The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-10-06
Sixty Feet Under the Snow.
Coast Life in Labrador


"Skipper Nat'' thus tells how he was
showed up in Labrador =
In the fall of '37 l volunteered to remain
on the Labrador coast all the winter, be-
cause there was good deal of stuff of one
kind and another, that our vessels could
could not take away AS there was small
settlement further down the coast, /
thought shouldn't want for company,
although indeed it was dreary prospect l
had before me, and not without considera-
BILE danger. However, when the schooner
put to sea and / found myself all alone,
contrived to make the best of it, and went
about preparing for winter.
My tilt was built under the brow Of
steep hill, not far from the shore and with
little fixing up-such as covering the
roof with sods and stopping the seams with
moss-I contrived to make it a snug little
nest. Then had good stock of wood,
plenty of ammunition, a Bible, and some
other books, with large supply of pro-
visions. l soon began to like my Crusoe
life, and enjoyed myself more than one
could suppose. Sometimes just about
tea time mostly-a fit of loneliness would
come over me but it gradually wore away
until it seemed like dream that ever
had mingled with my fellow-creatures in
civilized land. 1t took me some weeks to
get my hut in order, my wood cut, my
provisions slowed away, and every thing
put shipshape in comfortable trim against
the dreary days ahead.
1t was well didn't daily in my labor
for no sooner was in a condition to face
tho winter than he began to face me, 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 in 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 gushed up at
the foot of a rock, and, being spring,
never was much frozen. thought it
wise thing, however, to set up pole, with
the remnant Of an old sail, near by, so that
in case the well were covered up, I should
know just where to search for it,
On the third night of the storm the snow
came down thicker and faster than ever,
the wind increasing from the northeast
a perfect hurricane. | got in a good sup
ply 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
thinking of those who were so far away
from me. felt my utter loneliness weigh
upon me, till l actually began to pity my
self, as if | some poor, forlorn creature, cast
adrift from the world, and all its cares and
comforts. Tears came into my eyes and
almost repented that had undertaken to
remain at all. However, when began to
consider that the same God who was watch
ing my loved ones at home, was also pres
ent in my humble abode, and controlled the
storms and SHOWS aud night say, when
thought of this, i gained comfort, and
wrapping myself up in my blankets, lay
down to rest like a child that goes to sleep
holding its moth er's finger in it's fists,
But o how the wind roared and howled
and whistled. Sometimes great gust
would come, carrying shower of bright
| sparks up my chimney, 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 and shrek, as though some poor croa-
ture were perishing in the drifts then
would come a roar like furious wild
beast.
AT length the sounds grew gradually
fainter and fainter; the wind seemed to be
dying away, until at last all was still and
silent as the grave, except, it may be, a
low mufiled growl, very, very far OFF. r
dropped to sleep. How long | slept
knew not but when awoke all was dark
and my fire was nearly out. jumped up,
laid some splits on the ashes, but there was
not draught enough to kindle them, and
the room was full of smoke. When open
ed the door, l found Que solid wall of snow
filling up the entire doorway. This how
ever, was no more tnan expected. Going
back to my fireplace, looked up the fiue,
and the snow seemed to form an arch over
it. Can it be possible, thought !, that
am buried alive beneath the snow. Az
Taking my shovel, dug into the white
mass that blocked my door; but after ex-
cavating sorne five or six feet, no daylight
appeared It was evident that the tilt was