Page:Awful phenomena of nature -- snow storms, third of March and twenty-third April, 1827.pdf/6

 several instances, upwards of a score have been dug out of single wreaths, dead, and dying. Cattle also, I believe, have suffered much."

A friend who writes from Waterbeck the same day, says—Many sheep have perished; and those who have little fodder, will be put to their shifts unless a thaw come. We are completely shut up, and in visiting a lady the other day, I had to walk two miles over snow from five to six feet deep.

From Gatehouse we have a letter dated Saturday. Our correspondent writes as follows: I have conversed with an old gentleman from the country, who says there never was such a storm seen in his day. Two or three farmers in the parish of Girthon, will suffer considerably from the loss of sheep. Around Mr M———’s park wall, the snow was from six to seven feet deep; but a complete canal has been cut through it, so that carts and carriages may now pass. Mr B———, and three commercial gentlemen, after being detained several days in Dumfries, were again storm-stayed in Castle-Douglas. They arrived yesterday on foot, terribly fatigued, having had to traverse huge wreaths at almost every step of their way. Betwixt this place and Port Patrick, several hundreds of men have been employed for days in cutting the road, and as a thaw has commenced, the communication will very soon be open.”

The above is a very doleful paragraph, but as yet not half the truth is known, and there is reason to fear, that we will have many other