1875 . 
131 
between the snow and ice. The water was soaking the 
snow underneath and forming slush which being pro- 
tected by the covering of dry snow on top was long in 
freezing, even at this extremely low temperature. The 
result was that on attempting to cross, our snow-shoes be- 
came loaded with heavy slush into which they sank, and 
we were absolutely driven to remove them and wade the 
remaining nine miles through the slush (which was 
more than knee-deep) to the southern shore. Our leg- 
gins and moccasins became massive; half ice, half 
slush. Fully three hours were required to reach the 
shore, and it was with extreme difhculty that any of us 
succeeded; to have halted, even for five minutes, would 
have probably been fatal. It was nearly dark when we 
landed. An old Indian shanty was standing near by. 
The split boards which formed the roof were removed, 
split up and fired inside the hut. AVe worked with' the 
energy of desperation. Soon as we had a blaze, the wet 
clothing was removed and we lay down to rest a few 
minutes and then rubbed our legs and feet with snow 
and dry blankets alternately, to restore the circulation. 
The superficial veins, engorged with blood, were fairly 
what the surgeons would term varicose. Sensation 
was almost lost in the lower extremities. It was ap- 
parent that not a man could have succeeded, had the 
struggle been an hour longer. We had marched about 
15 miles that day, notwithstanding our breakfast was so 
scanty. No one complained of hunger. It was well 
that that craving had been abolished by the freezing we 
had undergone. We took turns in hunting enough fuel 
to last the night through, and this, with the snow and 
blanket applications, gradually restored sensation to the 
frozen members. It was near midnight before they be- 
came satisfactorily painful to warrant our trying to find 
some rest in sleep. How profound that sleep was, you 
may imagine when I say that for hours there was no al- 
ternation between severe pain and tetanic contraction of 
the muscles, that from its severity obliterated even the 
pain. It is probably true to assert that it was fully five 
in the morning before any of us had a refreshing nap. 
The remaining cake of vegetables had been put to soak 
and simmer by the fire before we laid down. 
Janu-IKy 13. We slept until the sun was an hour 
high, then boiled the vegetables, made some tea, took 
our meal, and started down Tache River. The snow 
was very deep, and the walking irksome. Our limbs 
ached from the exposure of the previous day, and we 
only marched because we had to. About 11 o’clock a. 
M., we crossed an old snow-shoe trail. 'While W'e rested 
and smoked, our Uree Indian followed it a little distance 
into the woods and soon we heard him shouting that he 
had a marten. This he found dead (frozen, but good) in 
a trap. There was now a debate as to whether we should 
cook it at once or save it for supper. For the benefit of 
those who are not familiar with this animal, I will state 
that it is not larger than a fox squirrel, and probably 
about as inviting an article of food as a tough old eat 
would be. Think of six men discussing over such a 
treasure as to whether they should eat it at once or keep 
it for the next regular meal. It shows how soon cold and 
hard work will drive men to extremities. We decided 
to keep it, and then started again. The marten demor- 
alized us all, for in less than two hours we had a fire 
built, the animal skinned and boiling. That nothing 
should be lost, the Indians roasted and ate all the vis- 
cera; being devoid of certain prejudices of civilized life 
they thus obtained a larger share than some of the rest 
of us. After an hour’s cooking, the meat and water in 
which it was boiled were divided evenly among us. It 
is hardly necessary to say that we relished the meal, for 
if we were hungry enough to want It at all, we were in 
condition to enjoy it. 
After all, there is nothing like two or three days star- 
vation jn a cold climate and hard marching withal, to 
convince a man, be he never so fastidious, that the con- 
tact of mucous membrane with anything that will sup- 
, port life, is neither injurious, nor likely to influence the 
individual, mental, moral or physical nature for the 
worse. It was nearly three o’clock before we started 
I again, and of course before long it was camping time. We 
certainly did not mak% over twenty miles that day. A 
K' fierce wind from the South began about dark, and 
K though we had camped in a dense clump of spruces, it 
"fc appeared to penetrate, and cut through every fibre of 
body. Owing to the topographical features of this 
country, a wind which, outside the mountain range may 
JS be from the north, may appear locally as a south 
S. wind being deflected from its course by the peaks turn- 
BB ing it in to valleys, or through gorges that have changed 
its general direction. Hence a south wind there, may 
be fearfully suggestive of a boreal origin; and it was so 
on the night to which I now refer. 
AVe kept up a blazing fire, and stood beside it until 
from a comfortable warmth and from fatigue we sank 
to sleep in our blankets. It may be well to state here 
that but few winter trip-men in that region, c.arry more 
than a single blanket. A robe made of from sixteen to 
twenty Mountain Marmot skins is as light and much 
better than a blanket. It keeps the wind out. Our 
slumbers were of short duration. From observations 
at Bulkeley House that night, the temperature most 
have been in the neighborhood of 40 ® below zero of 
Fahrenheit’s. Our sensations were, as we afterwards 
learned, those of the first stage of freezing. We man- 
aged to tteep alive and obtain enough sleep to give 
some rest, but this was all. Once away from the fire* it 
was a simple compromise between how much shivering 
we could endure and how much sleep we required. 
iThe feeling of saturation with cold (if such an ex- 
pression can be tolerated) _was not that of pain, but 
of chilliness, with “creeps” over the entire body, con- 
stant yawning, and at times a half tetanic rigidity. 
Almost an incipient lock-jaw. Several times during 
the night we melted snow to obtain water and made tea. 
This we drank, not because we wanted it, per se (from 
our civilized ideas of tea drinking,) but from the sense 
of warmth “a pint of real hot tea would give.” In 
how far this was connected with the physiological 
teaching that it would save strength, I am not prepared 
to say. It is doubtful if we thought of anything but 
getting warm. 
J.AN. 13. — Made an early start. The wind had in- 
creased to a eale, and it was blowing full in our faces. 
AA'’hile in camp, below the level of the surface snow, 
and screened by the thick evergreens, it was tolerable, 
but when we experienced it, as it was on the open river 
channel, it caused a dread that none of us cared to ut- 
ter. Probably we realized for the first time, that on 
our endurance that day hung the issue, life or death. 
There was not one in the party who had fairly recov- 
ered from that fearful crossing of Lake Tremble. AVe 
were weak, and aching in the ankles, ifrom over use of 
the tendons, while the muscles of the calf felt con- 
stantly as though they were pricked with pins. But 
we had no food, and co we must. Tea and tobacco 
were our main stays. AVhen the reformer “rings in 
the new and rings out the old” to the advantage of our 
common humanity, we honor him, even if his doctrines 
do run counter to indulgence in some pet sin; but when 
he lays violent hands on the sacred weed, all our feel- 
ings rise in indignation, and we say, “Hands off.” 
You dare not reason against the use of it, from its 
abuse. As a small item of science we will here insert it : 
“Chewing tobacco in moderation has not been shown to 
be mischievous.” — Stille. AVe thank the great doctor 
for his brave words. In less than an hour one of our 
number who had injudiciously selected a pair of snow- 
shoes larger than the rest of us, lagged behind. He 
could not follow ((iwing to the size of his snow-shoes), 
in our trail entirely and hence had to partly break his 
own way in the deep snow. The wonder was that he 
endured so long the additional expenditure of strength. 
AVe did not dare to leave him, and hence were com- 
pelled to halt every mile or two and allow him to over- 
take us, and rest before starting again. • 
The consequence was, that owing to frequent halts, 
it was dusk in the evening before we reached Stuart’s 
Lake, having made only about 15 miles during the day. 
AVhen we rounded the point and headed for ihe next 
cape, some four miles further the wind had full sweep 
at us. Our weak man was again behind. AVhile he 
was coming up, we kindled a fire and made some tea. 
A new feature now developed itself; some of us could 
not retain the tea when it was taken, and violent vomit- 
ing ensued. It was a long wait. He was far back and 
overcome by fatigue, chilled past the point of sensation 
AVe all, except the Cree Indian, fell asleep. He alone 
realized the import of that drowsiness, and with a faith- 
fulness beyond all praise, remained awake to save the 
rest of us. No words can express the content of such a 
slumber. Freezing to death, quiet bliss ; we were not 
cold, we were not anything, except sleepy. It seemed 
as though each eyelid had an immense weight that 
we could not shake off, and we only wanted to be 
let alone in a nap — that would have had no wak- 
ing. AVhen our comrade reached us, he was al- 
lowed a short rest and some tea. The latter in- 
duced vomiting in him also. But the Cree awaked us 
and we started for that point. Such an indifference 
had settled upon us that it was now difficult to keep 
moving. AA’hen warmed by walking we partly realized 
that to halt was death, but we had passed the dread of 
that. Before we had gone two miles, it was apparent 
to the Cree that at all hazards that point must be 
reached, leii/taut a halt. Two of the party had fallen, 
and refused to go further; it was only by kicking 
and dragging them that they were roused. How long 
it required to reach the cape we headed for, I can’t say; 
time was nothing; but we got there, and began to work 
under the inspiration of camping, to collect wood for a 
fire. Fortunately a huge pile of drift wood lay near, 
and in a dense clump of spruces a fire was started, then 
brush cut, and the snow cleared away. Four of the 
party were so exhausted that they could not possibly 
reach the house of a fur trader 15 miles further, yet some 
one must go to send out relief. The Cree and another 
of the party, after leaving their guns and blankets, 
started for the post. It was late in the night, and how 
the march was made must remain a mystery. Mind 
and body were lost to all appreciation of time and dis- 
tance, and like automatons wound to do a certain work, 
these two men kept on, with a half perception that they 
might live themselves, but above all that they might 
save their comrades. It must be a dreary march, half 
on the confines of this and half on those of the other 
world, to look back upon. Both men fell before reach- 
ing their destination; fortunately not at the same time. 
AVhen the last little projection of land that hid the 
trader’s house from view was rounded, and the smoke 
and sparks seen pouring out from his chimney, it was 
almost too much. Saved themselves, and the party 
saved! The barking of the dogs aroused the trader. 
He came to his door, and saw and welcomed the two 
to his comfortable quarters. They told him of those 
still in danger, and in less than an hour a relief party 
with food and blankets was on the trail to save them. 
I want to put the name of that trader, Peter Toy, 
on record for his generous assistance. May he never be 
reduced to the same straits, but if he is, may it be ours 
to aid him. How the two ate (contrary to all law) and 
slept that night need not be told. As exhausted men, 
they gave their wliole attention to it. AVhen two da}'S 
after the whole six were gathered under the trader’s 
roof, there was not a face among them that did not tell 
of the exposure it had gone through. The skin peeled 
off from noses, ears, and cheeks, but all were safe; and 
before we parted to go to Fort St. James (in sight) was- 
sails, many sad sincere with our host, were exchanged. 
I can not yet leek back upon that last night without a 
shudder. 
The distances given are approximations, as no sur- 
veyor’s chain has ever been stretched over that northern 
wilderness. 
Catching an Old Sportsman. 
Our old friend, D. W. Cross, is Vice P'resident of the Sportsman's 
Club of Clereland. He was very active in getting a law passed in 
the Ohio Legislature prohibiting the slaying of wild game during 
certain months of the year, of which April is one. He is a member 
of the famous Winon's Point Shooting Clnb, located in Ottawa 
county. He went up there a short time ago, just to see how things 
looked at Ihe club house, and to show a couple of friends the shoot- 
ing grounds. The decoy ducks had been lying around the club 
house all winter doing nothing, and Cross thought it would benefit 
their health to moor them out in the stream a little while and let 
them take the fresh air. They hadn't been there long before some 
wild ducks came along, and, after making a few circles in the air, 
settled down near the decoys. As soon as Cross saw them he was 
mad. “There," said he to his finends., “those ducks have no busi- 
ness there. They know as well as I do that the laws of Ohio forbid 
shooting them at this season, and they have settled down there just 
to tantalize us. Can't a man give his decoys a little fresh air, after 
being shut up all winter, without ducks coming along and disturb- 
ing them?" And the doctor waxed indignant and grew quite red in 
the face. “Haven’t had any exercise for months, those decoys 
haven't. All they want is to look around a little without being mo- 
lested by dneks or anybody else. I declare I’ve a notion to get my 
gun and give those saucy follows a scare anyhow." 
The doctor, in an absent way, happened to have his fowling-piece 
in his hands as he spoke, and a boat, by a singular fatuity, being 
close at band, he i>addled%mt and administered such a telling rebuke 
to those wild ducks for insulting the game laws as they will never 
forget. Oh. but the doctor was mad. “To think," he said, “that I 
should spend my time getting a law through to protect these very 
ducks, and they have no more appreciatlou of it than to come and 
sipiat down here, disturbing my decoys while they are taking a little 
salutary exercise!" and bang! down came another dnek. 
The next day tlie entire party were arrested by the slieriir of Ot- 
tawa county and taken to Port Clinton to answer to the charge of 
shooting wild dm k.s out of season, and lined twenty-five dollars and 
costs each. The instigators of this move were a couple of young 
sportsmen from Cleveland who had been out shooting snipe, and 
getting a little over the line of the club territory were ordered oil. 
The doctor tried to explain to the Port Clinton judge, in his cross- 
examination, that they only meant to Irighten the ducks away from 
he decoys. Justice couldn't be decoyed in that way, and the fines 
had to be paid.— Cln Sal. Night. 
