Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-02
A Dakota KaiI.StOrm.

From Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Timea
We were just finishing supper one evening
when, to some ones observation that il was get
ting dark mighty fast, our chief looking IN
dropped knife and fork and yelled: ''Thunderl
boys. it's going to rain. Hurry up. get the
things inside the tent" Get the mischief, for
pitter patter-whiz-bang and one of the
worst hail-storms that ever swept the plains
was upon US, driving us ala round dozen I'm
number-into little eight-by-ten tent. Three
minutes after the first drop fell il would have
cost man his life 10 have gone any distance
from shelter, for the ice was coming down in
blocks six inches in circumference and I'm per
feet sheets Our covered wagon started of on
trip across the country-prOving itself lit
orally prairie Schooner-aBd brought I'D In
the river beyond. and, despite the effort of a
dozen staiwart men, our tent came nearly after
All around inside the men were either on theIY
knees holding down the canvass, or hanging ON
TO the rdge-pole with might and main. while
the hail pelted the roof. sides and ends OF our
tent with such force that no one could stand
against the canvas. and through the hollows
which the stones Knocked I'm our supposed tight
ly-stretched tent the water poured in volumes
The mules OF our outfit tore loose from their
pckets and rushing wildly about sought shelter
along the high banks of the river. One wise old
ass, called Balaarif, backed up arafust the lee
side Of our tent, and assisted not little I'm
keeping it from blowing over. One particular
mule-the meanest brute that every wore long
ears-too stubborn TO run. stock kicking
throughout the storm, which lasted about
twenty minutes.
We were about mile away from the nearest
point Of shelter-a village Of rough clap board
houses. which had been run up In day or so with
the first talk Of building road. So, after the
storm, for this village We started. Wet to the
skin We waded across the intervening plain.
many places over shoes In ice and water. and to
add to our misery 1t kept getting colder and
colder as We spashed through the water and ice
Arriving at the only hotel In the town we found
the usual western hospitality. To our demand for
a fire by which to dry our clothing the landlord
replied that We should have one Just as soon as
he could hunt up the necessary fuel. In tie
course Of an hour the fire was started and
around it We clustered, turning dozen pairs OF
shOeless feet up to the warmth, and by alternar-
ing fore and aft," drying the outside and wet
ting the inside, we finally succeeded In restor-
ing circulation.
A heavy rain now set in. and how IL can rain
out here on the praires! Our landlord and his
son stood i'm the hall sweeping back the water
as it flooded in under the door-a practical fllu-
stration of King Canute and the flood and about
as successful. Bedtime arrived and a dozen
stiff boys, shoeess. coatless, well a. less sew
eral other articles OF attire which need not be
mentioned, all of which were left behind to dry
by the only fire the hotel offered marched out
through the Wet hall. climbed ladder to the
loft. Here we wrestIed manfully with the bugs
till near morning, when II began blowing such O
terrific gale that dozen fellows came to a Sit
ting posture to debate the question Of hunting
the cellar. One of the regular boarders
awakened by the din settled the question by
calling out: You Internal fools; there's not q
cellar in town; lay down and sleep: it's better to
be on top than under any day" We lay down.
In the morning our landlord brought up our
Shoes clothes etc, In bushei basket and
emptied them out on the floor to be scrambled
for. On going out the worst scene of devasta-
ton 1t has ever been the lot of the writer to see
met his eye. The day before large fields Of grain
ripe for the SICKLE could be seen. stretching
away in all directions, Of which not a stalk re-
manned standing; garden growth Of all kinds
left In the village: the foliage of the trees was
SO cut and mangled that the limbs looked bare
as in winter time. A belt eight miles in width
and twice as many 10 length was entirely
cleared of vegetation.