Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-04-13
The Winter in the West.
THE EAST THE ONLY TOLERABLE WINTER
RESORT, AFTER ALL.

~O---~'N@HDa-A@
RESORT, AFTER ALL.
The ST. Albans MESSENGER sums up some
OF the effects of the awful weather west the
past winter, as follows: The past winter
has been the most severe in the northwest
OF any since that country was settled.
Ihere has been succession of the "worst
storms that ever we're known" in upper
Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota
ana northern Iowa, and the sutferings of
the people have been such as to remain
long vivid and painful memory. Several
entire families have frozen to death IN their
houses. Their fuel was used up early ow
ing 10 the severe cold. and shut in rs they
were by the beleayuering SHOWS they could
not procure fresh supplies. The Iowa
papers give thrilling accounts of the ex.
perlences OF families in different localities
IN the northern part OF tn It state and in the
territories west. There was in southern
Minnesota and northern Iowa heavy
snow fall in October, but the winter act.
utlly set in early 10 November and con
tlnued without relaxation to the middle of
March. The whole amount of snow which
has fallen in Minnesota reaches the extra
ordinary depth of l24 feet. But these
figures convey no idea of the character of
he weather on these prairies, to the people
who live in II country sheltered by trees
md broken up by hills and mountains like
Vermont. The winds, which have AN un-
obslructed sweep for hundreds of miles
rcross the naked plains, driving the snow
like thistle down before them, make the
region bowling wilderness, rs unfit for
hmm hnInOs r., livn tho naInrul h,,L
cation of the polar bear. The railroads
nave been blOckaded for weeks at Il time,
and on one line extending through south
ern Dakota, business has been entirely
suspen led since the beginning of the win
ter. The story of S,erette, settler ut Big
Lake, Dakota, shows what the people have
hm to endure. In February he found it
necessary To rescue the families of two
nclghbpring farmers and take them all into
his own house TO save their lives The
fuel gave out, and the men digging through
the snow, first cut down the fences and
out-hOuses and burned them for fuel. Then
they dug tunnels, under the snow, to the
railroad track, then chopped out and burn
ed the ties. When all ties and telegraph
poles that could be reached by the most
desperate eXertions were consumed, it was
decided TO dig through to the abandoned
cabins OF the families sheltered at Sterette S
md use the frame work for fuel. This
was done, and every stick burned. The
arctic weather continuing, Sterette's fur.
niture had to be sacrificed for fuel-'even
the beGsteads, trunks, and children's toys. ~
What followed is thus told
While the cold imprisoned pioneers were
upon their last supply Of fuel, consulta
tion was held and it was decided to make
q desperate attempt TO obtain relief. John
Becker agreed to 90. A sleigh was pre-
pared, and with five horses hitched to it
Becker started. 1t was terrible under
taking, AMI when the brave man left there
were tears frozen upon his cheeks. Ster-
ette and his companions became alarmed
when, at the end of two days, Becker did
not return and they started out to find
hlm They had not gone far when they
discovered large hole in the snow, where
Becker was found cured up in the bed of
he sleigh, frozen dead. His faithful dog
was lying huddIed up against his breast,
also dead, and the five horses were stand
ing liieess upon their feet, all frozen stiff
soon after this, and just as the party were
nearly starved to death, the weather mod
Grated sufficiently to break the snow block
ade and Sterette and his friends obtained
relief. neighboring family during this
lime had no other food than the soup made
from An OK pelt which happened to be in
the house when the blockade began,
The western plpers which are engaged
in promoting the interests of the country
IRE very crreful to make matters appear
we'll and the one which tells this story
concludes in vein worthy of Mark Tap
ley, AS follows:
Notwthstanding all this suffering, Mr..
Sterette says the people like the country
and will remain there, and in the future
he prepared for severe winters.