Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-25
THE STORM ON THE PLAINS.
Terribly Geld weather-Great Loss OF
Lives and stock.

LATes and Stock
From the Omaha Herald, April 10.
From Thomas Keys, Esq, and Mr.. John
Evans, of the firm of Evans 81 Durnall, we
gather the following particulars of the
damage done ON the line Of the Union Pa
cifc by the late storm. In company with
G. d. Clark, purchasing agent for the
Union Pacific, and T. j. Staley, they left
here last Sunday for Gibbon, to organize an
Odd Fellows Lodge.
Mr.. Evans represented the severity OF
The storm as being almost equal to that ex-
peFienced here in 1856. At GibbOn, where
they remained till the blockade was open, it
ragged with almost indescfibable fury the
drifting STOW in places heapiDg up to the
proportions of mountains, while the wind
swept over the plains at velocity OF about
seventy miles an hour,s carrying with il
everything of a amovable nature. Realizing
the danger they,would incur by wandering
ten steps from the house where they were
stopping, they concluded to secure the door,
stop I'D the cracks, and have good time in
general until such time as they could with
safety return to Omaha Inclosed BY four
diDgy wells, in room seven by nine feet,
twenty-five men remained from Sunday
night till Wednesday noon, not daring to
open the door. Judge Morse being one of
the imprisoned party, relieved the monotO-
ny Of the situation by relating wonderful
incidents, jokes, etc. But while they felt
themselves secure from the violent storm
raging without. there were other persons
the vicinity Of Gibbon suffering the agoni-
zipg tortures of death by the slow process
of freezing and suffocation.
A man and his wife, living few miles
from Gibbon, could not De found after the
storm abated, and it was believed, at the
time our informants left, that they remained
buried beneath the ruins of the house,
which hsa blown down during the storm,
and on which vas hesped an immense
snow drift. Every effort was being made
to recover the bodies.
Three hcrses, owned by resident OF
Gibboa, persisted from suffOcation. Another
man had fifteen head of fat cattle in cor
raj, ojit Of which they succeeded in making
their way, wandered off to the river, and
were all drowned. Five more IN another
corral met tbs same fate. A herd of cattle,
valued at $4,000, stampeded, and 1t Is sup
posed all perished, as none OF them mad
been found up to Wednesday evening.
AT WOOu TlNOE IlO lives orc hAOVA W 10
lost, but the loss in stock is very great. The
farmers were organizing themselves into
companies for the purpose OF scouting The
country to ascertain the extent oil damage
done, and to render such assistance as may
be necessary to those who may survive and
REQUIRE it. The river was completely
bridged with snow, ranging in depth from
fifteen to eighteen feet, and was packed Ii
between the banks so hard that loaded
wagon could pass over it With perfect safe
ty. 80,
One man picked up several prairie chick
ems that were alive, but 50 benumbed they
could not fly.
At Lone Tree, boy who stepped outside
the hotel to get some fuel was unable to re-
trace his steps, wandered a short distance
away from the house and persisted. While
search was being made for him, the body OF
a trapper was found. 1t is thought more
lives were lost than those already reported,
as nothing can be heard of the immigrants
that were camped along the line OF the road
before the storm commenced
Two men are known to have perished
near Grand Island, and great deal of stock
is also reported lost.
Some of the hogs taken out of the freight
train at Lone Tree, which was unable to
were found to be entirely desti
tute of hair, and had the appearance OF hav-
ing just been dragged from vat OF scalding
water. This was caused, probably, by the
heat becoming so intense in their endeavor
to keep on top Of the snow. But very little
stock was removed from this train alive.
1t will be some days yet before the full
extent of the damage done is known.