Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-02-07
Caught in the Storm ,


Yesterday a reporter met A. w.
Lathrop, of Benton, and from him
learned the following particulars of
a trip which he with Rev. Mr..
Crump, Of Litchfeld, made from
Benson to Appleton, on the day of
the great storm They left Benson
on Tuesday in sleigh, and when
about eight miles from Appleton
met the storm, which did not, as
storms generally do, send out a
skirmish line to give warning of it's
approach, but hurled itself, nigh
ty avalanche Of destruction, imme-
dia,ely upon them. The course Mr..
Lathrop end his friend were travel
ing was almost directly toward the
point of the compass from which
the tempest came. Fully realizing
the peril of their situation, these
gentlemen set to work to save their
lives. Finding that the horses
would not keep the road, and being
unable to see it when sitting in the
sleigh, they took turns leading the
team. One would lead as long as
he could face the blast, while the
other wrapped up in buffalo robes,
would sit in the sleigh with his
back to the wind.
Sometimes they would stray out
of the road altogether, and then halt
ing the team, one would stay with
that while the other went in search
of the road, being careful never to
60 out Of hearing. At last they
passed fence which Mr.. Lathrop
recognized as being only one and a
half miles distant from Appleton;
and being satisfied that they could
now keep the road, both gentlemen
got into the sleigh and the horses
were urged forward at full speed.
In short time they ran upon a
deserted sleigh, loaded with goods,
standing in the centre Of the road.
In turning out to go around it they
drove on to some breaking from
which the snow had been blown
Mr.. l.. then knew that only a short
half mile lay between them and
shelter. They went on through the
village without seeing house,
passed within a rod or two of the
stable where the horses were usually
kept. and drove on nearly two miles
beyond the village, when Mr.. La
throp became convinced that they
must have driven through the Will
age without knowing it. A retro
grade movement was made instantly
and search for the town commenced
At last, Just before dark, when al
most exhausted with exposure, they
drove up in front of the store, which
at the distance of twenty feet, was
completely hidden from their gaze.
But the adventures Of Messrs.
Lathrop and Crump were not yet
over. Scarcely were they "thawed
out" before they, in company with
Lathrop's brother, started to carry
clothing and food to the scholars
who We're imprisoned in the school
house. This cditice is not over
fifteen rods from the store atoremen-
toned, and yet such was the blind
ing, bew ildering nature of the
storm, these gentlemen, two OF
them perfectly conversant with the
way, wandered around for an hour
and a half as totally lost as if they
were in the widest recesses of the
Rocky mountains. At length, when
almost dishcartened, they stumbled
over the steps Of tire store from
which they started. Waiting only
to get breath, they made another at
tempt. This time they took coil
of rope, fastened one end to the door
handle of the store and went out
into the darkness. A blacksmith
shop was the first building they
found, and to this they attached the
rope. A few rods further. on they
came to house, and hitched their
rope to that, and finally they found
the school house, and to this, also,
the rope was made fast. For three
days and two nights the scholars
remained close prisoners, and their
food was carried to them by the
"ropc walk"
Mr.. Lathrop informed the repor-
ter that he did not suffer with the
cold very much, but numbness
took possession of him--he wanted
to lay down. The atmosphere
seemed charged with electricity
After arriving at the store, he took
a knife and touched the blade to
the drum of the stove, and although
it was not yet dark, the electric
flashes were plainly visible.