The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-11-27
LOST IN SNOW STORM
ONE MILE FROM HOME
Unpleasant Experience 0i Lumber
Cruisers in First Snow Fall
0i the Season
w. B. Goodrich

II was some fifty years ago that
Joseph Clark OF Caratunk sent four
OF his best lumber cruisers for Il
days cruising about Moore's Bog.
some three miles east OF Caratunk
The day was late in November. All
the morning the sky had been over
cast by a dull grey. thiekening haze
ana chilly northeast wind was blow
ing As they were eating their noon
day lunch the first snow of the season
came sitting down through the trees
with that nerve chilling icy tinkle
that only can be made as the first
snow strikes the bare branches and
the dry leaves on the ground
Half an hour later a bowling north
east blizzard was sending clouds of
snow down through the trees whose
tops were swaying and moaning in
the increasing wind.
The men decided that il would be
useless to explore longer in such a
storm and decided to strike west so
as to come out near Mr. Clarks hotel
But instead of going west they found
they had gone to the south and were
near the Moxie slides that they could
dimly see through the falling snow
Again they took their bearings and
started west The eYergreens and
undeTbrush were becoming loaded
with snow and only for a short dis
lance could any object be seen.
After another hours travelling they
came upon their partly filled tracks.
The realization of the fact came upon
them that they were all turned
around Each one has his own no
ton which direction was the right
way home.
There was not a compass in the
party as each thought someone else
would take one, Again they decided
on a direction, but it was a confused
and aimless wandering with the deep
gloom settling down through the for
est.
7 At last they came upon blow
down" where some previous storm
had uprooted a number OF trees and
left them in twisted mass
Cold and wet from the snow that
stuck to their clothing, the men de-
cided to build a fire of the fallen
trees and stay there for the night as
it was impossible To go father in their
hewildered condition. Soon a fire
was cracking in the tops and by it's
light they built Il shelter of bouchs
which was u poor protection against
the wind and storm. So all night they
stood about the fire. turning first one
side then the other. and in that way
dried their clothing, Tho storm
ceased at about midnight. more than
a foot OF snow having fallen.
As it was beginning to grow light
next morning. though storm clouds
still hung over tho hills tho growing
of rooster was heard which seemed
to the men TO come directly from tho
east and they concluded that their
wanderings must have taken them into
Moscow. Where there was a rooster,
there were people. and where there
were people. there would he some
thing to cat So they struck "beC
line" for the rooster Soon they
came into pasture and down In the
valley were farm buildings and from
the chimney of the house weleom-
ing column OF smoke was ascending
One of the men hurried on ahead TO
see If they could get some breakfast
When he knocked al the door 1t was
his wife who opened it, He started
back and said. How did you get over
mere ia htth over any
where, she replied. "where have You
been all night? Don't YOU know your
own house, This is not my house
for il sets on the wrong side OF the
road. and the barn is on the wrong
side OF the house" BY this time the
other men had arrived To them
everything appeared all right
The woman soon had some ho; tea
for them and a good breakfast cook
ing. All that day the man was be
wildered The fact was they had
been all night within mile of this
house. Their instinct instead OF