Oregon and California in 1848 . n to thirty feet deep. Such were some of the dangers to which they wereexposed during the continuance of this dreadful storm,especially on the third night. Boughs had been setdown around the fire. The snow was then thrownfrom the inside against the boughs, and upon the out-side, so as to form a bank to break off the force of thewind and driving snow, which fell so thick as to makeit impossible to see beyond a few feet. The cold wasso intense as to make it impracticable to chop morethan a few minutes without returning to the fire towarm. The party had all lain do
Oregon and California in 1848 . n to thirty feet deep. Such were some of the dangers to which they wereexposed during the continuance of this dreadful storm,especially on the third night. Boughs had been setdown around the fire. The snow was then thrownfrom the inside against the boughs, and upon the out-side, so as to form a bank to break off the force of thewind and driving snow, which fell so thick as to makeit impossible to see beyond a few feet. The cold wasso intense as to make it impracticable to chop morethan a few minutes without returning to the fire towarm. The party had all lain down, and were seek-ing to shelter themselves beneath their blankets. Thedriving snow soon covered them up. Upon some ofthem rising, the logs were found displaced, and thefire almost extinguished. The men, women, and chil-dren, were all so cold as to be in great danger offreezing. Mr. Reed had become snow-blind duringthe evening, and it was impossible for him to do anything. The men, with the exception of Hiram Miller, K :i III \. Oregon and California. 213 and Wm. McCutcheon, were worn down and disheart-ened. All became greatly alarmed. The childrenwere all crying. One of the women was weeping—another praying. A portion of Mr. Reeds men werealso praying. The two above named were alternatelystruggling to save the expiring coals, and swearing atthe others, urging them to leave off praying and go towork for the purpose of saving the fire ; assuring themthat all would inevitably perish before morning. voice was heard above the roaring of the storm,the weeping of the women and children, the prayersof some of the men and the swearing of others. Shescreamed, Mr. Rade ! Mr. Rade ! Do in the name ofthe blessed Vargin make yer min get up and make afire. Were all frazin—every sowl of us ! In thename of Saint Patrick and the Vargin, make them getup. They are all gettin three dollars a day to takeus out of the snow, and here they are a-lettin us allfraze. The Vargin save us !
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, booksubjectcaliforniadescriptio
