Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-03-31
THE PERILS OF THE BLIZZARD.
\ FoRTYNILE JOURNEY OYER rmE rRAIRiEs
OF MINNESOTA.
Prom the MIun..t,If. T,It,up.


OF AiSsEs0TA.
Prom the Minnrnroll. Tribune.
Few people in Minneapolis realize
the extent of the snow and blizzard
storms away from the city and out on
the prairies within 100 miles of this
city, and probably not one OF our cili.
zens has ever passed through an cx-
pcriencc more thrilling and bitter than
that Of Sam Hill during the seven
days of last week. On Friday, Feb.
ruary lS, Mr.. Hill left the city for
Slblcy, Iowa, on the ST. Paul and
Sioux City road, arriving there on
Saturday, seven hours late. Mr.. Hill
proceeded 10 transact his business n
speedily as possible, intending to re-.
turn at once TO Minneapolis. But he
didn't return at once. Indeed, like
BiIcs in the play, he has much to be
thankful for that lac arrived home at
all. All day Sunday he waited pa
ticntly for train-a Ia mode Enoch
Arden under the palms-but none
came. Monday afternoon snow.
working train came in, and Mr.. Hill
managed to board il and assisted the
shovelcrs to Worthington. There the
train stopped short, aud could not
move an inch, despite the frantic ap.
pcals of twenty commercial travellers
unable 10 get either way on the road.
\ number of these gentlemen had
been -uow.bound at one point or an.
other for forty days. and their condi.
ton and position were anything but
enviabIe, At 6 o'clock Wednesday
night Mr. Hill boarded another snow.
train and worked his way to Heron
Lake, twcniy.-iX miles. where il was
decided To remain over night Fuel
was scarce and the town was minus
anything in the shape of meat and
solid food. aud Indifferent coffee. 10.
gc,her with dry bread. made un the
Provcuder served. On Thursday morn.
ing Peter Becker a freight conductor
on the road, announced hi. intention
To- walk a, iar %, - Jamo.-fprty long
miles over the bleak. -uow.drinod
prairie.--and called for volunteer. 10
accompany him. Mr.. Hill and five
railroad men responded, aud at $50
o'clock they s"t ont on their pcriluu-
journey. They reached Wjulom about
/ o'clock, procured lunch aud again
started. arriving AT Mountain Lake
twcutv.iuur miles from Heron Lake.
at $50 +. VI. On Friday morning the
brave little party again started. but
one of the men gave mp and was left
at Mountain Lake while the remaining
five KEEP, on. When two milc- ont the
travellers encountered terrible hliz.
zard, and for an hour or more life
hung by slender thread. But the
gallant five ialtercd never more. de.
spite the bitter cold. and finally reach.
ed 1t. james more dead than alive at
. o'clock in the afternoon. At this
point the railroad men remained.
while Mr.. Hill secured passage with n
team going TO Madalia, fourteen miles.
aud from there hired n sleigh and
drove to Mankoia, arriving there ut
o'clock, in time for the train to 1t.
Paul, arriving here Saturday evening.
after an absence of four davs aud
nights, fighting the elements for exist
encc. Along the road between Noun
tain Lake and 1t. James there is not
a house, fence, tree, shrub or anything
OF the sort, leaving the telegraph poles
the sole objects of interest. In many
places the travellers marched over
drifts fully twenty feet high, and kept
their balance by clngiug TO the tcle.
graph wires. Again the snow.crust
was 50 light as to let the weary pedes.
trians through, when locomotion was
next TO impossibIe-especially with
feet encased in stout, heavy. flour-sacks
bound about the pedals for protection
from cold aud in place ofsnow shoes.