The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-05-08

From Q gentleman who came in on the Denver
road yesterday, We learned the particulars, iu
part, Of another terrible storm in Kansas, in
which fifteen persons are known to have beer
killed in Cloud County, and reports Of other los
ses of life are constantly coming in. He says itt
equal was never known in that section before
and fears are entertained that when the worst
is known, the loss or both life and property will
he much more serious than it il now Thought tG
be. During the storm the wind blew in fearful
blasts, and trees were uprooted in twinkling a.
If they were saplings, and harms and sheds wore
carried into the air and landed hundreds Of yards
distant, as if they were as light and feathery a.
down.
The gentleman informed ms that on Sunday
morning, about daylight, when the storm was
severest, the roof was blown off the stone house
Of Mr. Snyder, residing near the east boundary
of Cloud County. Part of the bnildng WAS also
blown in, bnt fortunately none of the inmates
were injured by the failing walls. They were
left to q more terrible and heart-rending fate
than this, one that did not bring death "swift
and sure" but that tortured out their lives in
slow degrees. The snow was then several feet
deep, and the flakes continued to fall 50 fast and
in such binding drifts that the house was soor
filled With the "fcathery fakes" and which were
to be their winding sheet. The blowing away Of
the roof left them exposed the snow and wind,
and they could not have survived any great
length of time.
Mr. Snyder's family consisted Of himself, wife,
FIVE children, and a laborer who was there to as
sist him in his farming duties.
The remaines of Snyder were found several
feet from the building, and it is thought from
surrounding circumstances that he left no stone
unturned nor sparei no pains tn snccor his
perishing family. Finding that he could not
shield them from the storm or get them to any
place where they would be safe from the keen
and biting blasts. it seems that he started north
in the hope of obtaining assistance, and return
yet in time to save his family. Alas! how vain
are earthly hopes. He could not have gone but
few PAGES when he was overpowered by the
chilling winds and deprived Of his life When
found, the children seemed to have had some
additional wrappings and covering that had
been hastily thrown over them, and it may be
that the mother survived for some time after the
roof was taken away by the wind. The scene
that presented itself Monday morning when they
were discovered beggars description. The young
est child, young boy of tender years, was en-
clasped in his mothers arms. His little face.
now cold in death did not betOken any sings OF
anguish in his last moments, and smile ratli-
er seemed to play upon his countance as he slept
80 peacefully and qnet after life's fitful fever
The other four children were sleeping in coup
les and near to each other, a. if in an effort
to keep warm. The remains were taken to a
ncighbOring farm house, and were to have been
inferred yesterday evening.
ANOTHER FAMILY FROZEN.
A'few miles west of this another family, seven
IN all, met with Q elmlI8r Iate. OIrfcueT. ua-
tive German, was residing in small frame build
ing that had been improvised until his means
would allow to bnild more comfortable one.
Ulricher seems to have gotten up and with his
wife made an effort to reach the barn, which was
built of heavy timbers and was more safe in a
storm than the dwelling 1t was doubtless his
intent tn try aud get his wife there and then re-
turn for his sister and children. They never
reached their destination, however, and were
found dead beneath the snow, half way between
the corn crib and the house. The children were
all frozen to death in their beds.
Does not the blood run cold at the reiteration
Of snch sufferingf does it not seem strange that
families are taken out to this wild aud almost
uninhabited country to suffer- starve and freeze,
for the sake of gaining a piece of prarief 1t
seems hard indeed, that after years Of depriva-
tiOns and trouble, when every effort has been
made to save . pittance of this worlds earnings,
the poor man with his family must lie down in a
cold and nninhabited prairie and die amid the
snow.
Let il be lesson to those whose motto it is
to Ego west and grow mp with the country" not
to take the tender partner Of his bosom, and the
little prattliug tendrils Of his heart to the winds
and unknown suferings of the west without at
least goody share of means to keep them from
suffering and want tn give himself fair start.
In the history Of the west there is no parallel
for the suffering of the past few days. Snowdriffs
from five to ten feet in April; think Of it and
pause.-St 10. Gazette, Ipril 30h.