The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-01-22

ton of Iowa WAS visited with so great a
snow storm as we experienced last week.
On Tuesday night last the white fakes
came down with almost unparalleled ra
pidity, and were driven about with the
greatest violence by fierce wind from
the Northeast. 1t came while large
number Of our people were listening to
to the music and defamation of Mr..
SAMpsoN's Sunday School scholars. and
when the audience were dismissed. they
found getting home no pleasant or easy
effort. Many who came from the coun-
try were compelled to stay in town all
night, as the storm was too violent for
mau or beast to face it on the open pra-
RE, with all trace Of roads obliterated.-
The wind whirled the feecy particles
sround corners, and piled the snow up in
great drifts in sequestered hooks s. forced
it under shingles and into heaps in gar
re, chambers il under door ways
and spread it in long spire like ridges on
the floor withn-stuck it on exposed
sides of buildings unit! one might almost
fancy that the houses were sided with
swans down-plastered it all over unfor-
tunate pedestrians, until they looked like
rorlherner just from the hands of a
South Carolina or Mississippi mob--cov-
cred it over trees--swept it from the hills
aud heaped il in the eys--banked II
against fences. almost CELEBRATING these
evidences Of properly-lines-piled it in
pig pens, and gave Messrs. Porkers Els
ouimaux domicies -barricaded horse
roads and railroads, effectually cutting of
communication between town and couu-
try. Uncle Sans postal arrangements
were more effectually overruled than Sc
eession in South Carolina has been able
to effect Wednesday went by and no
mail People all anxious TO hear from
Major ANDERSON and Star Of the Vest,
and grumbling anathemas against the
delay. Thursday went by, and western
train had not come from Jesup, ten miles.
Prospect dark for news from " Seat Of
War" Friday morning developed the
fac. that there had been another fall Of
snow during the night almost as great as
that OF Tuesday night. Snow now two
feet deep on the level and drifts four to
six feet. Internal commerce pretty much
annihi!ated. Progress of locomotion,
with teams, about one mile an hour
Merchants lag on their oard, and grain
buyers take a holiday. Newspapers men
tally deyoured, advertisements and all.
and old numbers brought forth and re-
read Even patent medicine almanacs
considered acceptable literature. Friday
no mail, and no prospect Of knowing
whether the world had come to an end
down at Charleston or not. Saturday
everything in stotu quo, and printers be-
ginning to think about stopping business
for n week, until the outside barbarians'
could be heard from. Saturday after
noon, view Of western train a couple OF
miles from town. evidently anxious to en-
JOY the hospitality of Independence once
more. No go. Clerk of the weather
had arranged things differently. Town
went TO bed. thinking if it would sleep a
week, it would'n, be missed, under the
circumstances. But the town was mis-.
taken, for about ten O'Clock on Sunday
morning the shrill whistle of the Eastern
train. rs it came rumbling up to the de-
pot, told that il was wanted, and the town
obeyed the summons, rushed with broad
grin to the depot. and to the Post Office,
and felt that il was once more part and
parcel Of moving, busy, wide awake,
world.
The train had been since Wednesday
morning working through. 1t reached
Dyersville Wednesday night. and Man.
chester Friday night. 1t was from eight
o'clock Saturday morning until ten
o'clock Sunday morning getting from
Manchester to this place. 1t came with
in two or three miles Of this place on
Saturday night. but breaking the smoke.
stack OF the locomotive Marion, il was
compelled TO stay on the prairie all night,
the hands and passengers sleeping in the
cars. The train had three locomotives
attached. and was preceded by large
but rude snow plow. with which, and a
force OF seventy shovelers, ii worked its
way as we have said It wen, westward
10 Jesup in the afternoon. and reached
here sbou. 10 P NJ. on its return TO Du
buqus. =
Whs. was most provoking. however.
toe train brough, only Wednesday, mail.
and lef. US slmos, as badly of for news
as before. This was most culpable ne
glecl on the part OF the railroad company,
III -