The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1868-04-10
The Late Snow Storm.

Z
away when the fruits of the husband
mans toll are garnered, and the days de-
crease in length; when the foliage assumes
a russet tinge, and chilly northern blasts
would fain convince US that Winter is al
ready upon US, Dame Nature seems to
grant new lease of life to the departing
season, and its splendor is fairly eclipsed by.
the brighton efugeDce of our beautiful In.
dian Summer. In this region, by a similar
freak; the old lady sometimes gives like
extension to the retiring Frost King, who,
when apparently impeached and deposed,
proves only to have been suspended ad in
term, and is permitted to resume his ex-
ecutive functions for brief season with
vigor that astonishes those who arc not ia
niiliar with our climate This short return
of Winter is designated by some OF the den
liens hercabouts, for the sake OF euphony,
as our "Squaw Winter" Such season
has just been upon US. A week ago, and
for the fortnight previous, there was no
premonition Of return of cold weather;
the frost was out of the ground, and here
and there patches of verdure had begnn to
appear; the balmiest Of Spring zephyrs
played upon the surface of the lake, and
its waters rippled upon the beach with
musical cadence suggestive only of bright
skies and pleasant weather. A few indi>
! viduals even had the hardihood to appear
on the strotti With straw hats. and others
rummaged In drawers and clothes presses
at home for their last year S linen busters
! But, presto Last Friday afternoon the
sky cloudcn over raw, dlsagreeabe wind
sprang up from the northeast, which grew
chilier and more penetrating as night set
| in When day broke on Saturday, snow
had fallen to the depth Of four or five
inches and was still coming down. 1t was
piled upon easements and in doorways, aud
cold nor caster caught it up in furries
and sifted it into every Granny and crevice.
/ Mufflers and oyercoats were 10 demand, and
! linen coats and chip hats at discount.
Taken altogether, it was specimen of gen.
uinc Winter, and had old Rip Van Winkle
awak keued from his twenty years snooze in
Manitowoc last Saturday, there would have
been no difficulty in persuading him that it
was nlidwinter day, and very disagreea-
bic one at that
| Such snow storms are not Of very rare
occurrence in this section, and our oldest
settlers have experienced not few OF
greater severity Which occurred even later
| in the season than this. The most memo
rable of these took place in 1915 On the
afternoon of April 9th of that year, snow
commenced falling, and fell without ces.a-
ton during the night, with its usual accom-
paniment Of northeast wind. On the
morning Of the 10Th it covered the ground
to the depth of nearly two feet on the level
w. II. BRCcE, then of Manitowoc Rapids,
well known as one Of the pioneers of the
Green Bay region IN writing to an Old and
esteemed citizen of Man;owoc, who is still
in business here, gave expression to his
wants and to the condition of things at the
Rapids in the following laconic note:
| e E 'RAPIps, April O, l845.
| "P. p. SMITa-Oedr Sir Snow D inches
deep. Send me some pork for God's sake.
'W. ii. BRUCE.n
The schooner Savannah, which had been
beached near Two Rivers the previous fall,
was set ahoat by the heavy sea running at
the time, and her crew headed her south,
and although she kept among the breakers
the entire distance the air was so thick
with falling snow that land was invisible,
until she struck the bar at the mouth of our
river. The male portion of the inhabitants
of Manitowoc, who did not then number
more than a corporals guard, came to her
assistance, and after hard work, succeeded
in getting her inside.
On the l7th and ls:h Of April, ls47, oc-
CURED another spring snow storm, this time
accompanied by the most terrific gale of
wind that ever swept over Lake Michigan,
so the old pioneers say, since white man
first set eyes on It." The lake men of that
time tell some thrilling stories of its fury,
and there is no doubt that it has not been
equalled since ISAAC SAcKETr's house,
at the Rapids, was blown to the ground,
and new two story house near the South
Pier, since known as the Thorpe House,
then being built for Mr.. ADAM ROBERTS,
was lifted from its foundation, carried
its full length away, and set down upon the
sand, without injury. Other property was
damaged, and trees without number were
uprooted and laid on the ground like new
movn grass.
On the Goth of May, lS4S, snow fell to
the depth OF six or eight inches, and on the
lst of May, two years ago, the ground was
covered with snow.
At presen. writing Tuesday the ground
is still white, but The snow is rapidly dis
appearing before the geLial rays sf the sun,
and we sincerely hope we shah see no more
OF it until next November. .'-.t
AuNAPEE---B Business at Ahnapce has