The Worthington advance., 1883-01-04
(Republished by Request. from the ADVANCE
OF January IL, lss1.
THE GREAT BLIZZA RID OF 1873.

Three Lires Lost IN MOBILES County,
John Westom's Ghost-An Authentic
Ghost Story.
Ii last weeks issue we promised to
give some account Of The great blizzard
"f 1873. The term ''blizz,rd" has come
into general use in the Northwest as a
name for those violent snow storms
which almost unvaryingly continue for
three days, the wind blowing gale
and the temperature varying from ze-
10 to 20 below.
| The great storm Of 1873 was the most
violent known in the Northwest for SO
years, rs the records kept ut Fort Snel.
ling showed. 1t WAS Il violent electric
al stern. extending over the whole
Northwest, SO that the telegraph wires
west f Chicago refused to work.
1t struck Minnesota OH the 7Jh Of
January, 1878, and draged for three days,
the wind blowing gale, the teiaper:,-
ture being about lS degrees below zero,
and on the prairies, the air WAS filled
with Snew 's tine as flour. ThreugI,
every crevice, keyhole and nail hole.
the fine snow penetrated, putting into
houses like steam. The number Of hus
man lives lost ia Minnesota was about
TO-
THE STORM IN MOBILES COUNTY.
The morning of January 7th. 1873,
was beautiful and bright. The air
was mild and still and farmers set out
for town or went to neighbnring farms
with their teams. Generally it WAS
thought that \ january tllaw'' was
imminent. but Prof. Humiston, who
had good anaroid barometer. forctold
4 ST orm. The barometer had been fall
ing for "a hours and never was known
to fall 50 low before.
Between II and o'clock. white
wall WAS seen moving up from the
Northwest upon Worthirgton. The
front Uf the storm was distinct and al
most us clearly outlined as 4 great
sheet. When it strnck the town, farm
ers began to scatter to their homes. A
number, however, remained and were
housed up for three days. Persons vis-
ting III the village. "nly few squares
from home, in some instances rensaiu-
ed till the storm ;bated. not daring to
venture out upon the streets.
PERSONAL INCIDENTS.
! j. II. Maxwell drove four miles
against the Stn!m and then took refuge
with a nai2hbnring farmer, not being
able to reach home. Rev. Mr.. Stau'
walked five miles facing tho storm this
side Of Jackson and finally took refuge
In sad sh1nty. 4 party Of Wortl;u9-
tn men, among W,cn we're Dr. l.aAg-
| don aud Cornelius Stout, were caught
on tire road between Jackson and Wor-
| ttlingtOn and also remained Suowtd up
in 4 sod house. A man merit. af Wor-
thlngton was caugl, ou the trackltSS
! prairie driving an OK team. He un
hitclled and unynked The. te;.a. then
took hold of one OK ly thr tail. aud
| by twisting it. kept the ani,nal on 4
| trot. The other OK fnll..wed, and the
man brought mp against his own wood
pile. The school in Indian LAX" town.
ship was taught by 4 young lady. in Il
:os school house. The snew drifte,, in
through the crevices and soon covered
the floor. The supply Of weed was
sa"' exhausted and then teacher aud
scholars split up furniture and eked
ont a scant fire till the storm abateti.
10 keep up circulation they fsrMed in
Indian file and marched arauEd the
steve through the dreary days and long
nights till, on the third DAY, they made
their escape. Joseph Poois Was caught
III the storm in the western part OF the
c,nnty and lay for several days il, =
snow drift. Unfortunately. his feet
became exposed, kicked the cever off
SO to speak, and both feet were frozen
and had to be 2mDut2ted.
! PER1sHED IN TIE STORM.
A Mr.. Small, whe lived four miles
sout'tast of W0rthinxIan, stated
from town with an OK te:Ra and sled,
just after the storm struck Us. ut
drove within few rods Of his own
door and wandered over the prairie till
he came to some hay stacks around
| which 4 rxii fence had been built. He
evidently attempted to climb the fence,
but WAS too near gone to accomplish it.
When found, tue day after the storm,
he was standing with Que hand GA the
fence. covered with ice, and As stiff as
AL icicle. A Mas. Rlixt, wle lived 4
few miles beyond Mr.. Snail, went to
the stable when the storm came on, to
turn the cattle IN. Ii attempting to
return to the house, the snow bliuded
| her, and she wandered of on the prai-
rie aud perished.
JOHN WEsTON-A VERITABLE GHOST
| S1OlS1.
| But the one case, among the three
fatal ones III Mobiles couutY. which has
been the subject of the greatest inter
est because Of the ghost stsry connect
ed 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
>torm caught him. lie drove across
his own farm and missed tho house.
! Turned and went in 4 circle, making
the same circle twice, AS shown by the
tracks Of the SIZED. He then turned
north to the vicinity of the place now
owned by II. y, Winters, in Graham
Lakes township. He abandoned his
team, AID tie "xe'. after wandering
awhile, turned the yoke and chuked to
death. MIR. Weston, from this point,
evidently concluded to walk with the
storm, and made a bee line for Hersey.
lie walked about twelve miles and fell
forward OH his face. clutcl,ing the
grass as ne fell and the blood gushing
from Ills nose. His body Was found
the following spring. with the hands
full OF grass and the blood on his face.
THE FAMOUS GHOST STORY.
The story of john Westun's gAnst
was first published in the ADVANCE
and widely copied 50 that it became
known throughout the country. W.s.
ton appeared 20 Mr.. Cosper, who Is
still = resident of Seward township.
and was an intimate friend ia Weston.
a few days ago we caught Mr.. Cosper
in town and had the story from his
own lips. He is \ practical, unilDagin-
ative man, and gives the story iD
circumstantial way
The day after the storm, Mr.. Cosper
had been out with some neighbors
searching for Weston's body. lie had
returned to his home and was 1T the
stable feeding his stock just before sun
down.. He came out Of the stable and
passing around to tho east end, saw
John Weston coming up the path from
the creek. Weston had on tho blue
soldier overcoat which he usually wore.
His hands were tucked up under the
cape and he approached Cosper with
his usual smile and usual salutation