Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-04-12
LIFE IN THE NORTHWEST.
VIVID DESCRIPTION or DAKOTA
HAIL-STORM.
A Pleasant Place to Cnmp INA Summer
Thunhersrorm Turns suddenly to a VIM
ter Hailsiorm

Thunhersro orIn Turns >udde niy to a VIM
ter Hails,orm
Dakota correspondent writes as
follows OF little storm he met up in the
Northwest
We were just finishing supper one
evening when, to some ones obser vation
that it was getting dark mighty fast, our
chief, looking up, dropped knife and
fork and yelled
Thunder boys, it's going to rain.
Hurry upl 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
III number-into little eight by ten
tent. Three minutes after the first drop
fell it would have cost man his life to
have gone any distance from shelter. for
the ice was coming down in blocks six
inches in circumference and in perfect
sheets. Our covered wagon started off
on trip across the country--proving
itself literally prairie schooner-and
brought up in the river beyond, and, de-
spite the effort of dozen stalwart men,
our tent came nearly after. All around
inside the men were either on their
knees holding down the canvass, or
hanging on to the ridge-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
canvass, and through the holows which
sshe stones knocked in our supposed
tightly stretched tent the water poured
IN volumes. The mules of our outf
tore loose from their pickets, and, rush
ing wildly about, sought shelter along
the high banks of the river One wise
old ass called Balaam backed up against
the lee side of our tent and assisted not a
little in keeping it from blowing over
One particular mule-the meanest brute
that ever wore long ears-too stubborn
TO run, stood kicking throughout the
storm, which lasted about twenty min
utes.
We were about mile away from the
nearest point Of shelter-a village OF
rough clap-board houses, which had
been run up in a 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 in
tervening plain, many places over shoes
in ice and water, and to add to onr
misery it kept getting colder and colder
as we splashed through the water and
ice. Arriving at the only hotel III the
town we found the usual Western hos
pitality. To our demand for 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 the course of an hour the fire was
started and around it we clustered, and
by alternating "fo1e and aft, drying
outside and wetting inside, we finally
succeeded in restoring circulation.
heavy rain now set in, and how il
can rain ont here on the prairies / Our
landlord and his son stood in the hall
sweeping back the water as it flooded IL
under the door-a practical illustration
of King Canute and the food, and about
dozen stiff boys, shoeless, coatless, as
less several other articles of attire which
need not be mentioned. all Of which
were left behind to dry by the only fir
Al II 0a, p,orohaI
the wet hall, and climbed ladder to the
loft. Here we wrestled manfully witt
. the bugs till near morning, when II be
gan blowing such terrific gale that
dozen fellows came to q sitting postur,
to debate the question of hunting tn
cellar. One of the regular hoar3tr
awakened by the din, settled the aTles
d ton by calling out: lyon inferna
a fools; there's not a cellar in town; la,
down and sleep; it's better to be Oh tol
than under, any day" We laid down
: In the morning our landlord brough
/. up our shoes, clothes, etc., In bnsht
baske. and emptied them ont on the iico
h IA be scrambled for. On going Ont, In
worst scene Of devastation it has cvs
been the lot of the writer 20 see, met Il
u eve. The dav before. large fields :
grain ripe for tie sickle, could be seel
stretching away il al directions. {
which 10. stalk remained sJ2ld;ae
garden growth of al kinds utterly j.
y stroved; har4ly pane Of glass was le
/. III the viaaee; the foliaSe IF the tres
IS was so cut and mangled that the ln.t
r locked as bare rs IN winter time. 4 he
Z eigh. miles in width and .wic.. as man
in length was entirely cearei Of vegt
tation.