Middletown transcript., 1883-03-30
THE GREATEST OF BLIzzARDs.

/ ~--N~
west of Chicago refused to work.
1t struck Minnesota on the 7th OF
January, 1873, and ragged for three days,
the wind blowing a gale, the tempera-
ture being about eighteen degrees below
zero, and on the prairies the air was
filled with snow as fine as -four
Through every crevice, key-hole and
nail-hole the snow penetrated, putting
into houses like steam. The number
of human lives lost in Minnesota was
about seventy.
The morning of January Z, 1873, was
beautiful and bright. The air was mild
and still, and farmers set out for town
or went to neighboring farms with their
teams. Generally it was thought that
a January thaw'' was imminent ; but
Professor Humiston, who had a good
enroid barometer, foretold a storm.
The barometer had been falling for
twenty-four hours, and never was
known to fall so low before.
Between twelve and one O'Clock a
white wall was seen moving up from
the northwest upon Worthington. The
front of the storm was distinct and
almost as clearly outlined as a great
sheet. When it struck the town, farm
ers began to scatter to their homes. A
number, however, remained, and were
housed up for three days. Persons Wis
iting in the village, only few squares
from home, in some instances remained
till the storm abated, not daring to
venture out upon the streets.
J. H. Maxwell drove four miles
against the storm and then took refuge
with neighboring farmer, not being
able to reach home Rev. Mr.. Stone
walked five miles, facing the storm this
side Of Jackson, and finally took refuge
in sod shanty. A party of Worth
ington men, among whom were DR..
Langdom and Cornelius Stout, were
caught on the road between Worthlng-
ton and Jackson and also remained
showed up in a sod house. A man
north of Worthington was caught on
the trackless prairie driving an ox-team.
He unhitched and unyoked the team,
then took hold of one OK by the tail,
and, by twisting it, kept the animal on
a trot. The other OK followed, and the
man brought up against his own wood
pile. The school in Indian Lake Town
ship was taught by young lady in a
log school house. The snow drifted in
through the crevices, and soon covered
the floor. The supply of wood was
soon exhausted, and then teacher and
split up furniture and eked out
a scant fire till the storm abated. To
keep up circulation they formed in In
1ian file and marched around the stove
through the dreary days and long nights
Jill, on the third day, they made their
escape. Joseph Poots was caught in
51e storm III HE HE western part of the
county, and lay for several days in
snow drift. Unfortunately his feet be-
came exposed, kicked the cover off, so
10 speak, and both feet were frozen and
lad to be amputated.
A Mr.. Small, who lived four miles
southeast of Worthington, started from
,own with an OK team and sled just
,fter the storm struck US. He drove
within few rods of his own door, and
wandered over the prairie till he came
20 some hay stacks, around which
,ail fence had been built. He evidently
attempted to climb the fence, but was
100 near gone to accomplish it. When
found, the day after the storm, he was
standing with one hand on the fence,
covered with ice, and as stiff as an icicle.
A Mrs. Blixt, who lived few miles be-
yond Mr.. Small, went to the stable
when the storm came on to turn the
cattle in. In attempting to return to
the house the snow blinded her, and
she wandered off on the prairie and
Derished.
But the one case, among the three
fatal ones in Mobiles county, which has
been the subject of the greatest interest
because of the ghost story connected
with it, was that Of John Weston, Of
Seward Township. Mr.. Weston had
been to Graham lakes and was return
ing with load of wood when the storm
caught him. He drove across his own
farm and missed the house. Turned
and went in circle, making the same
circle twice, as shown by the tracks of
,he sled. He then turned north to the
vicinity of the place now owned by IL.
D. Winters, in Graham Lakes Town
ship. He abandoned his team, and the
,xen, after wandering awhile, turned
he yoke and choked to death. Mr..
Weston, from this point, evidently con-
tluOGu " WCtlh Will IuO OIOAAi3 anu
made a bee line for Hersey. He walked
.bout twelve miles and fell forward on
lis face, clutching the grass as he fell
md the blood gushing from his nose.
His body was found the following
spring, with the hands full of grass and
he blood on his face.
So much for the great blizzard.
There will probably not he another such
n our day. 1t was rough greeting
or the early settlers of Mobiles county,
,ut they can all testify that Boreas has
,een comparatively mild ever since, ex-
,ept in putting the screws on the mer-
Jury and bringing it down tight occa-
iionally. = Worthington, Minn., i'd
,ance.
1t is claimed that Georgia contributed !
he word bogus to the vocabulary of the
United States. The story is that one
William A. Bogus conducted land
ottery in Augusta, and succeeded in