WINTER AT RED RIVER SETTLEMENT.

Grey River Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 575, 23 September 1869, Page 4

WINTER AT RED RIVER SETTLEMENT.

The following is from the Toronto Globe: — The past winter was exceedingly bland, the thermometer never passing lower than 34 deg. below zero. The climate is so dry, so free from rawness, so healthy, that the cold is net felt. In fact, the only fearful thing in the North-west is the winter orage. Then the snow is lifted like dust from the prairies by the rolling winds, and whirled and tossed in multitudinous tons in the upper air. Earth and heaven seem to meet together. An eery gloom gathers in the furious drift, which moans and howls over the wilderness like some wild beast ; and every object open to attack is instantly sheathed in the appalling storm. .No human being can face a scune like this and live. There is but one alternative for the miserable wretch waylaid by it beyond the reach of shelter, and that is to stretch himself on the snow and cover himself with his blanket. In two seconds he is buried, and perhaps may continue so. There are instances, however, of persons having lain perdu, in this way for three days without a morsel to eat, and who are still living to tell the tale. Fortunately such storms are rare. We had but one day of this sort of thing during the past winter, and, though it was. very severe indeed, strange to say, it did not block up the roads. When once fairly beaten, the le'iipest sweeps the snow olf the roads, which are generally a little higher than the levels on each side of them.