Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1888-01-26
AN EASTERN VIEW.

The following editorial comments in
storm are in the main clear, and show nm
understanding of the situation. IL other
newspapers treat the matter as fully and
fairly we shall have naugbt to complain
&C. However the Inter Ocean Is mistaken
in one particular. 1t confuses the desti-
tuition and calls for help IN Kansas with a
like suffering throughout the west, This
is wrong. at least 80 far as Dakota is con-
eerned. We have more to live on and for
seed than in any previous year. The
Inter Ocean says I'm nearly thirty
years there has been no parall to the
terrible visitation of cold that has mado a
horrid chapter of death in the west. The
first reports from the stricken region, ap-
palling as they were, were bu, mild
preface TO the steries of suffering and
death which followed. Residents of large
cities can form but an imperfect estimate
of the rigors OF winter IN the open conn
try. The most destitute persons among a
city's population have easy escape from
death by freezing. 1t is difficult, there
fore, TO fully comprehend the awful misery
endured to the death of one exposed to a
sudden fierce blizzard in desolate region
with uothIng to shield him frgm the dead
~ blast Short dist nees offered no se-
curty against the risk OF passing from
place to place. Not only was there the
intense cold against which to contend
there was also the binding fury Of the
storm that obltemted the familiar way,
confused the senses and left the bewildsr
ed G,.venturer a victim to the blasts with
in hailing distance OF his own door.
blizzard is as treacherous ms IL is ter
rife. Only experience teaches the fion-
tiersman how to deal with this rage of the
elements. When the thermometer regis.
ters twenty or twenty-five degrees below
zero in the clear, cold regions, people ac-
customed to that pressure do not account
it ef Ms much danger to safety as do resi-
dents Of more humid regions when the
mercury is out eight or ten below. II is
not always the intense cold that is to be
dreaded. The peril is in tn. varying.
swirlipg, and sudden winds that seem Ia
cut TO the bone. subiectin. person TO an
increase Of cold witho I any actual change
in the temperature. II is these billiards.
sets the Traveller adrift without guidance,
and keeps him wandering impoteDtiy
about until the limbs are numbed and the
the frozen bodies We're found bnt little
way from shelter. As tar as has been
sscertsined about 135 persons peiished in
the two days OF storm, and it is a sadly in.
teresting TACT that but q small proportion
Of these deaths were in the region, Min
nesota, where the cold was gr. attest the
thermometer having marked 5S below al
Brainard, Minn.--but III Dakota where
the exposure was greatest and the winds
had wilder. freer sweep, though the mer.
cary was M lower than In Chicago. Th,
great affection is not, however, represent.
ed In the number of deaths. but in th,
great multitude in Kansas, Nebraska
Minnesota and Dakota exposed to starva
tion ana exhaustion. These unfortunat,
people claim onr larger sympathy, and i
mag be necessary u show our feeling II
deeds. Thousands are destitute, and pro
| badly tho worst not yet known of th
mcst terrific storm Of which there i
record IN quarter Of century"