly out. jumped up,
laid some splints on the ashes; but there
was not draught enough to kindle them,
and the room was full of smoke. When
opened the door, found one solid wall o.
snow filling up the entire doorway. This
however, was no more than 1 expected -
Going back to my fireplace, 1 looked III
the fiue. and the snow seemed to form al
arch over it. Can it be possible, though
i, that l am buried alive beneath tn
snow?
Taking my shovel, dug into the white
mass that blocked my door, but after ex
cayating some five or six feet no daylight
appeared. 1t was evident that the tilt was
many, many feet beneath the surface. be-
ing situated at the foot OF the hill, which
rose some sixty or seventy feet in the rear
i came to the conclusion that from the brow
OF the hill out to perhaps the well, or ever
beyond, was one solid block of snow, which
/ could not expect to see removed for two
or three months. To dig my way oul
would be difficult, if not impossible, ant
certainly somewhat dangerous, for, shOult
the tunnel cave in, where was L? Smoth'
cred. To remain idle would never answer
on the other hand, for my fire would not
burn, and only smolder and fill the premi-
ses with smoke, bad enough to blind one
and then my stock of water would soon be
exhausted.