Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-04-23
Far Northwest Winter Experiences.

STORY told by Joseph Sterrette, of Big
Lake, Dakota, who has just managed TO break
through the terrible snow blockade in that sec
tion of the country, gives only fair state
ment of the troubles experienced by the set
tiers of the Northwest during the severe win
ter. Mr.. Sterrette pre-empted 100 acres of
farm land in Big Lake two Years ago, and at
once moved on it with his family and settled
down to work. At the end of the year he was
in shape for farming, and had a comfortable
cabin. Last year he harvested sixty acres
of wheat, twenty-five bushes to the
acre, and realized $1,000. He laid in aquantity
of fuel, and prepared for winter, but it proved
more severe than he or his neighbors had cal
culated. In fact, Sterrette's better prepara-
tion for the rigors of the season turned out to
be the only means which prevented himself
family and several neighhOrs from starving
or freezing to death. In February he found
it necessary to rescue the entire families of
two neighbOring farmers not so well housed
from perishing by cold by taking them into
his own house. The cold was so steady and so
bitter that before the seaSon.w was half over the
fuel which he had gathered to last until spring
was all consumed.
Then he and the men staying with him went
out and took down the fences and onthouses
and burned them. The heavy snowfall, which
at this time bockaded the railroads, was piled
In such drifts about tn house where Sterette
and his neighbors were domiciled as to abso-
lutely cut off all communication with the out
side world. The mercury fell lower than ever;
the winds grew hercer, and the surrounding
snow caked and solidified. At this time the
men dug their way, or rather mined
1t, through the blockade to the railway near
by, and dug out ties which, they chopped up,
took home, and burned to cook their scanty
food, and save their wives and children from
freezing. When the ties and telegraph poles
that could be reached were consumed, it was
decided to dig through to the cabins of those
sheltered in Sterrettes house, and break them
up for fuel. This was done. The bitter cold
still continuing Sterrettesfurnture was next
sacrificed even to the bedsteads, trunks and
children's toys.
While the cold-imprisoned pioneers were
upon this last supply ffuel aconsultation was
held, and 1t was decided to make desperate
attempt to drive through the deadly blasts
on the crust for relief. John Becker
agreed TO go. A sleigh was prepared, and
with five horses hitched TO it Becker started.
1t was terrible undertaking, and when the
brave man left there we're tears frozen on his
cheeks. Becker persisted in taking fine
shepherd dog. lie gave as his reason: Z" L
don't know what may happen; would rather
bury Carlo in my belly than have him freeze
to death" Sterrette and his companions be-
came alarmed when at the end of two days
Becker did not return, and they started out
for him. They had not gone far when they
| came across hole in drift where Becker
| had broken through. The man was found
curled up in the sleigh, frozen dead. His faith
! full dog was lying huddled up against his
breast, dead. The five horses were standing
/ lfeess on their feet, all frozen stiff. The men
carried Rockers body back, made coffin Of
the sleigh, nailed the corpse up in it, and then
reverently placed it in the corn crib until the
weather should permit of its burial.
Soon after this, and just as the party was on
| the point of despair, the weather moderated
sufficiently to break the snow blockade, and
/ Sterrette and friends found relief. A neigh
/ boring family during this time had no other
| food Than soup made from an OX-pelt, which
/ happened 10 be in the house when the block
ade began. Notwiths andine all this Mr.. Ster
/ re:ts saws the people like the country. and say
/ they will staY and IN the future be prepared
/ for severe winters. The land is good the sol
is deep b, ,aok. most Of The settlers are foreign
| ers, and the ownership OF land is TO them 81
/ novel and precious that they will not give II
up.-DubuQue QglCul Cor. B5st0n GObt,