The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-03-24
Our Olio.
The Greatest of Blizzards.

The great storm of 1873 was the most
violent known in the Northwest for fifty
years. as the records kept at Fort Smelling
showed. 1t was violent electrical storm,
extending over the whole Northwest, so
that the telegraph wires west of Chicago
refused to work.
1t struck Minnesota on the 7th of Jan,
uary, 1873, and ragged for three days, the
wind blowing a gale, the temperature 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 january
thaw" was imminent; but Professor Hum
iston, who had good enroid 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 white
wall was seen moving up from the north
west upon Worthington. The front of the
storm was distinct and almost as clearly
outlined as IA great sheet When it struck
the town, farmers began to scatter to their
homes A number, however, remained,
and were housed up for three days. Per
sons visiting in the village, only few
squares from home, in some instances re-
mained 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 a
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 a sod shanty A
party of Worthington men, among whom
were DIR. Langdom and Cornelius Stout,
were caught on the road between Worth
ington and Jackson and also remained
showed up in sod house. A man north
of Worthington was caught on the track
less prairie driving an Ox-team. He un=
hitched 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 ayoung 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 scholars
q Il Il
till the storm abated To keep up circu-
lation they formed in Indian file and march,
ed 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 became
exposed, kicked the cover off, so to speak,
and both feet were frozen and had to be
amputated
A Mr.. Small, who lived four miles south
east 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 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 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 perished
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 aud
was returning with load Of wood when
the storm caught him. He drove across
his own farm and missed the house. Turn
ed and went in circle, making the same
circle twice, as shown by the tracks of the
sled. He then turned north to the vicini-
ty of the place now owned by III. ID. Win
ters, 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 for
ward 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
The story of John Weston's ghost was
first published in the Adua',ce and widely
copied SO that it became known throughout
the country. Weston appeared to Mr..
Cosper, who is still resident 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 practical, unimaginatiye
man, and gives the story in a circumstan-
tial way.
The day after the storm Mr.. COsper had