A Snow Storm in Humboldt [pp. 539-543]

X892.1 A Snow Storm in Hulmbohdt. 59
A SNOW STORM IN HUMBOLDT.
"THE DEER TRAIL," HUMBOLDT CO.,
CALIFORNIA. - January I2th, I890.
SUCH a dreary day I have never known!
Since early in October, when our winter
began, we have had storm after storm.
Rain, rain, rain, and snow, snow, snow.
The ground around my cabin has been
bare but once, and then only for a few
hours.
Last night the snow fell lightly, and
until about two this morning; when I
was awakened by a driving rain pouring
down in torrents. It has continued
without cessation, but this northerly
wind will soon bring snow. I tried to
get out and work, but I could not. Even
my oil clothes would not protect me.
About noon I began cooking dinner,
but as I had bread to bake, it was nearly
two o'clock when I sat down to eat. I
had barely finished, when I heard a
whoop. I ran out, and answered. In a
moment my friend and neighbor, Mr.
Carney, appeared from the bushes with
a deer on his back. He was wet to his
skin. I bade him go into my cabin;
not to stop even to shake himself. After
helping him off with the deer, he sat
down to my table, and I proceeded to
fill him with hot coffee, bread, pork, and
beans. Yesterday he shot three deer.
He took one home last night, and hung
the other in the woods. This morning
he came back for them, and he had been
a mile out of his way to bring one of
them to me.
He stayed but a few minutes; then I
washed my dishes, dressed the deer,
chopped wood, brought water from the
spring, and prepared supper,- bread,
coffee, and venison chops, ribs and
loins. I have never eaten more juicy or
tender meat. That deer will save me
more than one half my daily expenses
for a week, and I will have another be
fore it is gone, if not by to-morrow.
It was half past eight by the time
I had dressed the deer, cleaned my gun,
chopped wood, cooked and eaten supper,
washed dishes, and swept my cabin. It
is now half past ten, and I am going to
bed. I shall go out for a short hunt at
daybreak, if it does not storm too hard.
Monday night, January I3th. - It
stormed too hard. I have cut a little
wood, and worked in my shop to finish
some bolts begun ten days ago. That
is all I have accomplished. I am so
tired.of this stormy weather, I would
gladly work at almost anything.
Saturday night, January 26th.- I see
that my last entry was on January I3th.
Twelve days! To me twelve years
would seem none too long for the events
of that short time. I shall not attempt
to write, tonight, of all that has hap pened. I could not. I never can. If I
did, and told the whole truth, I would
not be believed. My story will be plain,.
with no attempt at a graphic description of the unprecedented storm that
has overtaken and overwhelmed us.
At this moment I am as completely
cut off from the world as I would be
were I the lone survivor of a shipwrecked
crew on an uninhabited island in midocean.
The snow-storm I noted on the I3th
continued during the I4th and I5th
without cessation, covering the ground
about my cabin to a depth of three feet.
On the I4th, trees began to fall. Some
about my cabin looked threatening.
While I was eating my dinner, the top
of a large oak fell alongside of my cabin,
burying one side in snow, and covering
my doorsteps with snow, leaves, and
broken limbs. It so frightened me my
heart almost ceased to beat. I should
have left here, then, but after a careful