The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-02-09
The Greatest Of Bliuards.-Reminis.
cences Of the Great Three Days
Snow Storm in Minnesota.

The great storm of 1873 was the most
violent known in the Northwest for fifty
years. as the records kept at Fort SHELL
ing showed. 1t was violent electrical
storm, extending over the whole North
west, so that the telegraph wires west of
Chicago refused to work.
1t struck Minnesota on the 9TH of JAN
uary, 1873, and ragged for three days,
the wind blowing gale, the temper
AZURE being about eighteen degrees below
zero. and on the prairies the air was
filled with snow as fine as -four. Through
every crevice, keyhole 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
Prof Humiston, who had a good an
aroid barometer, foretold 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 great sheet. When
it struck the town, farmers began to
scatter to their homes. A number. how
ever, remained, and were housedcup for
three days. Persons visiting in the vii
1aora rylx- hon,o in,
some instances remained until the storm
abTted. not daring to venture out upon
the streets.
j. III. Maxwell drove four miles against
the storm and then took refuge with a
neighboring farmer, not being able to
reach home. The Rev. Mr.. Stone
walked five miles facing the storm this
side of Jackson, and finally took refuge
in sod shanty. A party OF Worthing-
ton men, among whom were DIR. Lang
don and Cornelius Stout, were caught
on the road between Worthington and
jackson and also remained showed up
in sod house. A man north of Worth
ington was caught on the trackless
prairie driving an OK team. He I'M
hitched and unyoked the team, then took
hold Of one OK by the tail, and by twist
ing it, kept the animal on the trot. The
other OK followed, and the man brought
up against his own wood pile. The
school in Indian Lake township was
taught by a young lady in log school
house. The snow drifted in through
the crevices, and soon covered the
floor. The supply of wood was soon ex-
hausted. and then the teacher and
scholars split up furniture and eked out
scant fire until the storm abated. To
keep up circulation they formed an In
dian file and marched around the stove
through the dreary days and long
nights till, on the third day they made
their escape. Joseph Poots was caught |
in the storm in the western part of the |
county, and lay for several days in a |
snow drift. Unfortunately his feet be- |
came exposed. kicked the cover of, so |
to speak, and both feet were frozen and |
had to be amputated.
A Mr.. Small, who lived four miles |
southeast of Worthington. started from
town with an OK team and sled just after |
the storm struck us. He drove within
few rods of his own door, and wandered |
over the prairie till he came to some hay
stacks, around which a rail fence had
been built. He evidently attempted to
climb the fence, but was too 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 beyond 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 persisted.
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
II, was that of John Weston, of Seward
Mr.. Weston had been to Ora
ham lakes and was returning with load
of wood when the storm caught him. He
drove across his own farm and missed
the house. Turned and went in a circle,
the same circle twice, as shown
by the tracks of the sled. He then turned
north to the vicinity of the place now
owned by II. ID. Winters, in Graham
Lakes township. He abandoned his
team, and the oxen, after wandering
awhile, turned the yoke and choked to
death. Mr.. Weston, from this point,
evidently concluded to walk with the
storm, and made bee line for Hersey.
He walked about twelve miles and fell
forward on his face, c,utching the grass
as he fell and the blood gushing from
his nose. His BODY was found the fol-
lowing spring, with the hands full of
grass and the blood on his face.
The story of John Weston's ghost was
first published in the 1Adcance and widely
copied so that it became known through
out the country. Weston appeared to
Mr.. Cosper, who is still residen. of
Seward township. and was an intimate
friend to Weston. A few days ago We
caught Mr.. Cosper in town and had the
story from his own lips. He is prac- !
teal, unimaginative man. and gives the
story in circumstantial way. I
The day after the storm Mr.. Cosper I
had been out with some neighbors I
for Weston's body. He had i
to his hsme and was at the !
stable feeding his stock just before sun
down. He came out of the stable, and I
passing around to the east end, saw John q
Weston coming up the path from the S
creek. Weston had ON the blue soldier /
Overcoat. which he usually wore. His t
hands were tucked up under the cape, C
and he approached Cosper with his usual +
smile and usual salutation. saying. '.How p
goes it?" Cosper said, "Why, Weston, o
thought you were frozen to deathr' a
Weston replied: Il am, and you will e
ind my body mile and half north $
west Of Hersey" Saying this he van v