Jim McConnell's Autobiography 1877 - 1957Canadian pioneer farmer in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia |
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10. Now I must report a little about those 1907 mosquitoes. They came as soon as the snow had melted and the weather warmed up. They were the huskiest and the hungriest that I had ever seen. The grass in most places was long, and when the wind blew, they stayed in the grass. But the minute it was calm they came - - not one or two -- but just as many as could get a roosting place on your face or neck or any exposed place. We had them that year until August. Another discomfort we soon discovered was the shortage of water. When the ground frost went out, the surface ponds immediately dried up. We had to get barrels on the wagon and drive five miles to a spring for water. This took a good half day with the oxen, and water had to be hauled about twice a week. And now as the summer advanced, a stable would have to be provided before winter came again. The only building material available within reach was sods, and a little slough of water grass on the next quarter would supply plenty of sods. Not having material to frame the stable, I borrowed a wagon and made a trip away east to the hills near the Saskatchewan River. By trailing one team behind the other I brought back two loads of poplar poles. The equipment taken was a week's provisions, a water pail to water the oxen, tethering chains and a couple of blankets. Late at night when the oxen got tired, I tied them out where there was plenty of good grass. Then putting the water pail under the end of the wagon tongue to hold it up off the ground and throwing a blanket over the tongue, I was able to make a comfortable shelter from the wind. I would then crawl in with the other blanket and go to sleep. In the bush, the best poles had already been taken, but with two days of hard work, two loads were cut and carried out and loaded on the wagons. I managed to get back within six days with two good loads of poplar poles. In the remaining warm days in September, a substantial pole roof was framed and put on the stable and covered with hay; then more sods were hauled and the whole roof neatly coverered with sods, dirt side up. The weather now got much colder, and I decided to have the oxen wintered while I worked out. So with the oxen and wagon and travelling equipment, I started east for Hanley. What I had feared had already happened. When I reached Mills' place I learned that they had taken out the ferry and that the Saskatchewan River was frozen over and unsafe for travelling or for heavy loads. Like all homesteaders at this time of year, I was running very short of cash. Leaving Mills' place early, I arrived at the river flat about 9:30a.m. to find the whole river a sheet of glare ice. Taking the axe, I picked a path right across the river where I tested the ice and considered it safe. Then with the shovel and water pail, I sanded this path right across the river for the oxen. It took a good part of the day. Then, by taking the quietest ox, I tried to lead him out on that path. However, he would not venture, as he felt his feet slip, and he refused to move. So taking some empty sacks, I carefully tied one up around each foot and tied one over his eyes. Now he seemed to trust me leading him and very slowly and carefully picked his steps until we got right across. Each trip brought an ox over, but the fourth ox also had to pull the wagon behind him with a chain hooked to the end of the tongue. By sundown, I had made my way up the hill from the river flat and found a place where I could get the oxen fed and stay overnight. I felt much more content now that the river was behind us. Next day I found a farmer who was willing to care for the oxen, and I was soon on my way to Hanley and Saskatoon seeking employment for the winter. There were no Government Offices to give first hand information to the unemployed in
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