The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-03-17
CAUGHT IN A BLIZZARD.
A Prairie Experience--The Peculiar Storm
for Which the West is Noted.

CAUGHT In A BLlZZAkD.
A Prairie Experience--The Peculiar Storm
for Which the West is Noted.
I had ridden on at sharp trot fol
two or three hours, and had jumped of
to tighten q girth, when, looking to tht
north, I saw wall ofwhite sweeping ove1
the dark ground like a bank of cloud
Everything it touched was shut off in ar
instant. The great white curtain moved
across the divide like the wind. There
was no need to look twice, for knew
that it was the skirmish line of snow
storm, and that there was only one
chance for me. Snatching out my pock
ct compass, l laid it on the ground tc
steady it, and then looked for something
to lay a course to.
Away to the southeast was "streak'
of timber. Timber meant houses and set
tiers and shelter. had hardly time te
note the exact point of the compass
where it lay before I was shut in by the
binding drift. The snow was fine and
driven in whirling sheets by the wind
1t cut and stung my face like needles
For few minutes had to draw the cape
of my overcoat over my head and crouch
down behind Dick. The driving wind
loaded with powdery snow would take
ones breath away in an instant. But
hard as it was to face the storm, / knew
it would not do to stand still long, fol
the wind was chilling me fast.
At first it was nothing but whirling
choking mass of binding snow through
which / could not see ten yards, but with
the bridle-rein over one ann l started
forward on dog-trot. 1t was rough
work, for the ground was frozen and !
stumbled over every little bump and
hummock of earth. But it helped shake
off the terrible chill and numbness that
was settling over me.
a mile or so of this hard work tired
me out. Besides, I was all the time los
ing my direction, for there was nothing
by which to lay q course. At times
there would be a slight lull, then could
see two or three hundred yards ahead,
but the ne,.t momentI would be gasping
for breath in q snow.laden gust that
would hide the ground Istood on.
Looking at the compass in one of the
frequent stops, noticed that the wind
was blowing nearly in the direction
wanted to go. Desperate enough to
take it as guide, I climbed into the
saddle and gave Dick the rein. He
broke into q run, taking me straight
before the wind. Bewildering enough it
was though when the cutting blasts
came from four sides at once. Often
I would rein up and look at the compass
to make sure Of my route, for the strip OF
timber had seen was small enough to
be easily missed. Chilled and benumbed
l would slip to the ground and run few
hundred yards to warm up, and then re-
mount and ride on headIong and blindly
Night would come all the sooner tina,
there was such need oflight, and knew
there was no chance of living through it
unsheltered. It was growing colder
every hour, and it was only question oi
how long I could keep moving. There
was not even the poor chance Of lying
down and letting the snow cover one,
for the wind swept the frozen ground
clear as fast rs it fell.
It was while riding crouched forward
in the saddle and blinded by a whirling
snow-bank that felt something brush
past my knee. 1t was the branch of
scrub oak in the edge Of the woods. ]
had ridden blindly, but we'll.
Now to find cover, for I knew there
must be house of some kind not fal
away. I rode straight into the woods
for short distance and came out on the
edge of lake, or,what seemed to be one
Keeping along near the shore, l looked
for road. The belt of the woods broke
the force of the wind, but tile snow MAS
sitting down in clouds, and under the
trees It was already getting dark. 1 must
make good use of the little daylight left
Dismounting led Dick among the trees
looking for any opening that would show
where road was cut through or q clear
ing made. There was not even the poor
G. nsolation of tripping over stump.
Suddenly I bumped against something
breast high. Itwas ''post and pole" fence
made of posts set eight feet apart with
poplar poles nailed on instead of
boards. It meant that I was within a
stones throw of house. A few yards
brought me to o haystack and little
clearing. Stumbling about, half dazed
by the cold and storm, l found log
cabin, and gave the door kick with my
heavy boot. It opened instantly, and q
brawny, bearded man pulled me in and
shut it, and without wasting a word
looked over me to see if I was frostbilten
anywhere.
Luckily was not, and few minutes
was enough to thaw the ice from my face
and let me find out that was in the
cabin ofa Wisconsin settler. on the shore
of Swan Lake.
1t would hardly interest the reader tc
hear how I spentt the next week. know
that for three days we only stirred out oi
the house to go to the stables three times
q day to feed and water the horses and
cattle, and then only to find the blizzard
raging in full vigor. I know, too, that
before it was possible to travel again
had finished all the reading matter to be
had, consisting of an old file of the
Weekly Tribune, and in sheer despera-
tiou commenced on the advertisements.