Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-16
4 Dakota Hail. Storm.

We We're juSt finishing supper one
evening when, 10 some ones ohSerya-
ton that 1t was getting dark mighty
fast. our chief looking IN. dropped
knife and fork and yelled: Thunder!
COWS, 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 in nun
her-iuto q little eight by ten tenn
Three minutes after the first drop fell il
would have cost man his life to have
gone = distance from shelter for the ice
was coming down in blocks six inches in
circum ference and in perfect sheets
Our covered wagon started of on
trip across the countrs-proy-
ing itself literally prairie
schooner and brought M in the
river beyond and despite the efforts OF
a dozen stalwart men cur tent came
nearly following OTTER. AL around in
side the men We're either on their knees
Holding down tine canvas or hanging on
10 the ridge-pole with might and main.
while the hail peltcd the root, sides and
ends vi our tent with such force that no
one could stand against the canvas. anj
through the hoilowS which the stone;
knocked in our supposed tightly,
stretched tent the water poured in vol.
umcS, The mules of our outfit tora
loose from their pi1kvtS. and rushing
about, sought shelter along the high
banks of the river, One wise old ass,
called Ralaam. backed up against the
leS-Sldc OF oar tent, and assisted not
little in keeping it from blowing over.
One particular mulc-the mcaneSt brute
that ever Wore long ears too stubborn
10 run, stood Kicking throughout the
storm, which lasted about twenty min.
utrS.
We Were about a mile away from the
nearest point ri shelter a VILLAGE If
rough clap board houses. which had
been rum up in a dav or 81 with the first
talk ot building road So. after the
storm, for this village We started. Wet
To the skin. we waiel across the inter-
Ncuing plain, many places over shoes
III zee and water. and. IL add 10 cur
misery, il kept getting colder rs va
>plaShcd through tie water and ice
Arriving n the oulN hotel in the town.
we found theuSual Western hospitality
10 cur demand for = fire hv which 10
dry our rlo,hns, the landlord replied
that we should have enc Just rs soon
a. he could hunt up the necessary fuel
In the course Of an hour the tire MAS
started, and around il we clustered.
turning dozen pairs 81 Shocle~s feet
up to the warmth. and by alterua. NJ
: tore and att, dry the outside and
wettlng the inside, we finally succeeded
in restoring circulation.
\ heavy rain now set in. and how il
can rain on, here on the prairi,s cur
Landlord and his son stood in the hall
sweep NJ havk the WAFER as it flooded
in unJ,I, the door practical illuS;ra-
ton OF King anute and the food. and
about rs su ceSsiul bedtime arrived.
ANA a dozen sin BOYS. SHOE
les, coal,~S, as well =, less SaN
erat other articles Of attire uhica
need nat ba mentioned all vi which
were lr behind 10 dry bv the only tire
the hotel oaercd marc@cd ont through
The we. hail and climbed 81 ladder to the
lolt. Here we wrrstlcd maniulh with
the bugs till near morning. when il be
an blowing such a terrific gale that
dozen fellows came to sitting posture
To debate III" question 81 hunting the
t'itdi. N'llt 81 the regular hoaluetN.
awakened BY the din, settled this qucs-
ton by calling out: You Internal
fools; Tiers not cellar in town; lay
down and sleep; il better to be OF, top
than under any day We laid down
In the morning our landlord brought
up our shoes, clothes, etc, in bushcl-
basket and cmptcd them out on TIL
floor To he scrambled for On going
out the worst scene 81 devastation II
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 direc-
lions, of which not Il stalk remained
standing; garden growth Of all kinds
utterly destroyed; hardly pane OF
glass was LETT in the village; the foil
age of the trees was So cut and man.
gled that the limbs looked bare rs IT.
winter-timc. A belt eight miles in width
and twice rs many in length was entire
ly cleared of vegetation. palota Cor.
Hhdadeipbjo Times.