New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-06
The Storm I'm Minseseta.

/ To jewellers IN large cities it is extremely
difficult TO realize the peculiar peTils of a
snow-storm on the prairies. Here, for ex.
ample, during the fiercest tempest, the be.
lated way!arer finds shelter everywhere ~
hand. His route lies through straight and
narrow lines Of street, fenced in on either
side by houses, that serve at once 10 define
his road, ard to keep help within constant
reach. The worst Inconvenience he has 10
dread Is delay in getting home, from the
interruption Of street travel. and the conse-
quent discomforts Of an unpleasant walk.
But on our Western border, n heavy snow
storm means something very different Ii
means terrible suffering and danger, even
death in its most cruel and desolating shane
Over those vast levels the wind sweeps with
incredible violence. and huge drifts are piled
up almost in a twinkling. Within a few
hours the roads are filed to the level Of the
fences, all landmarks and road lines are OBJ
liberated, and the air is filed with 4 thick,
white fog Of driving fakes, SO utterly impen-
etrable that the most familiar objects cannot
be discerned n few feet Off, and men perish
almost within reach of their own door-steps.
Men did SO die in the great storm which
burst upon Minnesota about fortnight ago.
and of which we had foretaste here in New
York.
Accounts from all parts of the country
over which it passed agree that that storm
was one Of the sevevest known for many
years. In Minnesota, its violence seems to
have illuminated; and, at first, it was re-
ported that hundreds Of lives had been sacri-
feed to its fury. Making all due allowances
FOR eXaggecatiOn, there can be no doubt that
the number Of casualties has been unusually
and painfully great. This resulted not so
much even from the fury Of the tempest as
from the suidenncss with which it broke.
The morning OF Tuesday, l4th inst, is de-
scribed as having been an exceptionally
pleasant and beautiful day, of that peculiar
excellence which suggests t. everybody the
reelection that it is g the finest OF the winter"
People took advantage of it with the utmost
confidence for purposes ofhusiness or pleas
urc, and set out everywhere on sleis or
wagons to market, or to visit. About one
O'Clock little white cloud i,ecked the clear,
cold blue Of the winter sky; in fifteen min
utes thereafter, in the words Of one writer,
the air was so thick with hno white parti.
c!es Of snow, more closely resembling steam
than anything else, that ii was impossible to
see across the street, In two hours the
roads were impossible, had disappeared,
rather, under the mountainous drifts, and
workers and merrymakers alike were caught
and suiocated in the treachcrous embrace of
the storm. From Tuesday noon until mid
day of Thursday the snow fell and the wind
blew with undated force, so that people in
doors were unable to get out, and very many
caught out Of doo.s were unable to get in.
Fuel was secured by sending 4 man to the
wood-pilc with q rope tied about his waist. so
that he might find his way back. In one
case man was imprisoned in his stable,
close by his house, for torty-eight hours,
wi ar fro t,o
entire period in haystacks, and one ingenious
person had presence Of mind enough to dig
trench in the snow twenty inches deep, where
he lay, and, q slight crust soon forming over
his little house, remained safely for sixty-fvc
hours, when he venturcd out and reached 4
house unhurt.
In many instances, men caugh in wagons
or sleighs attempted to remain in them, but
almost all were badly frozen. Tho issue of
one such attempt was perhaps the most pain
tul episode Of the storm. Mr.. Jenkins, SUI
pcrintendent Of a bridge company, set out on
Tuesday morning in 4 stage for the site of 4
bridge he was then constructing. The storm
coming on, he attempted to weather it with
the driver in the stage, after first blanketing
the horses. On Wednesday morning the
horses died. On Thursday morning jenkins
went mad, and on Friday morning he died.
The driver was rescued, so terribly frozen
that both legs will have to be amputated.
But that, one would think, must be little to
suffer in comparison with the agony of pass
ing twenty-four hours slowly freezing to
death, beside raving maniac, in the midst
Of trackless desert OF snow.
Other stories, not less narrowing or touch
ing, the great storm gives Us in plenty; and
with them, instances not few Of that quick
and resolute humanity which, in emergencies
like this, often rises, simply and unconscious
ly, to real heroism. Such was the achieve
ment Of a poor brakeman on Minnesota
railway. Hearing that train was showed
in seven miles Off, and being off duty he tool;
as much provisions as he could carry, and set
of to the rescue. He arrived so exhausted
as to be scarcely able to speak, but his timely
assistance, perhaps, saved many lives. 1t is
good to hear that one Of the passengers was
SO moved by the nobleness Of the act that,
quite in the old romantic fashion, he took a
heavy gold chain from his neck and threw it
over that Of the brave brakeman, SAYING, "a
better man should wear it." For achieve
ments lks these, there should lie better and
mo certain reward. There should be hui
main society medal. Is 1t not time that we
h IL one ~ J. TIs:s.