Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-01-06
A BLIZZARD'S VICTIMS.
Many Deaths From Cold and
Hunger in the West.
Poor Settlers Suffering Intensely
for Want Of Fuel.

A number of lives have been lost In the berrl-
bic blizzard prevailing in the western part OF
Nebraska and hundreds Of cattle and horses
have been frozen to death. In the newly Or
ganized county of Perkins the death OF
man and boy is reported. They were
attempting to make their ranch, TWEEN
ty miles from Ogallala, when the storm
overpowered them. Both we're frozen to
death Another man, named John Grant,
who had been on railroad construction work
on the Black Hills extension OF the Burning
ton and Missouri River road, was 1ouno
dead a mile from camp.
Reports from Kansas state that deaths from
cold and hunger are constantly coming III
from the more thinly populated districts, ana
that many isolated portions nave nob you
been heard from.
l.. G. Clark, living near Golden, Grant
County, left his family at home 70 go 10
Hartland, the nearest railroad point, Ior tne
purpose Of getting coal, his family being with
out fuel He left Hartland at night ana
the next morning was found SIX miles
from home, lying by the side OF his norses,
frozen stiff. Clark's wife and three children
had. in the meantime nearly persisted, and
had only saved themselves by leaving their
house and taking refuge from the bllzzaro In
a cave. Two deaths are reported from
Greedy County, on the Colorado line.
A brother and sister named Robert ana
Sarah HolZapfel, who lived on a claim In an
unsettled part of Grant County, found them
selves without fuel Sunday evening. they
tore down a small shed to burn the lumoer,
and that night all but the small amount
which they had themselves burned was
stolen from them Early IN the morning the
young man went to the town OF Horace,
about seven miles distant, and succeeded III
getting 200 pounds of coal late IL the after
noon Being obliged to travel against the
furious wind then blowing, he did not reach
home until nearly midnight. His hmos were
then numb, and he was so exhausted that 1T
was with great diffiulty that he gained ad-
mission to the house He found ms sister
in bed insensible and almost Stlh. she had
been without fire all day, and the poorly puliC
house afforded her little protection. Although
the Young man was almost frozen, he tried TO
revive his sister, but without avail
A farmer named Johnson was found dead
near his house in Greedy County, Kansas.
He was out looking for fuel and persisted.
A widow named Mrs. Riley and her Two
little children persisted in the storm near
Dighton, in Lane County, Kansas
storm came SO suddenly. upon them
that they were unable to get
it. The woman's eldest son started
out in the storm to get coal. He was over
come by the intense cold, but fortunately
wandered to the house of a nelghbor. he
was unable to speak, and his arms, ears and
feet were frozen. His life was saved, although
he will probably lose his feet.
There are also reports OF great su11erlng III
Clark County, Kansas, on the Indian Terri
tory line. A family of four were travelling
overland, and, being but ten miles from home
and several miles from any other house, de.
termined to reach home that night in spite of
the terrible storm The horses were over
come. and the family were obliged to aban-
don the horses and walk to the nearest house.
A twO-year- child frOZe to death In lCS
fathers arms before shelter was reached, and
others were also badly frozen. The condl-
dition of the people in Western and South
western Kansas is very bad
This part of the State has only been re-
Gently settled, and some of the counties are
still unorganized. Nearly all the people set
tied on Government claims and were without
money, depending entirely on the crop TO De
raised this fall The crop, however. was g
total failure because of drought, leaving the
people destitute. The majority of the people
live in rudely built houses, which afford very