The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-11

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fore the boat could make land, another was
SO chilled that he died soon at tSa - a ~ 20 u
There have been frequent instances OF the
concurrence of falling snow and blossoms
ON the trees, but there has been no instance
since OF snch intense cold so late In the sea-
son. At this time II reached all over the
eastern colonies, and was especially severe
among the new settlements Of eastern New
THE GREAT SNOW OF FEBRUARY. 1717.
In February, 17l7. occurred the greatest
I la Of snow recorded In the annals OF New
England-almost burying under the frozen
mass the small log houses Of the new planta-
LIONS, 30 eifectually were even the most
travelled roads blocked that the magistrates
ana ministers OF Boston, who had come out
oi tne town on the first day of the storm to
attend the funeral of the Rev. Mr.. Brattle at
Gays. The storm began on the Goth and
ended on the oath Of February. Old Indians.
OF hundred years said that their fathers
had never told them of such a snow.
IL was SIX 1eet deep In the street Of Bos-
ton, ten feet at Dunstable, twelve at Deer
held, on the Connecticut At Exeter and
Dover cottages and cabins OF one story were
entirely buried. so that the people dug paths
from one house to another under the snow.
iMany farmers iost snelf sheep and In some
lived from one 20 two weeks without food,
One man had some hens buried near his barn.
which were dug out alive eleven days after.
During the snow great number of deer
came from the woods for food and were fol
lowed by the wolves, which killed many.
Others were shot by the people. 1t Is related
that some deer fed to Nahant, and being
chased by the wolves leaped into the sea and
were drowned. Great damage was done to
the the fruit trees in the latter latter part of Of
damp snow to the branches, which were
broken by the weight.
This snow formed remarkable era In
New England, and old people relating an
event. would say that Il happened so many
mail from Boston was ten days In reaching
Portsmouth and seven In returning. Hon.
John Winthrop says: I'VE lost at the island
and farms HOO sheep, besides some horses
and cattle. 1t was very strange that IS days
In digging out the remains 0f100sheep found
two Of them alive. which had kept them.
selves alive by feeding upon the wool Of the
Others"
THE COLD WINTER OF 174l.
The winter of 174l was probably the cold
est ever known In New England since its
settlement. The quantity of snow was mod
crate. and travel was less. Interrupted. by
drifts than usual. Francis Lewis, after
ward one of the singers of the Declaration
of Independence, drove his horse from New
York, the whole length of Long Island
Sound on the ice, to Massachusetts.
The Boston Post Boy Of January IL said
For three weeks we have a continued series
Of extreme cold weather. so that our har-
bors and rivers are entirely frozen up. On
Charles river tent Is erected for the enter
tan aens q sS SSo 9 9na rost Aa
rupted for more than twenty miles,"
The Boston News Letter of March 26 said:
I'VE hear that great numbers of cattle and
sheep are Vanishing for want of food. Three
hundred have died on Slocum's Island, and
5000 on Nantucket. Neat cattle die in great
numbers. Some farmers offer half their
cattle for the support OF the rest till the last
OF Nav, but in vain"
On April 2nd the same paper said. spec
pie from Thompson's Island. Squantum and
che adjacent neighborhood, have come fif-
teen Sabbaths successfully upon the ice to
meeting at Dorchester"
Under the date Of July % the News Letter
says: ION the 18th Of July mass of snow
four feet thick; while we learn from letter
that under saw mill at Dover body OF ice
was found on the 18th Of July SO clear and
solid that party, visiting it out of curiosity
drank punch made Of it." nr54
COLD FRIDAY OF 1910.
The 10Th of January, 1910 was memoir
able day in the rural and billy districts of
New England. From the mild temperature
OF forty-seven above zero at sunset the mer-
curry sank TO twelve below in eight hours.
This change would not have been memoir
able had 1t not been attended by violent
piercing wind from the northwest, prostra-
ting trees and overturning buildings. Young
cattle and wild animals were frozen, and
many a traveller and stage driver received
ear-marks which they wore through life.
In New Hampshire Its effects were more es-
Daeiallv marked. farmhOuSe on the high
lands Of Sanbornton was the scene Of dis
tressing and fatal disaster 1t was occupied
by Jeremiah Ellsworth, his family consisting
OF wife and three children. Half an hour
and fell to the ground, exposing the whole
building to destruction. The wife, with the
youngest child, took refuge in the cellar. Mr..
Ellsworth covered the other two in bed and
left for the nearest mel ;hbor's house. one
hundred rods in the teeth Of the wind. which
he with great difficulty reached, with hands
and feet frozen, and his frame so overcome
with cold that he could scarcely stand. The
neighbor fastened with his team, and putting
the family In the sleigh. started for his own
sleigh and scattered the children upon the
frozen snow. As the mothers strength was
failing, the neighbor urged her to reach the
house, which she did by crawling the most of
the way upon the ground. He started again
and broke the sleigh, leaving the half dress
ed children upon the ice. Covering the
youngest under a log. he hastened with the
other two toward the house. Their shrieks
Stimulated him to intense exertion. He
reached the house, but the two children were
frozen stiff, and died a few minutes after.
Neighbors and physician soon arrived,
and the body of the remaining child was
found. Both OF the parents suffered long and
severely from their injuries. their lives
were saved, but they were childless.