The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-03-14

disturbed. SO to run us out they proposed
to help us settle the country, by establish
ing themselves conveniently near us. There
was too much material at their back for Us
to hope to successfully fight them, so we
set about opening an avenue to retreat in
good order, we proposed to surrender on
condition they buy us out. No sir: wouldn't
listen to it. Bill went out to the line one
day and came back with information that
n. & G. had taken contract on the East
ern division, and wanted us to sell our out
fit to them at invoice price and 90 with it
to the location. help to build camps, and
get things ready for general occupation and
work, after which we were promised the
charge of camp each. (the contract was
twenty five niles or take contract on the
line. or for ties, as we preferred. Here was
good chance and we accepted it, They
sent team and carefully packed every thing
and we started about the first of October.
In the meantime Johnny had joined me
again and went with us. The distance was
about sixty miles, and over the rough roads
would take us four or five days.
We finally fetched up at our destination
in snow storm, foOtsOre, tired and hungry.
The whole country was a wilderness and no
mistake. We were then the advance by
twenty miles, on the preliminary survey, in
sparsely timbered district -windfals for
wood and tamarack swamp for water. There
were eight of us all told, and we pitched in
and soon had the tent up, and roaring
fire. The cook went cheerfully to work in
the storm to get supper, and soon had us
sitting to fried pork. hot biscuits, tea and
cold apple sauce.
1t showed more or less every day and
night for whole week and we did not see
the sun during that time.
While the men were cutting logs for the
camp. Mr.. B.. who was in charge of the
work, decided to take general survey of the
location for future operations. and l was to
accompany him. 1t would occupy four or
five days, and we prepared our packs accord
ingly. We started eastward on the line, and
went ten miles or more, and then made
detOur to the right to see the prospect for
timber. We crossed lake Windemere late
in the afternoon and camped for the night
We cleared away the snow, about foot
deep, and built tent of spruce bOughS.
made tea in tin kettle, and had hungry
supper. We started again early next morn
ing and anticipated reaching the line about
noon. but shortly after we started, we came
upon tremendous obstruction in the shape
of windfall. | had encountered these
things very often before, but this exceeded
anything of the kind l had ever seen. 1t
commenced about half mile from the
south shore of the lake, and extended east
and west and was fully half mile wide.
The trees were principally good sized hem
locks and they lay one on top of another
in every conceivable shape, blown up by the
roots, and in many cases literally twisted as
one would twist small green stick into a
Withe. 1t seemed to be about two years
since it occurred, and l tell you old BOreas
must have been on terrible tear at that
time, and it was much preferable to see it
afterwards than while it was being done.
1t took us full two hours to get across it.
but we finally left it behind us. and before
night we struck the preliminary line again,
and eamped on it that night.
we followed the line four or five miles
further and passed through mile of tam
arack swamp. Here" | said to Mr.. B., lis
place | will get you out 100. 900 ties for
fifteen cents tie, top, butt and cut, you
take them as they lay" He said he would
place the proposition before n. & c. When
we saw all that was to be seen we returned
and found the log camp we'll towards COM
pletiOn. L turned to and helped to finish it,
and other men arriving, Bill was placed in
charge, (supposed temporarily and we went
to making ties principally on the right of
way.
A week went by and l heard nothing
from N. & G. Finally B. told me he had
decided to erect another camp on the ground
l had selected to make ties and he thought
they would make ties there themselves
That fOOred me! But he had the whip
hand and l had nothing to say. He told
me to find another place. and he would see
what he could do, took two men and was
gone four days looking for timber, we went
down the line five miles further than Mr. B.
and went 1t was late in the afternoon,
l could see beyond me from little rise what
appeared to be large swamp of good tim
ber. One of the men stopped to get camp
ready for the night and the other man and
/ went on to see 1t. 1t was a mile and a