Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-27
The Greatest of Blizzards
"Reminiscences of the Great Three Day Snow storm I'm Miunesota.
 From the WorthinRton Advance.l


 "Reminiscences of the Great Three Days Snow storm i'm Minnesota. [From the worthington Adsanoel
 The great storm of 1873 was the most Vio- lent known in the Northwest for fifty years, as
 the records kept at Fort Smelling showed It
 was a violent electrical storm, extending over the whole Northwest, so that the telegraph wires west of Chicago refused to work. It struck Minnesota on the 7th of January, 1873, and ragged for three days, the wind blow ing gale, the temperature being about eighteen degrees below zero, and on the prai- ries the air was filled with snow as fine as
 flour. Through every crevice, keyhole and
 nail hole the snow penetrated. pnfing into
 houses like steam. The number of human lives
 lost in Minnesota was about seventy.
 The morning of Jan. 7, 1873, was beautiful
 and bright. The air was mild and still, and
 farmers set out for town or went to neighbor-
 ing farms with their teams. Generally it was
 thought that January thaw' was immi-
 nent but Prof. Humiston, who had a good
 anaroid barometer, foretold storm. The
 barometer had been falling for 24 hours, and
 never was known to fall so low before
 Between 12 and 1 o'clock 8 white wall was
 seen moving up from the northwest upon
 Warrington. The front of the storm was
 distinct and almost as clearly outlined as
 great sheet. When 1t struck the town,
 farmers began to scatter to their homes.
 number, however, remained, and were housed
 up for three days. Persons visiting in the
 village, only few squares from home, in ! some instances remained until the storm
 abated, not daring to venture out upon the
 streets.
 J. Fl. Maxwell drove four miles against the
 storm and then took refuge with neighbor-
 ing farmer, not being able to reach home.
 The Rev. MT. Stone walked five miles facing
 the storm this side of Jackson, and finally
 took refuge in 8 sod shanty. A party of
 Warrington men, among whom were Dr.
 Langdon and Cornelius Stout, were caught
 on the road between Worthington and Jack
 son and also remained showed up in sod
 house. man north of Warrington was
 caught on the tractless prairie driving an OK
 team. He unhitched and unyoked the team,
 then took hold of one OK by the tail, and by
 twisting it kept the animal on trot. The
 other OK followed, and the man brought up
 against his own wood pile The school in
 Indian Lake township was taught by 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 teacher and scholars split
 up furniture and eked out scant fire till the storm abated. To keep up circulation they formed in Indian. 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 coun- try, and lay for several days in snow drift. Unfortunately his feet became exposed, kicked the cover of, so to speak, and both feet were frozen and had to be amputated.
 A Mir. Small who lived four miles southeast of Warrington, started from town with an OK team and sled just sitter 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 attempt ed 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 1 few miles beyond Mir. Small, went to the l stable when the storm came on to turn the | cattle in. In attempting to return to the | house the snow blinded her, and she wander | ed off on the prairie and perished.
 But the one case, among the three fatal | ones in Noble 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 returning 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, | turned north to the vicinity of the place now owned by H. D. Winters, in Graham lakes township. He abandoned his team, and the | oxen, after wandering awhile turned the yoke | and choked to death. MT. Weston, from this point, evidently concluded to walk with the storm, and made 8 bee line for Hersey. He walked about twelve miles and fell forward on his face, clutching the grass as he fell and the blood gushing from his nose. His body was found the following spring, with the hands full of grass and the blood on his face. i
 The story of John Weston's ghost was first published in the AdoGnce and widely copied so that 1t became known throughout the | country. Weston appeared to MT. Cosper, i who IS still resident of Seward township, and was an intimate friend to Weston. few days ago we caught MT. Cosper in town and had the story from his own lips. He is a practlole, unimaginative man, and gives the story 1n clrcumstantial way.
 The day after the storm Mir. Cosper had ! been out with some neighbors searching for Weston's body. He had returned to his home and was at the stable feeding his stock just before sundown. He came out of the stable, ! and passing around to the east end, saw John Weston coming up the path from the ere elk. l Weston had on the 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 saluta- tion, saying, 'sHow goes 1t ?" Cosper said, "Why, Weston, thought you were frozen to death ?" Weston replied: q am, and you will find my body mile and halt north west of Hersey!" Saying this he vanished. Mir. Cosper says that even after Weston was gone it took him some time to realize that he had seen ghost and to ''feel queer''
 Before this Weston had evidently announc- ed his death to his wife. Mrs. Weston re- lated the incident, and it was confirmed by her son. The second night of the storm she 1 was awakened by knock at the door. She l dozed off again, and was aroused by second l rap, when she asked: ''What is wanted ?'' l voice answered: Ibid you know that John was frozen to death ?' The voice sounded like that of her brother, MT. Linderman, who lived in the vicinity. The boy heard the voice and rising up in bed, said: 'tMother, did uncle say pa was frozen to death ?'' Mrs. Weston went to the door, but there was no one there, and no tracks could be found in the snow. MT. Linderman had not been there, and it seems that Weston, wishing to an- aounce his death, and at the same time not % frighten his wife too much, assumed the voice of his brother in.law.
 Now for the confirmation of Cosper's | story. He told it at once and it was publish ed throughout the country before the winter vas over. Search was made for Weston's body but, in vain When spring came, how sver, and the snow began to melt off, Weston's body was found near a slough where the snow lad been deep, mile and 8 half northwest ,f Hersey We believe MT. Erickson. who low lives in Warrington, was the first to discover the body.
 So much for the great blizzard. There | will probably not be another such in our day. t was rough greeting for the early settlers 'f Mobiles county, but they can all testify hat Boreas has been comparatively mild ,ver since, except in putting the screws on he mercury and bringing it down tight oc- 
 ''Keep your place and your place will Zeep you" t" But you cannot expect to keep , 1our place without health, the foundation. of Il success. For instance, a railroad engi- s leer in the employ of the c. M. St. Paul