Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-05-26
Gales ano Skettbes.
A BLIZZARD.
4 TRAGEDY OK THE PRAIRIE wISTEE

y Tragedy ON TIE fkAfklf "iNTEE-
Susan walked slowly along behind the
prairie schooner. driving the small herd Of
cattle belong to her brother-in-law. The
roads were little muddy in some places,
there had been rain the night before
but she was tired of riding in the wagon
and walking rested her. She formed a
part of the procession going west. 1t was
q long one, scattered over miles and miles
Of country; mule teams OK teams. lean
teams. fat teams, all heading toward that
land of promise, the West, they were go
ing in bands of two. three. or four farni-
lies, sometimes. and again one family
alone. Some OF them were mechanics
who knew nothing Of farming and just az
little Of the land they were going to and
the spot on which they would stop. Others
were farmers who had sold out c0mtorta-
bic homes to 90 West and buy more land.
In Susan's part OF the procession were
two families. her sister Mary with her
husband, Thomas Smith. and their son
Adolphus, or Dolph, and Cyrus Holman
with his old mother. Susan trueed along
driving the cattle before her. Far and
wide, as great distance as she could see,
Portable white farm-houses and lage barns.
She thought it fine country. indeed and
wondered how soon they would stop. not
knowing they were to travel more than
100 miles vet. for Susan was an ignorant
young woman. with small knowledge OF
geography and was not quite certain
whethe Dakota was a county in the State
of Minnesota or the reverse.
Suddenly. As she walked along. she
came in full sight Of a town set in among
the bluffs. neat, prosperous. busy town,
with great many brick houses, and green
trees. She called to Dolph to come and
drive the cattle. and got into the wagon.
she did not want TO 90 through the town
on foot. The town was full OF people.
farm wagons were standing close together
down both sides Of the main street and
the white tops of the prairie schooners
like their own were visible here and there.
They stopped at n grocery To buy some
necessary articles of food and then went
on. They came to q tall red brick school
house. IL was recess and the children
played about in the ward, 80 many
Of them, Susan had never seen 80 many
together in her life. The teachers were
standing in the broad doorway and away
up in the third story was one with pref
ty girl.sh face, watering some plants in
the window. She looked wonderfully
stylish to Susans eyes and she looked up
on them rs being very wealthy and irl-
portant personagcs. The two men and
Dolph stopped to gather the seeds that
had fallen trom the maple trees around
the large yard. They wanted them to
plant on the treeless prniries where they
were going. The boys on the play
ground rather resented it n an infringe
ment Of their rights, but through a whole
some feeling of awe for the principal who
was watching them, they confined them
selves mostly to mutterings of discomfort
among themselves; one Of the most de-
fiant, however. telling the men to "G'way
and let them things be-" and mutterinc to
Il companion. 'Yc can cit - cents II peck
for them seeds down town an | want to
go =, the circus" Presently the bell rang
from the tower. and the children and
teachers disappeared in the house while
the men came back with their baskets of
seeds and the wagons logged along.
On and on they went. camping at night
by some spring or small lake AMI 'ravel-
ing days. till the comfortable FARMHOUSE
had disappeared, the small towns were
things of the past. except here and there
one on the line of the railroad There
were no trees, either. only prairie and
grass and grass and prairie. with now and
then an alkali sink, or some new settlers
shanty or dug-out. They began to look
about for n place to stop, and to inquire
OF every man they saw. and they were
few indeed. il there was vacant land near
there. II all looked vacant enough One
day they met n man going back the way
they had come. and across the top OF his
schooner was painted in large letters
''Goin home few my wites foalkes."
Better turn about" he told them.
1--WE been in this blasted country nigh
month and there amt tree nor shrub
10 break the monotonv except here and
there a house and You need microscope
tew see that. Look at my animiles, they
was good and fat when | come out here.
but you'd have tew swing 'em twice tew
make shadder and be mighty quick
about it or the sun'd shine through
Not an encouraging report. but they
persevered and finally settled down.
where. beside the two little houses they
built with lumber purchased OF the rail-
road company. there was only one house
in sight and that also very small one
But they were near the railroad. that was
y great gain. and they went vigorously to
work to break what they could and pre-
pare for winter. It was slow work. hut
trusting to the long. warm fall. of which
they had been assured by older settlers
il one place and another on their Journey,
t;5ey expected to be ready for the cold
wsinter.
+: But one day near the middle of October.
i, grew suddenly cold. the wind began to
| low and the snow to fall and in day
and night the whole country was covered
There is DRIFT 1900 feet long and 20
feet deep on the track east of here" the
operator in the little depot told Mr.. Smith.
when he went to make inquiries day or
Two later Il don't know how it is further
west. the lines are all down and | can't
yet word. but there won't be a train here
or week. presume" That was en-
,ouraging. certainly. when everything
provisions, wood and all.-depended on
hat train. The cattle had very poor ae-
almost none. in fact. |
There had been no straw to make sheds |
Is on an older farm and the small amount |
# wild hay which spread on the few poles
ormed roof. was little protection. Smith |
.nd his son Dolph shoveled a path to |
Al IL