Newberry Library - George Frederick Augustus Ruxton papers, ca. 1839-1948

George Frederick Augustus Ruxton papers, ca. 1839-1948

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Open book George Frederick Augustus Ruxton papers, ca. 1839-1948

Title George Frederick Augustus Ruxton papers, ca. 1839-1948

Creator Ruxton, George Frederick Augustus, 1820-1848

Date 1839-1948

Language English

Summary Collection includes correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, manuscript notes, drafts, copies, etc., mostly relating to Ruxton's travels in America.

Extent 0.2 linear feet (1 box)

Format Correspondence, Photographs, Clippings

User-Contributed Transcription 11Crossed out: Captured in a day. These words conclude the text on a previous page, describing turkey trapsAt right margin: 13During our march back to the settlements, which, as we occasionally halted for a day or two to hunt, occupied some weeks, we had frequently to suffer ? days, and as we had no tents with us we bivouacked at night on the bare snow. With but one blanket to cover me, I often felt the cold very severe, particularly when it was drawing towards morning. At this time the fire would be gradually becoming lower, and we always felt too chilly or too lazy to doff our blanket and seek some more wood to replenish it. During the night awakened by the cold I would draw my blanket over my head and crouch near the fire and lighting my pipe would enjoy a good roast. Having imbibed sufficient calories, I would brave the freezing air, and turn out for a load of wood.As soon as the wood burned up, throwing a cheerful blaze for some distance into the woods, and revealing the slumbering forms of the Indians, rolled in their blankets, with their feet to the fire. One by one they would rouse up & drawing close their blankets hover over the fire, with their pipes in mouth, occasionally looking up as the falling flakes of snow hissed into the blaze and the sighing of the wind over the tree tops gave fair promise of a fine hunting weather. Knocking the ashes out of their pipes, without speaking they would again seek their freezing couch, and their heavy regular breathing soon proclaimed they were once more in the land of dreams. The last hour of darkness, when a faint greyish mist seems to tinge the sky, the forerunner of the coming dawn, is known to every one whose lot or choice may have prompted him to pass a winter's night under the hospitable canopy of Dame Nature as the most intensely cold of the 24 hours. At this time the half frozen hunter is roused by the searching frost, and crouching to the fire is dismayed by seeing only the smouldering embers of what was a few hours before, a blazing bonfire. Although abundance of wood is round the spot, he shudders at the thought of casting off his blanket to penetrate into the freezing gloom, at the same time hoping that one of his companions may be bolder than himself and run the risk of having his fingers frozen.Often have I been roused by a sensation of almost freezing at this hour, and finding the fire out have raked up the embers, almost burying myself in them. Too lazy however to replenish the fire, I would wait in expectation that one of the Indians would presently do it: but I always saw them offer a look of despair at the smouldering ashes, quietly resume their positions, rolling themselves into a ball, and covering every part of their bodies with their blanket. However, I generally mustered up enough courage in the end, and heaping lots of wood on the fire, would soon be joined by my dusky friends gradually ? in ?.

Transcription Status Needs review

Transcription Note This document was transcribed by volunteers as part of the Newberry Transcribe crowdsourcing initiative.

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Call Number VAULT folio Graff 3614

BibID 991560928805867

Rights Status Copyright Not Evaluated

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

Size 2598px × 4146px 30.84 MB

Filename 991560928805867_graff_3614-2_0061.tif

Unique Identifier NL1Y7GR

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