The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1881-04-14
Winters Severity.

Tho story told by Joseph Starrette Of
Big Lake, Dakota, who week ago man
aged to break through a terrible snow
blockade in that section OF the country,
gives only fair statement Of tho troubles
Of the fastened-up settlers OF the North
west by the severe winter, Mr.. Sterrette
pre.empted lG0 acres OF farm land at Big
Lake two years ago and at once moved on
it with bis family, and settled down to
work At the end Of the year ho was in
farming shape and had comfortable
cabin for his family. Last year he har'
vested sixty acres OF wheat, twenty-five
bushels TO the acre. and realized VI, 200
clear He laid in quantity Of fuel and
prepared for the winter, but it proved
severer than he or his neighbors had cal
culated In fact, Sterrette's better pre-
paration for the rigors OF the season turn.
cd to be the only means which prevented
| Himself, family and several neighbors from
surviving uuu iTttAiHB w ucnth' al INb-
rurary ho found il necessary TO rescue the
entire families Of two neighboring farm
ers, who were not 80 well housed, from
perishing by the extreme cold by taking
them all into his own house to live The
cold was so steady and so bitter that be-
fore the season was half over the fuel
which Sterrette had gathered, to last un
til spring, was all consumed. Then he
and the men staying with him went out
and took down the fences and outhouses,
breaking them up and burning them. AT
this time heavy snow, which blockaded
the railroads, fell, and il was piled in such
drifts about the house in which Sterrette
and his neighbors were domiciled rs to
absolutely cut off all communication " ith
the outside world The mercury fell low
er than ever, the winds grew iiercer and
the surrounding snow caked and solidifed
At this time the men dug their way, or
rather mined it, through the blockade to
the railway near by, and dug out ties,
which they chopped mp into stove wood,
and took home and burned TO cook their
scauty food and save their wives and child
rem from freezing. When all the ties and
and telegraph poles that could be reached
by most desperate exertions were consum-
ed, it was decided to dig through to the
cabins OF those sheltered in Sterrette's
house and break them up for fuel. This
was done and every stick was burned.
Tue bitter cold still continuing, Sterrette's
furniture was next sacrificed, even to his |
bedsteads, trunks and children's toys.
While tho cold imprisoned pioneers were
upon their last supply Of fuel consultn-
ton was held, and it was decided to make
the desperate attempt of driving through
the deadly blasts upon the crusted snow
for relief. John Becker agreed to go. A
sleigh was prepared, and with five horses
hitched to it, Becker started. A roadway
was made TO the top Of drift, and Becker
succeeded in getting with the team to the
top OF it and driving over the crust. II
was terrible undertaking, and when the
brave man left, there were tears frozen
upon his cheeks. Becker persisted in tax
with him fine shepard dog. He gave as
his reason that he did not know what
might happen. He said that he would
rather bury Carlo in his belly than have
him freeze to death. Sterrette and his
became alarmed when at the
End OF two day Becker did not return, and
they started out after him. They had not
gone far when they came across large
hole in drift where Becker had broken
through. The man was found frozen and
lead, curled up in the bed OF the sleigh.
His faithful dog was lying huddled mp
against his breast, also dead The five
lorses were standing lifeless upon their
eet, all frozen stiff The men carried
Becker's body back. They made coffin
If tho sleigh bed, nailed the frozen corpse
Up in il and then reyereDtly placed il in q |
,orn crib until the weather should permit !
ts burial. Soon after this and just as the
party were on the point Of despair, tho
Weather moderated sufficiently TO break
he snow blockade and Sterrette and his !
riends found relief neighboring fam /
ly during all this time had no other food |
han the soup they made from an OF pelt q
which happened TO be in the house when !
he blockade began Notwithstanding all {
his Mr. Sterrette says they will stay and {
n the future bs prepared for severe 4
winters. The land is good and the soil !
leep black. Most OF the sitlers are for.
igners and the ownership Of land is to /
hem 30 novel and 80 precious that they !
viii not give itup. a
-0.
HrAKT DISEASE. When al individual Is :
eported to have died Of disease of the Z
- -. L.. GoIff II II :