The Long Walk Home

The cutting of firewood was a never-ending chore before Confederation. The Waterloo stove was the main source of heat in many homes and it had to be fed wood continuously. Just about every home in the outports had a horse or dog team for hauling firewood. In the winter months it was a common sight to see young boys, some as young as thirteen, cutting firewood with an old buck saw.

Cape Freels was blessed with natural resources. The cod would come in close to land. There were plenty of sandy soil for growing vegetables, kelp for fertilizer and hay meadows for the horses. But there was one drawback. The people on the Cape had to travel a long distance, as far as eight to ten miles, to cut wood.

The morning stars were still shining when Jim Rideout, age 16, harnessed his horse Jerry and left for a day of wood- cutting. It was a bitter cold morning, but it had the outlook of a good day. The going was smooth and he lost no time reaching Birchy Pond, about five miles away. When he reached the upper part of the pond, where the sled path passed by the river, Jim halted the horse. It was customary for the men to let their horses have a drink at this place and to get a bit of a rest before leaving the pond.

There was a hole in the ice for watering the horses. Jim led Jerry to it. While the horse was drinking, Jim walked ahead and a little to one side of the trail. Suddenly the ice broke and he found himself in the icy water.

The shock of the cold water almost paralysed Jim. By instinct, he got a grip on the edge of the ice. He knew he had to get out, and get out fast. By this time his hands were like frozen junks of ice, but he kept his grip. He fought his way through the currents to the other side of the hole. The strong tide pushed his legs straight out, and to the surface. With his remaining strength, he pulled himself upon the ice.