The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-08
AN IOWA SNOW-SToRM.


The biggest and most severe snow
storm ever known in this part of the
country, within the recollection of our
oldest inhabitants, came on in 1856,
twenty years ago yesterday. 1t ex
tended over the greater part Of Iowa, a
portion OF Nebraska and Dakota.
The7slorm prevailed for Two days and
two nights, during which time it was
almost impOs for q person to see
half way across a street, and a portion.
OF the time the snow is represented as
having come down in such solid sheets
as to etfectualIy conceal from view ones
hand held at arms length before his own
eyes. The first day after the storm
ceused the wind shifted to the north and
blew d perfect gale, drifting the snow
badly and forming crust upon it of
sufficient strength TO bear the weight OF
a man easily enough.
( This region of country was quite new
tw enty years ago, and wild game of all
kinds was very plenty, Directly after the
snow storm above alluded TO, the set
tiers started on the hunt after deer.
The snow was deep and the crust
scarcely heavy enough to bear the
wei ght of the deer, and when pursued
they sought escape in flight, and they
would break through the snow crust
and make very little progress. The only
weapons the settlers used when hunting
the deer at that particular time were an
AK and butcher-kniie-the former used
in knocking tue game down when over
taken, and the latter III seVerlng the Jug
ular. In this manner the settlers
supplied themselves with sufficient
.amouat of venison to last their families
for several months.
Alter tue heavy storm referred to,
Sioux City was completely blocked out
from communication with any point, and
it was fully five weeks before stages
could get through with any of tile mails.
l.. e. Grab2r, broJher.in-law of Mr.. John
Uagy. but who at that time was a single
man, had the contract for carrying mails
between Sioux City and Council Bluffs,
and for some days after the severe storm
abated he had hard time Of getting
his route opened. He took number of
yoke OF cattle, and for several days
used them in tramping down the huge
drifts on the Missouri bottom in the vi
cinity of Sergeant Bluffs, finally sue
ceeding in making a road over which the
stage could pass.
Many amusing anecdotes are related
by one OF our old settlers as having oc-
CURED during that fearful blizzard. We
Will ln0uIlOu sluRle Oues O6u. LedCu,
then Receiver of the United States Land
Office here, started from his office, a log
cabin, standing where now stands III. u.
Booge 6 Co.'s wholesale building, to his
residence on upper Douglas street. The
General lost his nat Immediately on ven-
turing out of doors, but he laughed at
the fury of the storm and kept on.
There were at that time few buildings
standing either on Fourth or Douglas
streets, and there were not many visible
landmarks for the General to follow to
serve as u guide home. IL is no wonder
then that, after having Travelled in the
teeth of the storm for a considerable
time, he found himself run to bank down
near where the Chicago House now
stands. The General, as matter OF
course, was very cold, having suffered
considerably from being out only short
time.
AS stated, he was barebeaded, and
having no gloves upon his hands, ne
could not give his head that attention
he might have done had his hands beeu
well gloved. Tne result was that by the
time the General reached home he was
about exhausted, his ears and fingers
were somewhat frosted, and mis- head,
perpendieuiarly, Was heightened several
inches by The snow driving through his
hair to the saAin and there freezing,