Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. The Arrival of my Father and Brother—Journey to Illinois—Work on a Railroad—The Ague—Doctor Ober—Religious Impressions—The Arrival of my Mother, Sister and her Husband—A Burning Railroad Train—We go to Minnesota—Our Experience as Wood Choppers and Pioneers
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IS 4.2 Story of an Emigrant.
was oiil}r slightly disturbed by a faint conception of
something wrong, and by a desire to get up, but without
sufficient energy to do so. This feeling gradually subsided into
one of quiet rest and satisfaction, until consciousness ceased
altogether, and, as far as pain was concerned, all was over
with us.
At this stage an accident occurred which saved our lives.
Mr. Day, who lay on the outside to the right, had evidently
held his arm up against his breast to keep the blankets elo^e
to his body. His will-force being gone, his arm relaxed and
fell into the snow. As the bare hand came in contact with
the snow the circulation of the blood was accelerated, and
this was accompanied by such intense pain that he was
roused and jumped to his feet.
Thus we were saved. It took a good while before we
could use our limbs sufficiently to build a fire again, and
during this time we suffered much more than before. From
that experience I am satisfied that those who freeze to death
do not suffer much, because they gradually sink int® a
stupor which blunts the sensibilities long before life is
extinct.
It was about four o’clock when we got up. Of course we
did not lie down again that morning, nor did we attempt
to haul any timber, but started in a bee line across the
prairie for the ravine where Mr. Willard and I had seen the
tempting squirrel a few months before. We soon found that
going over the wild, trackless-prairie against the wind, with
the thermometer forty degrees below zero was a struggle for
life, and in order to keep warm we took turns to walk or
run behind the sleigh. In taking his turn Mr. Willard
suddenly sat. down in the snow and would not stir. We
returned to him, and it required all our power of
persuasion to make him take his seat in the sleigh again. He
felt very comfortable he said, and would soon catch up with
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