Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-20
The Snow Cure.

From an illustrated paper, by w. George
Beers, Canada as Winter Resort" in the
February Century, we quote the following:
''It is by no means every delicate person who
should make Canada his winter resort; but
it is well known that our winters have cured
chronic cases for which Colorado and Florida
were alone supposed to be beneficial. Every
winter numbers resort to Montreal, Quebec,
Halifax and Winnipeg for no other reason
than that for which they once went TO tropi-
cal climates. I know of patients who were
regularly sent to Bermuda and the West In
dies, and others to such winter climates as
Nice without more than temporary benefit,
who were completely cured by the outdoor
life of our Montreal and Quebec winters.
Two years ago we had exceptionally Sc
we're winter in Manitoba. Its severity and
peculiarities were precisely the same in Da-
kota and Minnesota. I en- route from
Brandon to Winnipeg, distance of one hun
dred and eighty miles by rail, and was caught
in a snow blockade which lasted eight days,
and kept us in a situation not likely again to
occur The storm was severe that relief
trains could not leave Winnipeg, and cou-
pie of us who had the long snow-shoes used
on the prairie tramped to and from farm
houses couple of miles distant for provi-
sions for the passengers. The snow-plows
were of no use, and, in a desperate attempt
to cut way through the drifts, the engine
Jumped the track and came to grief. The
train was pulled back from the debris by an
engine in the rear and the next morning we
found ourselves separated from the wreck by
deep drifts, some of them fifteen feet high.
Night after night passed; the coal and wood
ran short; two of the cars were abandoned
by the passengers, and, to economic fuel, we
were crowded into the two remaining cars.
The sleeping accommodation improvised was
very amusing Fancy roosting two in a sin
gle seat with your knees doubled up to your
chin; or lying like sardines, four in a double
seat: or propped on top of the back OF the
seats, which were turned up and brought to-
pether so as to form a sort of double deck.
| Shovelers had been working day and night,
but there were too few of them; and at last
| the passengers went to work, and from 9 a.
| m. until D. m. pitched the snow with might
| and main and succeeded in clearing the track.
| In order to pass the obstacle of the wrecked
engine, we raised old rails, got ties and laid
| a new side-track on the hard snow, and our
cars were safely showed forward. Shovelers
| from Winnipeg had succeeded with the snow
pillow in reaching us, and we were soon on
our way. The effect of this exposure upon
| the health of many of the passengers was
| remarkably good. One clergyman who had
come out from England for some affection OF
| the throat was determined to do his share OF
| the shoveling. He had very thin moccaslns
on his feet, and during the day, as there was
| a warm wind, they were wet through. He
never expected to see England again, but
that one days work cured him effectually
| Other persons suffering from throat and lung
| affections have not since been troubled. Ont
| would suppose the conditions were just thos'
to provoke illness, bnt the very reverse wa
the case"