The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-02
Our 0lio.
THE WINTER IN THE WEST.
Graphic Account of the Suffering of the PeO
pie There.

Graphic Account Of the Suffering of the Peo-
pie There.
\ despatch from Dubuque, Iowa, March
25th, says A story told by Joseph Ster-
rette. of Big Lake, Dakota, who just man
aged to break through a terrible snow
blockade in that section, gives only fair
statement of the troubles fastened upon the
settlers of the northwest by the severe
winter. Mr. Sterrette preempted l6O
acres of farm land at Big Lake two years
ago. and at once moved on it and settled
down to work. At the end of year ne
was in farming shape and had comtorta-
bic cabin for his family. Last year he
harvested sixty acres of wheat, twenty-five
bushels to the acre, and realized $1,000
clear. He laid in quantity of fuel and
prepared for the winter, but it proved Sc
yerer than he or his neighbors had calcu-
lated. In fact, Sterrettes better prepara-
tion for the rigorous season turned out to
be the only means which prevented him
self, family and neighbors from starving
aud freezing to death,
In February he found it necessary to
rescue the entire families of two neighbor-
ing farmers, who were not so well housed,
from perishing by the extreme cold, by
taking them all into his own house to live.
The cold was so steady aud bitter that
before the season was half over the fuel
which Sterrette had gathered to last until
spring was all consumed. Then the men
staying with him went out aud took down
fences aud ont houses and kept from ireeE
ing by breaking them up and burning
them. At lhss time the heavy snowfall
whieh blockaded the railroads fell and 1t
vas piled in such drifts about the house,
10 which he and his neighbOrs were domi-
cilia,ed, as 10 absolutely cut of all eommu-
aiea,iou With the outside world. The
mercury fen lower than ever. The winds
gres 6srccr, and the surrounding snow
eaked and solidided.
At this time the men dug 'heir way or
rather mined it through the blockade to
the railroad near by aud dug ous ties,
whieh they chopped up toto stove wood
aud took home aud burned to cook their
scanty food TO save their wives aud chill
drea from starving, When all the ties
aud telegraph poles that could be reached
by the most desperate exersions were con
sumcd, il vas decided TO dis through to
the eabias Of those sheltered 10 Sierreite $
house asd break them up for fuel. This
was done and every stick burned. The
/ bitter cold still continuing Sterres;e's fur
niture was pexi sacrificed, even 10 bis
. bedsteads. trunks aud ehildren's toys.
I While the cold Imprisoned pioneers were
on their la, supply Of fuel, a consultation
vas held aud /, was decided 10 make the
desperate attempt OF driving through the
I deadly blasts upoa the srus,ed snow for
relief john Becker agreed to 20. A
sleigh vas prepared, and with Eve horses
hitehed 10 it, Becker started. The roadway
was beaten to .he top Of a driftr aud Becker
succeeded in getting TO the top Of it and
+ drawing It over he crust. Il was a terrible
undertaking, and when the brave man leiG
there we're tears frozen upon his cheeks.
Becker persisted in taking With him hae
I shepherd dog. lie gave as his reason, Il
doat kuow what will happen. I'd rather
bury Carlo in NY belly than have hin
+ freeze 10 death Sterret,e aud his com.
panious became alarmed when, at the end
Of two DAYS, Becker did not return, aud
they started out for him. They had not
gone far when they came across large
hole 10 the drifl where Becker had broken
through. The mau was found euried up
in the bed Of the sleigh frozen dead. The
1 faithful dog was lying huddled up against
+ his breast. also dead The five horses werc
standing lifeless upou their feet all frozen
stiff. The men carried Beeker's body
back. They made a coffin Of the sleigh
bed, nailed the corpse up in it and placed
it in a eornerib until the weather should
permit Of lis burial Soon after this and
just as the party were on the point Of de
spair, the weather moderated sufficiently
TO break the snow blockade and Sterelte'
and his friends found relief The neigh
boring family during this time had NJ
other food than soup, made from an ol
Pelt, which happened to be in the hous'
when the blockade began. NOtwithstand
ing all this Mr.. Sterrette says the people
like the country and say they will stay
aud in the future be prepared for severe
winters.