Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-25
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The following 10 . portion Of . private
letter written BY John Bumham from the
HillA 70 Albert Bumham, Of this city. II
tells the story Of the great storm:
ELIsAsErurowN. March 10, 1873.
l have not heard from you since Febru-
ary Goth, which wa . week before your
mother VA to have started with the chick
ems. I hope abe hadn't started before the
present great sno . a'o-.. set in, which was
On last Thursda' night. and is still progress
ing, though NC quite a. much to-day ~ the
past two days. l think from all appear.
ances that the storm 10 not confined to this
region, but has a wide range over the coun-
try, and probably extends to Yankton, and
perhaps much beyond. A dispatch from
Laramie, on the Union Pacific railroad, day
before yesterday. reports it prevailing there.
I never saw 40 deep a snow fall at any one
time in my life. l think it would not bs IN
exaggeration to say that it must be At least
three feet on the level where not drined.
The sky was cloudy, and the air soft all day
Thursday, and it was probably showing in
other parts of the country, but didn't com.
mence here until evening. Work of all
kinds out Of doors has been suspended since
Thursday evening. No teaming can bs
done at present. No mails since the storm
set in, and probably won be for several
days, and perhaps weeks. This letter may
be a long time reaching you, especially if il
has snowed as much along the stage lines q,
here. 1t is believed here that many cattl,
belonging to trains out on the prairies mus
perish for want Of feed, the grass being al
covered up with now The streets Of Dead
wood are impossible for teams on account o
the snow that has fallen, and what has bee,
shoveled of the roofs. 1t is piled up from
four to seven feet in some places along tn
outer edge Of the sidewalks. Several roof
we're crushed in withthc weight of the NOV
and several others much bent and sprung
yesterday, causing quite = panic. As mucl
as S. per hour was paid in some instance
to shovelers o remove the snow from tn
roofs.
McMillen and John Emmons, (the baker
left here last Monday to go to the Cheyenn
crossing. They expected 10 spend severa
days IN the way hunting, between Bar
buttes and Cheyenne, on the north aide Q
Elk creek. l think very likely they wer
several miles from any road when the storm
set in. If so, they will have a hard tim
getting out.
Unless the weather be cold the snow vii
have a tendency to forward the growth o
grass and make the feed good for cattle.
am informed by Abbot aud Bob Erskin tina
the grass on the prairie and in tile foot hill
had begun to look quite green before tn
snow.
THURSDAY, O'Clock A. NJ, March IA.
The storm lasted until Tuesday mornin
before it finally cleared up, showing at in
%tervals the la: two days. The snow wa
not far from four feet deep, but has settle
90 that it is less than three feet now wher
not drifted. The mails have not got her
since a week ago to-day. but are e1pecte.
to-day, 80 Of course l have nothing from 20,
Of later date than February oath. TIL
wires have been down since the first day Q
the snow, and we have no means of know
ing anything Of the extent of the storm.
heard this morning that some person ha
come in from Rapid City and reported onl
eight inches Of snow there, but l dout
whether the report is reliable.
Much concern and fear existed anon
the people Of Deadwood in regard to th
probability Of flood in case the SNOW shout
be followed BY u rain, which seemed yer
likely from the condition of the atmospher
the last two days of the snow storm, b.
since it has cleared up 50 bright they fe<
moro secure.
JOHN BURSHAN.