Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-02
THE BLIZZARD.
Experience of One who Has Wit
messed the Terrible C~loud-BuTsts.

Experience OF one who las Wit
messed the Terrible bursts.
The term blizzard is OF Western origin and
Is intended TO convex 10 the understanding
the nature Of a wind and snoWstorm, accom-
panied by an Intensely cold wave, which, foI
suddenness Of approach, violence OF onset and
appalling consequential horrors can not be
adequately expressed by any word known u
dictionary makers, writes a correspondent OF
Tie Boston Journal TO speak OF these
peculiar storms as snowstorms, In the sense
that the term is ordinarily understood, would
be misleading. They may be more correctly
termed cloud-bursts of what has been aptly
called ice dust, of great extent, violence aud
long duration, SO compact anu firm as To be
impenetrable to both sight and hearing, even
in their very short range. When 1t IS con-
sidered that the ice.dust Is frequently driven
through the air by an Intensely cold wind, at
a ve,ocit, Of from thirty 10 fifty miles an hour,
it can easily be imagined how very small are
the chances OF escape TO man or beast who is
unfortunate enough TO be caught In a blizzard
at any considerable distance from shelter. i
will here remark that these terrific storms are
always preceded by several days of remarkably
warm and pleasant winter weather. IL was
on the 9TH aud sth Of January, 1913, that i,
having been "A resident OF Northwestern
Minnesota, had a personal experience OF a
blizzard, which, fOr severity and disastrous
consequences, has had no parallel since until
the recent one that swept over the great
Northwest, causing such terrible suffering aud
loss OF life TO both man and beast. For tour or
five DAYS preceding the approach OF the
blizzard referred to, the weather had been
mild aud springltke; especially WAS the fore
noon OF the day the storm began warm,
sunny and delightful Turing men TO the
meadows for hay, to the ''timbersn. for
fuel or TO town for businss or pleasure. The
wind blew freshly from the south and east
TIL noon, when OF a sudden II ceased and
aas succeeded for a brief period By an omiu-
Gus calm that could almost be felt. Whoever
turned his eyes tow ard the northwest might
have observed a blaca cloud rapidly approach
ing without comprehending It's frighttul slgnl-
fcance. 1t is prOverbial among seamen that
a nor Wester IN winter on the coast OF New
England always comes butt end nrs.' r In
this instance, though far from the Atlantic
coast, the Old nautical adage was fully and
fearfullly verified. In less than half an no ur
after the south wind had fallen calm, the
storm was upon us In jill its fury. II is dOu bt-
ful, IL "A hadl had been approaching my
house at a distance OF thirty rods, ten min
utes after the storm struck, would have
reached H. Being myself warmly housed,
abundautlv supplied with wood, water and
provisions, | suffered nothing EXCEPTION the
Consciousness that whoever might be so luck
less ms to be exposed 10 the pitiiess peltings
Of that storm must Inevitably perish. ! was
sherf living upon a prairie farm four miles
from town aud a mile or more from my near
est ~neighbors As | listened 10 the bowling
II the tempest and poDdered upon
the fury aud force OF the elements ! was
inspired with Il sense of my inconsequence
aud the overwhelming majesty Of the powers
Of nature, which | Will not attempt TO des-
cribe. At the end Of twenty-four hours the
storm subsidized, so that the young man living
with me was able to climb into the gable end
door Of NV barn and And his stock. Il was q
day later before they could be watered.