Thursday December 1- 1898
Colchester Reef Light House
Midnight
12.01am 32° Very light E. wind.
Changed light at 11 oclock.
Quite cloudy, looks stormy.
12.30am 32° Commencing to snow.
Went up to tower light. O.K.
5 34° Chet got up.
5.40 35° Chet started out with decoys and gun.
Wind West, light.
Looking for a shift to S. wind.
5.50
Wind rising
Finished reading last night, The Haunted Chamber by The Duchess. Like the author first rate.
7.30 35° Stiff breeze, wind still West.
9.30 36° Wind rising almost a gale, still West.
Just breakfasted.
Not feeling very well this morning.
10.45 35° Breeze still holds strong from the west.
Cloudy but dry. Sun at intervals.
Studying Geometry.
11.30 34° Breeze continues the same, West
12. Noon 35°
1.30 pm 35° Wind still West, stiff breeze. Sun shines, not very clear.
Looking for a shift of wind from N.E.
Stoves all cleaned out and ashes shifted.
Apples picked over and poor ones all brought from cellar.
2.30 35° Breeze from W continues and blowing harder.
Minded teapot.
Drying flood wood in a spider on top of coal heating stove in sitting room.
3.30 34° Wind still W. blowing hard as ever.
4.05 33° Lighted lamp. Everything as it was.
Thursday December 1-1898
Colchester Reef Light House
5pm 32° Wind a little easier, still in W.
Hope Chet will come soon.
5.50 33° Wind had all gone down, but is commencing again to blow quite hard.
6.50 34° Wind continues quite fresh.
Went up to look at lamp. Found it O.K.
Starlight but dark, as moon is not up yet.
11. 34° Wind W. blowing hard again. Starlight.
Wrote to B.S.P.
11.30 34° Changed Lamps.
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Midnight
12.01 am 34° Friday 2nd
Fresh wind W. Starlight, some clouds.
1. 34° Wind W. blowing a Gale.
Going to bed.
7. 32° Light wind W. + dry.
7.10 Put out light at Sunrise
8. 33° Wind W. light, Somewhat cloudy.
8.10 Wind working into S.W.
9. 35° Sun bright + warm for a short time.
Wind has got around into S. very light.
10. 35° South, light
Sun shining but looking hazy all round.
11. 36° Wind S. Fresh breeze. Sun occasionally.
Breeze cooking. Breakfast eaten.
Paring apples for sauce.
12. 36° Apple sauce nearly done.
2.20 38° Wind S. Fresh clouded over and looks stormy all round.
Water boils out of beans very fast indeed.
Hope Chet will get here before the storm which seems now to be gathering.
2.25 pm 38° Breaking a loaf of Graham bread in the little iron pan.
Stirred up wheat bread this mng and it is rising beautifully.
Apple sauce made. Dishes washed. Lamps trimmed and everything all straightened out.
4.05 Lighted lamp
4.30 39° Wind S. fresh as ever.
Looks stormy. Everything all right so far.
I think the egg I put in my graham must have been an antiquarian, or nearly so.
6.30 40° Wind S. but seems to be going down.
Dark and cloudy.
Having the Devils own time with the cooking stove.
Bread nearly ready to go in the oven + the fire d-n it is nowhere, but I guess then will be one by the time the bread is baked. I dont think. I like a cool fire to cook with but I may sometime.
8.15 37° Wind unchanged.
Afraid my bread will spoil, have only just now after an hour and a quarter succeeded in getting the fire into working order.
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Midnight
12.01 am 40° Saturday December 3rd 1898
Wind a little of S.
Light breeze. Cloudy.
Changed light. All O.K.
7.30 35° No wind but small swells run in all directions, as I suppose it is about to change.
7.40 am 35° Chet came about 5.30 and has just gone again with 2 bags of coal and other things wanted at camp.
He brought flour, butter and sugar and a bundle of papers for me, sent by Mary.
Hiram is at the Island. Hope he will come over . Told Chet to tell him but guess they will be too far apart when Chet passes. Hi is out after duck in his boat off the island.
I baked my bread 2 hours and a quarter. It can be eaten, but it is very curious looking bread. It ran over and settled down and I dont know what it didnt do. It was the worst luck I have ever had since I came to Vt.
It seems almost like a spring morning.
10.30 38° Lamp cleaned + trimmed, floor swept.
Light Wind S.
Reading paper Mary sent me.
Noon A great treat for me.
12.00 38° Wind South, Pleasant + sunny outside.
4 40° Lighted Lamp
4.30 Supper eaten.
Chet coming.
Prevailing Wind E. very light +dry.
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4.45 am 30° Sunday 4th
Wind E. very light all night.
5. Chet started for the island after duck.
Back ached all night + didnt sleep very good.
Went to bed about 6.30 too early I guess.
10.20 36° Chet just left west side of Hogback to go around on other side and I have just built fire in kitchen to get breakfast by the time he gets here if I can.
9:40 Have just got ashes all taken up sifted and thrown out, floors swept - bed made everything dusted and now am ready to sit-down and read and write and get breakfast or any thing else that seems necessary. Wind S.E very pretty and a beautiful summer day all around, so far,
10:11 Chet just came. No, ducks.
10:40 More hazy, Begin to look hazy,
6. P.M Just finished dinner,
Just finished supper.
Wind S.+ S.E, light breeze, dry.
Chet shot at a butterball but he missed.
Read papers Marry sent me,
Went to bed at 7, with Chet but somehow I couldnt get to sleep so now I am up again until I get to sleep.
Midnight Light wind from S + S.E.
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Monday 5th
12:00 32. Snowing light,
Wind S. light,
Changed light,
Went to bed at 7. Going again soon,
2.A.M 52° Wind N. stiff breeze and howling like the devil, No snow now.
Going to bed
6:45 33° Wind N.E light and rainy a little,
Chet got ready to start before we knew it rained, so I went back to bed,
6:45 34° Wind the same but not rainy,
Chet just gone to H.B after ducks,
7:30 36° Eastern mountains covered with snow last night
Wind has got around to N. and coming light, Occasional spurts of rain.
Monday 5 December 1898, Colchester Reef Light House.
7:40 36° Looking lighter, but stormy nevertheless. Wrote a letter last night to Cassins .
Wind rising, White caps commence to show, two butterballs close along side on N.E side, Headed for Stave Island. Wind N.E light, raining a little, lamps all cleaned up. Wind all died away. Coming again, ripples run in all directions. 2 Loons this side of H.B. Going west and a butterball close by going towards H.B, wish I had a gun. Fog settling fast all around. Chet is rowing from H.B. to Laws Island. Dinner and breakfast all ready for him when he comes. Wind W. Light, foggy.
Dinner all out of the way, and dishes washed. Wind changed to S and blowing quite fresh and damp.
Pulled up and made fast the boat.
My dinner doesnt set well, and distresses me now.
Wed. 7th December 1878 Colchester Reef lighthouse
10. A.M 34° Wind S.W fresh clouds.
Neglected all day yesterday to write of passing events. But everything was about the same, so I guess it will make no difference. We have just finished breakfast and are now waiting for hot water.
P.M Commenced yesterday to make a scrapbook.
8:40 Wind S.W all day fresh.
Squally all around but hardly so here.
Havent done much today.
Chet made some raised buckwheat pancakes. But he wouldnt let me have any. So I mixed some myself. Tonight and after a loaf of Raised Graham bread. It is my first trial for the both of them, and I fear for the results.
Wrote for two marriage papers. And also to Sears Roebuck and company for particular respecting Klondike Exhibition.
Wrote or rather commenced a good long letter to sister Mary. Have now just finished 10th paper. have seen no butterballs or ducks of any kind.
Thursday 8 PM
2.45 32° Devil of a wind storm coming form N and W.
9. 20° Wind S.W Fresh , all day! Quite a squall at about 3 p.m. Couldnt see more than 20 rods in any directions. Tried making raised buckweats. poor luck. Chet tried yesterday and he had no better luck. I made new yeast and have mixed a batter for morning. Hope it may prove to be good!
9.30 18° Snowing colder. Starlight with few clouds.
Friday 9th AM
10.35 23° Chet just started for phone. With letter and to get the mail to. Will land at the point. Have raised buckwheat again for breakfast. Better than others but not much to brag of.
2.30 PM 24° Wind S.W. light squally all around but not here.
Wind N.W. rising. Lighted lamp at 4:07. Hope Chet will come back tonight. But I hardly expect him.
5. 22° Wind lighter again. Sent quite a mail this morning by Chet. 8 Letters and cards between us I think.
8. 20° Looked at lamp OK. Wind light.
Saturday 10th
7. 29° Wind W. Light, very cloudy, foggy and looking stormy.
7.30 Look down light at 7:20. Broke our chimney putting it on lamp after the extinguisher. Found water on floor this morning indicating that sink drain has frozen. Bad luck comes all the time. Wonder what the next thing will be.
8. 28° Commencing to snow. Wind W. but seems to be rising slightly. Wind W. but seems to be rising slightly.
10.45 30° Wind W. light again, no white caps and the sun breaking through at times. Just finished breakfast, Chet not here yet.
9.45 30° Seems to be cleaning all around. The snow was only a light squall here. Wrote last night to G.F. agent at St. Albans, regarding my lost fishpoles, but I have very little hopes or expectation of ever seeing them or getting any pay for them.
11.20 31° Wind West, Rising, numerous streaks of soap suds on the water. Have been locating cousin Jennies old home. Could see it quite clearly if it were not for the very motion of the atmosphere which seems to prevail much of the time at this season of the year.
Noon
12. 32° Wind veering is N.W, increasing slightly. All clouded over again. Work all done up, so I can now read, write, or do anything else I feel disposed. Have washed out two shirts for myself.
P.M
5:20 32° Wind still N.W, very light. Dark + cloudy. Just finished supper. Had Potato, squash, turnip, grilled onions, cabbage, steaks, graham bread and Johnny cake + coffee. All it lacked to make it pleasant and comfortable was the presence of Chet. Im not looking for him now though. Finished writing a 10 page letter to Will Dague.
8:00 32° Wind, hardly any.
10:20 35° Wind S, and quite a good breeze. Just woke up after a nap of an hour and a half.
Midnight
12:00 34° Wind S. Changed lamps, Everything O.K.
Sunday 11th
1:45
7 32° Wind W, Fresh. The hung up disappearance that islands and points have presented for several days. is entirely lacking this morning in all directions and every thing comes close to the water. While the wind is W, or a little S of W, a swell. Still wind from S, and there is S, a deep black line.
7:20 32° Took down light. Snowing in N.Y. also on eastern mountains at a distance.
7:30 32° Black line S. has disappeared, swell from S. continues. Cloudy all over, no sign of sun.
9. 33° Clearing a little in the west. Wind W, fresh, quite so.
9.30 34° Filled up the 5 gal oil tank.
11. Wind W., a little easier, looking for shift to N.E. Sun comes out occasionally. Put bread to rising. (2 cups flour, 4 cups warm water, 1 cup yeast, a little salt, sugar, soda, and shortening).
Noon
12.
1:00 36° Wind rising into N.W, fresh. Squally everywhere except on the lake.
1:00 35° Wind nearly N.W. Snowing at Port Kent.
1:45 35°
2:00 31° N.W
2:10 27° N and mighty fresh snow.
2:15 26° Wind N., quite fresh and rising. Snow W + N and everywhere else I guess.
2:27 Heavy snow squall coming from far N. Islands and point off S. look hung up again.
2:35 25° Squall has struck here. Cant see Hog Back. Wind blowing almost a gale.
3:45 25°
Squall didnt amount to anything here.
4:05 25° Wind N or N.W, fresh.
5:00 25° Wind seems a little easier. Kneaded my bread, I set it to raise again.
6:30 26° Situation unchanged.
7. 19° A regular gale, from N. a N.W. Great drop in temperature in last 30 minutes.
7:50 18° Still a gale, N. Put bread in tins. Fire went out, had to build a new one. Went up + looked at lamp. Found it burning all right.
8:15 17° Wind harder than ever, N.
8:40 18° . Put bread in oven.
9. 16° Wind is same. Barometer indicates a coming N.E. storm. Bread out of oven. O.K, three loafs.
9:20 15° Wind same, a little easier.
10:50 13° The coldest yet, thermometer indicates on Nov. 26th + 27th, 14°, but it has gone below it, certainly.
11. 12° Wind the same.
11:20 ° Wind changed to N.E
12 12° Everything just the same. Changed lamps, OK. Going to bed, wind still easier.
Monday 12th
7:00
7:25 6° Cold as blazes, my hands nearly froze. Bringing down the lamps. Took down lamps at 7:20.
7:45 5° Getting colder, I see. Lake commencing to steam. Sun came up directly beyond Camels Hump, which is clearly the first time in about a week. Mansfield also shows all but the top.
8. 8° Sun wants to break through the clouds.
8:30 9°
9:00 11° Sun shinning. Butterball on N comes quite close, not even 5 or 6 mile distance. Wind dropping constantly for about 5 minutes.
9:50 ° Light wind N.W. Steam so thick I can hardy see through it.
PM
11. 11° Wind howling into the north.
1:15 8° Chet + Capt have been here, and gone. Neighbors are all well. Capt took several bags of coal and loaded the boat pretty heavily, and in getting off the pulley in stern unhitched a little prematurely and the boat with only Chet in it swung off leaving Cap on the ladder. Chet rowed round to south corner and Cap went down on rocks with wooden ladder. Before he could get in the ice melted from the hole in the bottom of boat and Chet had lively work to move bags of coal and put in plug which fortunately was all ready and close at hand.
After bailing out the boat with fingers freezing he managed to get up when Cap could could get in and off they went but wind from N so hard they had to row around and land on So. Beach somewhere, but steam is so thick I can't see where.
I missed them from their regular course and ran up to the tower with a glass and discovered the away So. After seeing them off I came in to find my kitchen fire out and sink spout frozen I guess and now everything seems to be wron.
1:30 7
4:05 8
4:30 7
Measured foundations of Light House. Outside of House 25 ft x 25 ft. Outside of Walls 32 ft x 32 ft. Walk around house 3 ½ ft wide. Fence outside of walk 40 in. high. Height of walk about water level today 13 ft. 4 in. Top of wall to sill of House 18 in. Sill to bottom of cellar 7 ½ ft. Therefore, bottom of cellar about 6 ft above the water level at present time, so we are not liable to find things floating around down there at present. Sills of house 15 feet above water level.
5:00 7 Wind N. Light, Steaming.
8:30 6 Dont know when wind is but it is light.
10:00 4 Light wind NW I guess. The very coldest yet. All I can do to keep warm in sitting room alone with door of kitchen closed.
11:00 3 Snowing. Wind light.
Have been writing to Sister Mary. 8 large pages and commenced the 9th and quit for tonight.
11:30 2 Light Wind.
Tuesday December 13, 1898
12:20 1 above. Went to bed.
7:00 2 Wind N. Fresh. Steaming.
About ½ inch of snow or frost on the walk. Nearly froze my hand bringing down lamp this morning.
8:00 1 Wind the same as at 7. Sun shining above the steam which shuts out every thing over 6 rods distant.
9:00 2above Wind N. light. Steam. Sun Shining.
10:30 4 Wind West. Light. Steaming. Sun Shining.
Mending old pants this a.m. and trying to keep warm but I cant do it four feet away from the stove. Reading also a little in The Valley of Poppies.
4:05 6 Wind NW rising. Steaming. Sun Down.
Put up lamp. Put up glycerines on windows in tower.
8:30 1 Wind NW fresh. Steaming. Starlight.
Had a nap.
9:00 0 About 5 colder all through than yesterday.
10:00 0 Wind NW light. Steaming. Starlight.
Wednesday, December 14-1898
Midnight 0 Northern Lights. Not brilliant however.
1:45 1 A little warmer.
6:20 6 above Wind light. Steaming.
7:20 6 Took down light. Heavy Fog. Wind S. Gale. Spray on windows in Kitchen. Pump frozen and everything else. Built fire in Kitchen.
8:00 6 Gale from South. Fog so thick can see only 3 or 4 rods and flying by at railroad speed. If it was not for the fog it must be a grand sight.
10:00 7 Wind Gale from South. Heavy Fog.
Sun comes in a little. Pump thawed out OK and no harm done.
1:00 17 Wind South hardest yet.
Butterball having a good time in midst of it all. Get glimpses of eastern shore occasionally.
2:00 18 Pulled up ladder and tied it. Wind was banging it terribly. Swept frost off the ropes.
3:30 19 Wind S. Not quite so hard. Steaming but can see land all around.
It looks as if it were frozen over between West Point and Laws Island.
Thermostat hasnt read so high since 7 p.m. last Sunday. Three days and an awful cold snap. I hope it is over for a while.
I am wondering when Chet will be back if he comes at all or if I shall have a to stay it out alone.
The waves come at rate of about 12 per minute and spray quite frequently has reached the top lights in kitchen windows.
4:00 20° Wind S. decidedly easier
But I am ready now for a freeze for all things that are liable to freeze either down cellar or brought in where it is warm. It strikes me that this is a mighty cold country, by spells, and the last three days has been one of those spells.
I have been visited once at any rate today by a duck on S.E end who seemed to enjoy the gale immensely.
A big gull has also been around several times to see that everything was all right and to assume in that I was not to be left entirely alone even if the wind did howl.
5:00 20° Wind S. Good stiff breeze but hardly a gale.
Have just eaten a good hot supper and am filling first rate but it would be pleasant if some one if some one were to talk over matters with.
6:00 21° Wind S. Rising again
7:00 22° Wind S. seems to have died away almost entirely but the swells break against the rocks every little while and then nothing is heard for another little while.
8:00 22o Quite same as at 7.
10:00 25o
11:00
11:45 20o
I changed lamps.
Everything O.K.
Going to bed.
Thursday, December 15-1898 Colchester Reef Lighthouse
6:30 A.M 6o Wind N. light.
8:00 7o
8:30 Snowing lightly
11:00 10o
Duck + gull both around.
Looks as if ice has frozen out this side of west point quite a distance and I have begin to think I shall be alone until we either have a thaw or a wind to break up the ice that has already formed or it freezes clear across to here.
Noon 11o Same as at 11:00
2:30 12o Swept off the walk all round.
Door on east corner S.W. side frozen so I cannot get out. Kitchen windows frozen solid too. Well, the wind cant come in there anyway. The spray was thrown by yesterdays gale nearly to the eves of the house. At least 25 feet above the water and the S.E and S.W sides are covered with ice.
I noticed a flag flying this side of Sugar Bush, but dont know what it means unless to mark some fishing spot.
Saw some person start out from behind west point and walk off on the ice away out behind Laws Island and came back dragging something after him.
Cant see to tell who it is.
Ice floating between him and Island and West Point
3:30 14o Chet has just been here and brought a postal card from Harry H. Ingram 96 Bowers ST. Nashua N.H. Chet says folks are well at camp.
It was he that I saw going over to this island the P.M when I was sweeping. He went over and got his little boat and came over here with it.
I was glad to see him.
Hines folks have got home from the west + Cap'n went to see them and was all knocked out in consequence and hasnt been to Essex and so Chet cant come to stay until things get straightened out a little.
4:30 13o Wind N. light steaming all day.
7:00 11o
Supper finished. Light looked after and everything all O.K.
8:00 13o
Wrote to A.H. Burton, Secretary, 314 Main St., Worcester, Mass. For further information.
9:00 13o No wind of any account but just guess it is N
Friday, December 16-1898
12:45 16° No Wind. Went to bed.
4:20 23
7:00 23
7:20 Took down light.
7:32 Sun just rising. The first time I have seen it rise for several days.
10:00 Wind S. Quite fresh
Noon 28
2:00 30
Saw a Butterball close by S.E. side.
Three gulls close by on N.E side. The nearest I have ever seen them in the water.
While looking straight at one of them with my glasses, I saw it grapple with a fish a live one too, and a perch I should say of good size, for it looked guide yellow in the sun and I could see it struggling and it got away in a few seconds.
I noticed that these birds seem to sit higher in the water than do the ducks. I have seen and they open their mouths very wide quite often. They rise from the water without any apparent effort and at times skim along the surface striking it consistently with their feet.
I watched them for half an hour or more.
2:30 29
4:05 30
Saw sun both rise and set today
First time for a long while.
4:45 30
6:30~~~~~
32
Just at freezing~
Hasnt been so high before since Sunday the 16th at 1.45 P.M when it stood 34Ί and then suddenly dropped 9Ί in less than an hour and everything has been frozen since.
The ice bridge between West Pt and the island has held all day. But beyond it toward Mallets Bay, it is clear again.
This has been quite a pleasant day, only a cold one.
It seemed to look smoky towards evening. I have finished reading Her Sailor Love by Katharine S. Macourd, and I found it unusually interesting.
7.30~~~ Wind S. Quite Fresh
11.30 34
First thaw since Sunday. Good. Hope it will continue & grow still warmer
~
Saturday December 17 TH 1898
12:15~~~~~
33
2:00 36
7:30 Took down Light
9:00 38
Noon. 38
4:05 41
5:00 40
Heavy Seas all day. Water constantly reaching the tops of walls and many times was thrown on upper sash of kitchen windows. The ice bridge between W. point + island still continues.
The day has been entirely without incident Have read, slept, and taken it quite easy.
6:45 38
Wind s. Quite Fresh. Cloudy.
I have just been looking over the Almanacs and found that there was an eclipse of the sun last Tuesday, and perhaps that accounted for this cold snap that came on so suddenly about that time.
I noticed our new moon of that date (13th) this evening for the first time.
I hope we will have a warm snap now for a while.
8:00 38
10:30 Quite Dark
~
Saturday December 18TH 1898
12.01 36
Barometer seems to indicate fair weather.
Going to bed.
1:45 38
8:30 36
9:00 Shifting to W.
10: W. light but rising
Noon. 36
Dark + Cloudy, looks stormy all round
4:05~~~~~~~~~
38
6:05~~~~~~~~~
38
7:00 34
8:20 30
Monday December 19TH 1898
12:30 AM~~~~~
15
7:00 4
8:00 Very pleasant + Sunny
9:00 Steaming a Little.
Noon 10
12:20~~~~~
12
3:00~~~~~~~~~~10
4:00 10
4:20 Chet just landed at the point.
Put up light at 4.06.
5:00~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10
Mixed up some bread this morning and it will be ready to bake by and by, so I guess I will build a fire in the kitchen stove and Im ready for it. Had general sweeping, dusting and setting things to rights all around.
One letter was from Cass, one was an invitation to my cousin Rob Fullers wedding but I guess I shant be there. The papers are saying that Mary sent me a couple of Practical Farmer" and three "American Citizens.
I was more than glad to see Chet, and also to get these news papers, for I have looked over two big bundles of papers I brought along when I came beside every thing I have found here, and I was beginning to feel a little bit lonesome.
Now this evening I will have a good time looking them over and reading news from down home.
5:45~~~~~~~~~
12
7:30 13
7:50 14
Just started my fire to bake bread and do some other cooking.
8:00 14
9:05 15
Put Bread in the oven.
~ Potatoes and squash are all cooked and combination gems all baked.
11:30 23
Tuesday. December 20th 1898
12:01 24
1:00 27
2:00 very. Snowing
2:30 S. Fresh, really a gale, snowing
7:00 32
Kitchen windows covered with ice,
Looks very stormy all around.
The snow last night amounted to nothing but a squall. Could see but very little of it in boat and on walk this morning.
7:30 32
Noon 34
12:30 Rain for a little while.
4:05~ 37
~
Wednesday 21~December 1898
12:00 38
1:00 38
7:00 Light
9:00 fresh
12:00 40
4:00 42
6:00
This had been a day of no event what so ever. A little rain once or twice for a few minutes at a time has been the only occurrence to vary the monotony of the usual proceedings. Even the gulls seem to have omitted their calls and I havent seen a duck in two or three days.
Have been mending a pair of pants that I have woven, have nearly finished them and after I do, I have some more of the same work to do.
I have read all the papers that Chet brought Monday 10 of them, and now I shall have to fall back on the library again. Well there are several books in it yet that I shall like very much to read, I know.
7:30 40
Thursday 22 December 1898
Midnight Changed Light
42
Moon has been bright and pleasant until now it is being obscured by clouds, dark and heavy.
The temperature has been even all day, barometer seems to indicate pleasanter weather with shift of wind to N.E or S.
7:00 40
9:00 Fresh.
Noon
7:00 42
11:00
Everything quiet today,
I guess the S. wind is going to blow the rest all right, after all.
Have been pretty busy today, bakes bread and beans. Took a bath, and cleaned up all around. Have eaten my supper, and written all the letters this evening, and now guess I will read awhile. I thought this A.M. we would have sunshine, but was disappointed.
The thermometer has been unusually steady all day and all last night to, for that matter standing around 40and 43.
The wind seems to be rising now and it wont have to go much higher to make a Gale out of it. Let her blow!
Friday 23rd December, 1898
Supposed to be the shortest day in the year.
Midnight 42
Wind S. and blowing quite fresh,
Raining.
Well Christmas is coming next Saturday, and new-years a week later. But I dont expect it will change the order of exercises here on Christmas, or on shore at N. Years with me much.
12:05~~~~~~~~~
42
1:30 42
7:00 appears to be about to change
7:30 Changing. Took down the light.
8:00 41
The lake looks fairly white to the westward.
12:00 W. Hard as ever. Gale.
12:30
At 12:10 a beautiful rainbow commenced forming, to the north, at 12:15 it was perfect. The arch was complete, and as bright as any I ever saw. The second, or outside one, was not as distinct, and was not complete. Both the extreme ends came down to the water within less than 100 feet of where I stood. I waited, and saw it all fade away, which it did at 12:20.
The sun is how shining beautifully, and it seems nice to see it so, once more my old gull has been around several times, but no ducks.
4:00 40
7:00 36
11:30 seems about to shift to S. again.
For the first time since I have been here, the sun has shown over where Nina and Sylvester live, and all the neighbors between quite clearly. Saw what seemed to be a meat cart, going past where the cyclone went through Cal Warners front yard a few years ago.
Saturday December 24-1898
Midnight
12:00 36
1:00 36
7:00 ,, ,, South ,, Pleasant morning
7:30 ,, ,, ,, ,, took down light
10:20 ,, ,, going to shift I think
11:55 ,, ,,
Chet has been here and just gone. He brought my ring which I had lost some time ago, and which Captain found in the lake near the dock, several days ago, I was pleased for I never expected to see it again
Captain has been sick with grippe so Chet could not be with me, the rest are well, Chet brought circulars from sears Roebuck + Co of Chicago, description of Cuban and Klondike illustrated lectures, etc and also a catalogue of patriotic literature issued by The American Citizen an Anti Catholic paper published in Boston, Mass; and also a price list of drugs too by Sears Roebuck + Co, So I have quite a lot of reading matter for awhile
12:40 pm 36
Chet has just rounded Johnsons point + gone out of site and the wind has just gone into the S.W. and is blowing quite fresh., I am glad he got out of the way in his little skimmer just in time
4:50 Wind S.W. light, very stormy all around
-put out light at 4:00
6:45 Wind variable
8:00 34
11:00 31
11:15 30
11:50 Going to Bed
Sunday 25th December 1898 Christmas
2:15 29
7:00 30
11:00 A little More Breeze
Noon seems it be working S.W.
Still light-but increasing
Cloudy all over + equally all around,
Filled up the big 5 gal can 3rd time since I came.
12:15 30
Have been watching two loons, on the south west side for past 10 minutes. They came up twice close together and not over 4 rods out. Oh how I wished I had a rifle. ~
It looks as if we were to have a breeze from the N. before long.
12.55~~~
27
Both loon + gull close by on E corner,
~~~~~~~~~~~~Guess we are going to have another cold spell.
Snowing harder than ever Cant see 40 rods in any direction.
~
1:05 Oh! that loon, not 100 feet away from E. corner he is a great aggravation to me, I wish I could catch him.
Wind N. light snowing quite hard
1:30~ 26
3:00 25
Just through my Christmas dinner I had potato, squash, turnip, cabbage, beets and stewed onions, Wheat + graham bread and doughnuts, tea and cold water butter and sweet pickle, and if only Chet had been here to assist in stowing it away there would have been nothing lacking. However it passed off very pleasantly, but I dont feel now as if I should care to repeat it today.
3:15 25Ί Wind N. very light
Clearing ending N.W. but cloudy every where else. I hope it will be pleasant weather from now until I get on shore whatever it may be afterwards.
3:35 Wind N.E. very light
4:00 Put up light
7:00 24Ί Makes no noise on rocks
10:20 17Ί Shifted to N. and rising though still light
Monday 26th December 1898
Midnight 16Ί N. very light
1:30 14Ί
7:00 Wind NW just a ripple
Everything or nearly everything frozen over loons, ducks and ducks are all around.
7:30 15Ί Sun just coming up. Took down light.
8:00 Wind NW just a little more motion to the water
8:30 18Ί very light
Steam commencing to rise.
9:00 17Ί If ice forms till noon as fast as it has since 7 oclock this morning it will come to the LH from W. point.
9:30 17Ί The ice is here but a large body of it has become detached and is floating on a current that comes from between Laws Island and w. Point. Ice seems to be Ό in thick as near as I can judge.
There is no wind at all.
9:50 17Ί The current is very strong and ice is crashing and grinding on SE side.
I think the whole lot is now free from W. Point and coming this way.
~
10:30~~~~~~~19Ί Several conventions of gulls are being held along~ in the edges of the floating ice field. What their decision will be I can only conjecture, they do not seem to be at all excited. The rate of speed at which that ice moves I think is about 5 or 6 feet per minute.
10:35 The whole business has stopped now. Its progress for the present seemingly barred by the LH. I seem at times to be frozen in all round except out towards the S.W. through a kind of canal cleaned out by the L.H. as the great body of ice went past.
10:45 Chet is coming. Sculling the white boat. I wonder I didnt see him sooner. He must be half way over here now. But then I wasnt expecting anyone at such a time.
11:05 The ice field as part of it cut off by Chets boat has started again.
11:30 Chet got here bring a letter from W. Dague and also a milk can which he said was full when he left home but nearly empty now.
Noon Chet just starting back to leave me alone again until Sunday morning.
I advise him to go around the floating ice field instead of trying to force his way through it as ice is Ύ in thick some of the way and he does so.
12:15 Watching Chet off towards the SW I see a loon through my glass just ahead of him. Chet sees him also and gets the old gun ready and faces the other way in the boat so he can keep his eye on him. He is running the loon between two fields of ice not far apart and the loon cannot or will not take the risk of going under them and so watching Chet he keeps ahead, diving once or twice but coming up in the channel. Now he dives. Now Chet pushes harder and now gets gun ready. Up comes the loon and Bang! goes the gun. In half a minute he reaches over the side and holds up for my inspection the loon while he gives a good shout. I return the yell with interest for it was a good shot, and it is very rarely that one can be shot. But this is Chets second prize.
12:45 Chet has now got through the open waters and reached the ice that still hangs solidly to W. Point.
12:55 He has just got through and over it and pulled his boat up and with loon and gun started for shore
The current has now carried all the ice between here and the Point away and if he had waited here half an hour longer he could have reached shore easier and just as quickly, but of course we didnt know it then.
I think I see a breeze coming along to the S. so I guess he got ashore about the right time after all.
1:22 32
3:16 31
27
7:30 30
11:00 31 and quite so
~
Monday 27th December 1898
Midnight 30
1:45 29
7:00 30
10:00 32
11:30 34
Noon 35
1:00 36
2:30 35
3:45 36
4:15 Gale just as hard. Put up light.
6:30 34
7:00 38
9:00 32
11:30 West Fresh. Just started up; begins to hum.
Wednesday December 28th 1898
12:05 31 Wind West Fresh rising.
1:00 30
5:20 16
8:00 8
Noon 6
3:00 7
3:15 6
4:15 5
5:00 4
This has been a day entirely without incident.
I havent seen even a duck, a gull or a loon. They may have been around but steam has been rising all day long and one could see nothing else at any time. I have busied my self mending some of my clothes, and cooking my grub.
We are having another cold snap with a vengeance and I guess it will be colder than the last air before it gets through.
7:30 3
9:00 3
This steam which has been rising all day has nearly all disappeared. The full moon is shining clearly and if it were not so confounded cold, one would enjoy being out of doors.
10:00 1 Wind N.W. light.
11:00 0 very.
Thursday December 29th 1898
Midnight -2
1:00 -4
Changed light. Slept since 10.
Frozen over towards West point to stay I guess unless wind rises pretty soon.
1:30 Ice appears to have broken away and is coming over here as it did Monday.
1:45~~~~~~~~~ The ice has reached here but is broken up pretty firm.
Running 20 to 25 ft. per minute straight from Law's Island.~
~
2:00 -4
Ice field has nearly passed.
2:30 -4
7:00 16
Noon 24
2:20 30
4:00 32
4:20 31
Think clock is 5 minutes fast.
6:00 ~ harder
7:00 32
11:30 35
Nothing today except the hardest gale I ever saw on this lake I believe. The windows were deluged with spray almost every minute and sometimes 2 and 3 times a minute. Wrote letter to Charles this evening. Mend old pants, apron and shirt today. I have to begin tomorrow to get ready to go ashore if the wind stops long enough so they can come after me. The ice bridge between W. Point and L. Island still holds but I dont see how it can with a sea so mean.
~
Changed light.
Friday 30th~December 1898
~Midnight 35
12:01~ 35
5:00 34
7:00 37
7:40 ~ Took down light
8:00 38
10.30 42
Noon 43
1:00 44
2:30 ~ Easier. Looking for shift of wind to N or N.W
6:00 46
8:00 38
10.20 32
Saturday 31st December 1898
Midnight 26
Have had a hard wind all day.
Cloudy and damp
Swept dusted and mopped the sitting room + everything in it. Washed sheets + pillowcases. Baked Bread. Cleaned out all the bread cans and pickle jars and had a general cleaning up all around. Tomorrow I have got a lot more to do and then I suppose I can go home on a furlough if they can get~here after me.
12:45 24
7:00 13
8: 11
9: Steaming a little
Getting ready for another cold snap - I am afraid
11:00 8
Have got my overalls in good shape.
Noon 7
4:00 2
5:30 0
6:00 Rising
7:30 1
9:30 -3
11:00 -3
Midnight -3
And so the old year goes out. I hope the new one will bring good fortune, and blessings to us all. I have got my cleaning up, mopping, washing, mending, packing +c. all done up and expect Chet will come after me sometime to-day if wind and weather permit. Everything has passed off pleasantly here and I almost feel sorry to pack up and go. But then I always feel that way when I get settled anywhere. Well we will say good by to the old year and turn to the next page and start in on the new year.