The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-10-24
NUMBER 81.
Sixty Feet Under the Snow.


main on the Labrador all the winter !
cause there was good deal of stuff of OF
klnd and another that our vessel could d
take away. AS there was small settI
ment further down the coast, | thought
shouldn't want for company, although, i,
deed, 1T was dreary prospect had befo
me, and not without considerable DANCE
However, when the schooner put to Sc,
and found myself all alone, contrived t
make The best of it; and went about pr,
panng things for the long winter
| MY tilt was built under the brow of
steep hill, not far from the shore; and wit
little liking up,-such as covering til
roof with sods and stopping the seams wit
moss, Il contrived to make it a snug littl
nest enough. Then | had good stock {
wood, plenty of ammunition, Bible, an
some other books, with large supply {
provisions. | soon began to like my Crues
mode of life, and enjoyed myself much NOR
than one could suppose. Sometimes
about teatlme mostly-a fit of LONELINESS
would come over me; but it gradually wor
away, until II seemed like dream that ey
er had mingled with my fellow creature
IN civilized land. 1t took me some week
to get my hut in order, my wood cut, my
provisions slowed away, and everything
put ship shape in comfortable trim against
the dreary days ahead. ....,>
ut was well didn't daily in my labor;
Ior no sooner was i'll condition to face
the winter than he began to face inc, and
almost every day he assailed my fort 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 ia two DAYS, an
even fall of some six or eight feet, which,
indeed was almost level with the caves OF
my house. By hard shovelling kept an
open path to my well, that gusbed up at
the foot of the rock, and, being spring,
never was much frozen. | thought it a
wise thing however, to set up pole with
a remnant of an old sail, near by, so that,
in case the well were covered up, | should
know just where to search for it.
ION the third night of the storm the
SNOW came down thicker and faster than
ever, the wind increasing from the north
east--a perfect hurricane. | 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--such being my
indoor employments. Somehow did feel
low-spirited that night couldn't help
those who were so far away from me- |
[elt 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
Tears came into my eyes and almost re-
pented that | had consented to remain at
all. However, when began to consider
that the same God who was watching my
loved oues at home, was also present in my
humble abode, amid the storms and SHOWS
aud night say when thought of this,
gained comfort, and, wrapping myself up
in my blankets, lay down to rest like a lit
tie child that goes to sleep holding its moth
er's finger in its fist.
'But oh, how the wind reared, and wills
tied! Sometimes a great gust would come,
carrying shower of bright sparks up my
and then howl 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
md Shrek as though some poor creature
we're perishing in the drifts; then would
come the roar like furious wild beast!
AT length the sounds grew gradually
ainter and fainter: the wind seemed to be
lying away, until at last all was as still
md silent as the grave, except it may be,
| low, muffled growl, very, very far off.
Il dropped to sleep how long | slept l
Knew not but when | woke all was dark,
md my fire nearly out. jumped up laid
some splits on the ashes When | opened
he door, | found one solid wall of snow fill
ing up the entire doorway This however,
vas, no more than ! expected. Going back
20 my fireplace, looked up the hue and
,he snow seemed to form an arch over it,
Can it be possible, thought l. that am
buried alive beneath the snow.
Taking my shovel, | dug into the white
mass that blocked my door but after ex-
;avating some five or six feet, no daylight
appeared 1t was evident that the tilt was
many, many feet beneath the surface, being
situated at the foot of the hill. which rose
some sixty or seventy feet in the rear.
came to the conclusion that from the brow
IF the hill, out to perhaps the well, or even
beyond, was all one solid block of snow,
which | could not expect to see removed
Tor three or four months TO dig my way
out would be difficult, if not impossible,
and certainly somewhat dangerous; for,
should the tunnel cave in. where was n
Smothered To remain idle would never
on the other hand; for my fire
would not burn, but only smolder, and fill
,he premises with smoke, bad enough to
blind one; and then my stock of water
would soon be exhausted. {: After ponder
ng the matter over for long time, re-
solved at last to risk tunnel, at any rate.
thought as had no difficulty in breath
ing, and as my lamp burned pretty well,
that air mnst come III from some hole or con
er, and prehaps the drift might not be sc
high after all. So tying a string around
my waist, and fastening the other end to
the staple of the door-lock, | commenced
to work my way along. 1t was dreadful
hard work, and no mistake, that it was
for, as | could not remove the snow haC
to trample it down and press it each side
and melt it, And then the air was so close
aud hot, that | was in bath Of perspirator
all the while. One night I woke up with
the cold shivers and the next day,
may call it day. was proper sick "a VIC
lent cold. The way ! cured my self was tt
get up and dig for dear life at the snow tun
mel, until was dripping wet, sand as hot a
plum pudding just out Of the pot.
'ln day or to | began to hear faint
roaring sound of wind, and then the lght
grew stronger and stronger, which gave m
hopes that | mnst be coming out. Thi
caused me renew labor with fresh vigor
At every shovelful almost, the noise o
the wind and the glimmer Of light increased
until, at last, all at once, the top of the tun
mel caved in, and, after considerable strug
Cling and putting, came out once more
to the light of day Shaking the snow from
myself, found it was as | supposed. Their
was a snow drift of sixty feet piled over M
house, from the brow of the bill to within
few feet Of the we'll had occasion to re
joice that bad myself tied to the door post
otherwise l should never have founv my
wav back. at least. not for long time A
| said before, there was settlement dow
the coast. AS soon as could, set off ant