Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-01-30
The Snow Storm in Campbell's
Ranges.

| wake. But the women ala, anu lay ana
trembled. David's wife awoke. "Da,
vid /" she whispered, but he did not hear
her. whats the matter, mother p
murmured her daughter. Nothing,
child, nothing. It's only the wind.
Hush we mustn't wake father. Go to
sleep, darling" The sun rose late the
next morning, and dim blood veil was
in the sky, which made some of them
think that it was night still. The miners
found the snow round their huts to be
three feet deep. They looked anxious at
this. owe can master the snow," they
whispered to one another, "but the snow
drift will master u.s." Even as they
spoke, the wind, which had lulled, began
to moan again, and before they had been
working an hour shoveling away the
snow, the wind storm, bringing the snow
with it from the heights over which 1t
rushed, blinded them, and drove them
into their tents for shelter. They could
not hold their feet. "Letus hope it'll not
last long" they said; and they took adj
vantage of every lull to work against
their enemy, not like men, but like heroes.
"What makes you so downcast, Saul -
asked David he had not begun to lose
heart. Saul looked in silence at
David's wife and David's daughter they
were at the far end of the hut. "Iou are
not frightened, Saul, surely?" said David,
Not for myself, David, whispered Saul.
"But tell me. What kind of love do you
bear for your wife and chlld?" David s
look was sufficient answer. 81 have a
perfect love for woman also, David. If
she were here, as your wife is with you,
could bear it and SO could she. David,
we are Deset by terrible danger. Listen
to the wind. I am afraid we may never
get out Of this" David's lips quivered,
but he shook away the fear. "We
mustn't lose heart, Saul, and we must
keep this danger from the wife and little
one. There's mems work before us, and
we must do it-like menl" ''Trust me,
David" said Saul, my heart beats to the
pulse of a willing hand;" and said no
| more. The wind storm continued all the
day with such violence that it was impos-
sible for the men to work. AS the day
advanced the blood veil in the sky died
away, and when the night came the
moons light shone clear and cruel, bright
! and pitiless Worn out with hard toll
and anxiety, Saul Fielding lay down that
night and tried to sleep. 81 must have
strength for morrow" ne thought.
The fierce wind had grown faint, and it
moaned now among the hills like weak
u.
it as good omen. He Rugged his gold
close, and vowed that he would not risk
another season of such danger. eff
| do not Jet an ounce more" he
thought, II will be content. What
I have will be sufficient for the home
and for Jane, Jane, dear Janew Her
name always came to him like a prayer,
and with Jane" on his lips, and "Jane"
in his thoughts, he fell asleep and dream
ed of her. x "My God?" he
heard David's wife cry, and at that mo-
ment he awoke, and rising swiftly to his
feet, saw candle alight in his tent, and
David's wife standing in her night-dress
on his side of the green baize which
divided the tent. Her face was white
with terror "My Godr' she cried again,
1--WE are lost" The storm that had arisen
in his dream was no fancy 1t vas rag
ing among the hills furiously. go into
your room," said Saul hurriedly. Twill
be dressed in a miuute." In less than
that space of time he was up and dressed
and then David tore the green braize aside
"Saul," he said, "this is terrible" And
stepping to Saul's side whispered eff
this continues long our grave is here. :"
Saul went to the door of the tent and
tried to open it; he could not. The wind
sands of tons of snow from the heights,
and they were walled up. Saul felt all
around the sides of the tent The snow
was man high. Only the frail drill from
which the tent was made kept it from
falling in and burying them. In an in
slant Saul comprehended their dread
peril. "The tree!' he cried, as if an in
spiration had fallen upon him; "the tree "
Just outside the tent, between it and the
tent next to it, stood a great pine tree,
the only tree among the tents.
Many time had it been suggested to
cut down this tree for frewood, but David
had prevented it, "Wait," he had said,
until we want it; when firewood runs
short, and we can't get it elsewhere, it
will be time enough" So the tree had
been saved from the axe, and stood there
like giant, defying the storm. Saul
piled up the rough seats and the tables
which comprised the furniture of the
tent, and, climbing to the top of them,
cut great hole in the roof Of the tent.
1t was daylight above, and the snow was
falling fast. Saul saw the noble tree
standing fast and firm in the midst of the
storm. With desperate leap he caught a
branch, and raised himself above the
tent. And when he looked upon the aw-
full scene, upon the cruel white snow in
which the tents all around hin. were i'm
bedded, and nearly buried, his heart
throbbed despairinSly. But this was no
time for despair 1t was the time for &C
ton. When he had secured his position
in the tree, he stopped over the tent.
"David!' he cried. David's voice an
swered him. "This is our only chance"
he said, loudly; he spoke slowly and dis
tinctly, SO that those within the tent
might hear him. "Here we may be able
to find safety until the storm abates and
the snow subsidies. Listen to me and do
exactly as say. Get some provisions
| together, and some water, and the little
brandy that is left. Make them up in a
bundle. Tie rope and cord around it,
and let me have it. Quickly"
Before he finished speaking,
David's wife was busy attending to
his instructions. answer me, Saul"
cried David. "What do you see of our
mates?' Saul groaned. do not ask me,
David! Let us thank God that this tree
was left standing" David climbed on to
the table in few minutes, with the bun
die OF provisions in his hands. He was
lifting it for Saul to take hold of when
the pile upon which he was standing gave
way, and he fell heavily to the ground.
AT this monument a movement in the tent
nearest to the tree arrested Saul's atten-
ton. One of the men inside had also
thought of the tree, and had adopted
Saul's expedient of cutting through the
roof of the tent He saw Saul, but he
was too far away to reach the tree.