Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-04-16
TALES OF THE COLD NORTH.
Miner From Dawson Describes Freaks
of the Weather,


of the Weather.
E L. Parsons, an old time Yukon
miner, says a Victoria, B. c., cores
pondent, has arrived from the frozer
north and tells some remarkable
stories Of happenings at Dawson City
where the thermometer drops many
degrees below zero. In conversation
he said:
Strange manifestations appear as
the result of the extreme cold. One
Is the way a fire burns in the stove
1t roars and crackles like great forge
and wood in the stove seems to dis
solve in the flames like a chunk Of Ice
the wood is gone and we wonder where
the heat went. At SO below, every
stove pipe throws out great white
cloud of smoke and vapor, resembling
a steamboat in its whiteness, and this
cloud Of smoke streams away for 30
or 100 feet. mingling with the other
white-gray mist or haze that remains
permanent in the atmosphere Of the
town like a dense fog whenever it is
40 or more degrees below zero. The
white-gray fog Is not fog as you
know 1t, but a frozen mist, and every
man, woman. child, animal and even
the fire that burns is throwing our
moisture into the air which is imme-
diately turned into cloud Of frozen
vapor which floats away and remains
visible suspended in the air.
Exposed hands, ears and nose
freeze in this temperature while go
ing a few yards unless they are we'll
mild jet Of steam, while a dipper OF
boiling water thrown into the air
emits a peculiar whistling hiss as 1t
drops through the frosty air.
"Prospectors in attempting to boil a
dish Of rice or beans upon a camp fire
unprotected from the weather find that
the side Of the dish which Is in the
fire will boil, while the part Of the
dish exposed to the weather will
freeze. Edged tools subject to the
temperature become as hard and brit
tie as glass, and will break as readily
under strain. have seen safety
valve blowing Off steam while the
temperature was go below, with ici-
cles hanging to the valve, having
formed from condensation.
"All vegetables, fruits, eggs. ETC., can
be allowed to freeze until they become
like bullets. To make ready for use,
place them in cold water for half a
day before using, and the frost will
shortly withdraw without injury to the
article. To attempt to thaw them out
by the more rapid process Of fire or
hot water spoils them for use.
Mr.. Parsons tells some remarkable
stories Of thawing out frozen foot, ear
or hand by immersing the frozen men,
ber in coal oil for some time-often for
several hours. He says:
"This Is absolutely a safe remedy,
and one thus escapes the surgeons
knife, as no bad results follow. This
Is not hearsay. A man from our
camp was found several years ago af-
ter he had been out all night while the
thermometer was so degrees below
zero, and both his hands were frozen
to the wrists. He was taken into camp
and his hands soaked in coal oil five
hours. All the frost came out without
his losing even a finger tip. The doc
tors were amazed, as they thought am
putation would be necessary. His hands
were white and hard as marble and
when placed in the fluid began to act
upon the Ice crystals.
"One has to be careful about touch
ing things with the unprotected hands.
1t Is dangerous to take hold Of a door
knob when 1t Is 60 below or there
abouts with the unprotected hands,
unless you are careful to release in
stantly, for IL you do not it freezes
your inner palm in five seconds"