Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-03-15


less strength was marked out across
the expanse. Thus the blanket was
thrown back from the warm earth,
and thus the cold was given chaEce
at the water beneath. IL day or so
the road would bear horse. A bridge
of ice had been artificially constructed,
on either side of which lay unsounded
depths. This road was indicated by
row of frs stuck in the snow on
either side.
1t was very cold. All day long the
restless wind swept across the SILVER
ing surface Of the plains and tore
around the corners of the islands. The
big woods are as good as an overcoat.
The overcoat had been taken away.
When the lunch sleigh arrived the
men huddled shivering in the lee Of
one of the knobs and tried to eat with
benumbed fingers before a fire that
was but mockery. Often it was near
ly dark before their work warmed
them again. All of the sideways had
to be placed on the edges of the is
lands themselves, and the logs had to
be travoyed over the steep little knobs.
A single misstep out on to the plain
| meant mired horse. Three times
heavy SHOWS obliterated the roads, so
that they had to be plowed out before
the men could go to work again. 1t
was a struggle.
Railway was evidently worried. He
often paused before gang to inquire
how they were making it." He SEEM
ed afraid they might wish to quit,
which was indeed the case, but he
should never have taken before them
any attitude but that of absolute con-
| fdence In their intentions. His anx-
iety was natural, however. He re-
allied the absolute necessity Of skid
ding and hauling this job before the
heavy choking SHOWS of the latter part
of January should make it impossible
to keep the roads open. So insistent
was this necessity that he had seized
the first respite in the phenomenal
snowfall of the early autumn to begin
work. The cutting in the woods could
wait.
Left to themselves. probably the men
would never have dreamed Of Directing
to whatever privations the task car
ried with it. Railways anxiety for
their comfort, however, caused them
finally to imagine that perhaps they
might have some just grounds for COM
plant after all. That is a great trait
of the lumber jack.
But Dyer, the scaler, finally caused
the outbreak. Dyer was an efficient
enough man in his way, but he loved
his own ease His habit was to stay in
his bunk of mornings until we'll after
daylight. To this there could be 60
objection except ON the part of the
cook, who was supposed to attend to
his business himself, for the scaler was
active in his work when once he began
it and could keep up with the skidding
But now he displayed strong antipa,
thy to the north wind on the plains
4 81 don't pose for no tough son of a
gunw said he to Railway. "And I've
got some respect for my ears and feet
She'll warm up little by tomorrow
and perhaps the wind III die. Il car
catch up to you fellows by hustling o
little, so guess I'll stay in and work
on the books today"
Cali right" Railway assented, lit
tic doubtfully.
This happened perhaps two days out
of the week. Finally Dyer hung out 8
thermometer, which he used to consult
The men saw it and consulted it too
At once they felt much colder.
4
Baptiste Teller, the Frenchman who
played the fiddle. "He freeze t'rou tt
hees eenside Dat is too cole for max
in de work"
.'Them plains is sure holy fright
assented Purdy.
9TH old man knows it himself,
agreed big Nolan.
Did you see, him rammin' around
yesterday askin' us if we found her TOT
cold? He knows very well he ough
not to keep a man out that sort o
weather"
you'd SILVER like dog in briel
path on warm day in july" sale
jackson Hines contemptuously.
"Shut upv said they. you're barr
DOSS. You ION nave 10 NC OUT III tu'
cold"
This was true. So Jackson's inter
vention went for little worse thar
nothing.
at amt lax he has nuttin' besides,
went on Baptiste "He can max d.
cut in de needle of de fores'."
"That's right agreed Bob Stratton
"They's the west half of eight ain
been cut yet"
So they sent a delegation to Railway
Big Nolan was the spokesman.
s'Boss," said he bluntly, "she's to-
cold to- work on them plains today
She's the coolest day we had"
Railway was too old a hand at TIL
business to make any promises on tn
, spot.
"I'll see, boys" said he.
When the breakfast was over tn
| crew were sent to making skidway
and travoying roads on "eight." Thi
was a precedent. In time the work o.
the plains was grumblingly done in an,
/. weather. However, as to this Radwa,
J proved firm enough. He was goo,
SoJ,for xr,i,op ha Epoyv I, I'm,