River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-11-25
An October Snow.Storm in Nebraska.


An October SnOw-StOrm in Nebraska.
Correspondence Worcester Spy.
We pitched our tents carelessly, in
tending to take an early start next
morning. But, alas, for our expecta
tions During the night a strong wind
set from the northwest, and about Il.
M. it began to snow. None of us
could judge well of weather indications
in Nebraska, and our guide did not sus-
pect anything serious, for the 'oldest
inhabitant" could not recollect biz
zard in October, and it was now only
the 10Th of the month. The guide
thought, and the drivers believed, that
the storms would cease at - m, and
we, of course trusted to their judgment.
But, instead, the storm grew tiercer,
the snow fell more rapidly, and the
northwest gale increased in fury. Be
fore night so much snow had fallen
that if it had lain as it fell it would
have been at least one foot deep, but
now it had been piled into drifts so
that our poor mules stood with their
feet nearly as high as the wagon tops,
and the stove and furniture in our
cooks tent were completely hidden
from view.
The night shut in upon us gloomy
and awful. We had two light canvas
tents, in each of which slept four men,
with just blankets enough to keep them
mfortable in ordinary weather. But
we must provide for the guide, two
drivers, and porter, who had usually
slept in the wagons, and, as they were
but simply provided with clothing, we
must share our stock with them. There
was but little sleep in the tent that
night, for the cold was intense, and the
wind was SO terrible in its effects that
we feared every moment the larger
tent would fall, though we had strength
ened it by poles and cords in every con-
ceivable way. With the morning light
it seemed as if all the spirits of the air
were let loose, and all day long the
storm rOared with ever,increasing fury
The snow had so beaten in that
when we awoke we found our
selves buried beneath it. and now we
were obliged to gather all our bedding
into the middle of the tent to keep it
from being wet through. No man
could long endure the storm outside,
and we stood huddlcd together from
morning till night, stamping our feet
to keep from suffering. Even then we
could not keep comfortable. For hours
together we stood with our backs
braced against the tent to keep it from
giving way under the great weight of
the snow and the terrific force Of the
gale. / know of no language which
can be used 70 convey to any person
inexperienced IN such a time any ade-
quate conception of the fury of the
storm. During the second day We
succeeded i'll digging our little
stove out of the snow-drift, and, set
ting it at the entrance of our tent, we
managed to keep little fire through
the rest Of the day and night. But our
store of wood was very small, and there
was no more to be had within we knew
not how many miles The other tents
company had no stove and no fire.
During the second night of the storm
it was impossible that all should sleep
at once, even if they could sleep des-
pite the cold, for what with the stove
on one side, and all our provisions
brought in from the wagons on the
other. there was not room for all to lie
down Besides, it was necessary to
keep the fire going, lest we might all
perish together. So we1stood bending
over the stove all night, two at a time,
while the others tried to sleep. 1t was
an awful night. To add to our
anxiety, the guide and drivers
declared that the horses and
mules were likely to perish. They
we're pitiful sight indeed. Two of
them had no blankets, and the others
were little better Off At times 1t was
difficult to conceive that the creatures
before us were horses, so literally COW
cred were they with a coating of ice.
After two DAYS and two nights the
| storm ceased.
/ 1t was now sunday morning. We
/ knew not where we were, and we doubt
| ed if the guide had more definite knowl-
| edge than we Every man was despe-
! rate. Some declared it dangerous to
I attempt to move through the snow, and
/ that our only safe course was to re-
main, and in case of necessity, use the
wagons for fuel and the horses for food.
| Others declared their purpose to move
| at all hazards, and without delay. III
nally we determined to move. We
threw away all luggage that could be
/ us titAloto hAtAif Aiid III III
started in the direction which we
| thought would bring us to the nearest
hut. 1t was difficult tray Yelling through
the drifted snow, and it was bitterly
cold. But all day long we pushed on,
never stopping to feed horse, break
ing through the drifts with our ponies
so that the teams could follow, till about
) p. NJ, when we came in sight of hay
stacks, in the vicinity ofwhich we knew
there must he a ranchman's hut. j
never saw a happier set of men than
/ were these men when it became certain
| that what we saw we're haystacks, and
not the terrible sand hills which had 50
| often deceived us during the day.
Grave men. merchants of Worcester,
swung their hats aloft and shouted for
/ ioy. It had been a march for life.
A little girl in Belfast, Me. recent
/ lv dropped her doll and broke its arm.
I The doll was a fayorite one, and the
accident YVES to the child a calamity of
/ the seyerest nature. The tears started,
the little lips were trembling witt grief,
when a bright thought stuck her.
With a beaming face she exclaimed:
Papa, / don't know as care after all.
| Perhaps it viii be put in the paperP
Maud S., the noted trotting mare has
1 3,aJ a +nt.cf pf the e-iz0oflp