Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-02-25
A DAKOTA BLIZZARD.
An Exciting Experience Graphic.
ally Described.
low the Storm Came Up-A Desperate
Struggle For LIE in a Deserted Dug
out-sad Fate of "A Courageous
Driver.

Aman who has never seen a Dakots
blizzard can have no conception OF it,
terrOrs.
A Telegram reporter wa caught in
the first great storm that swept over
the plains from the northwest thi,
season. He will not soon forget the
experiences OF the night that followed.
He SAYS:
eve were about making n two-days'
trip to the mountains. The weather
was mild and almost like a spring dav.
Snow was gone except on the mount
aims and in the road where it had been
packed by team and freight wagons
and melted ~ tn sun into ice. This
frozen snow risiao above the barren
PLAINS was nearly two feet deep, and it
stretched away like Il white macadam-
lied turnpike as far as the eve could
reach. My horses were brought to the
door, and as | stood on the piazza a
moment bidding the family good-bye |
congratulated them on the fine omen
weather we were having.
That all right, stranger" said a
n%cighbor, who was leaning against the
fence; "but advise you to take plenty
OF blankets and enough of grub for a
couple of days"
But its only twenty miles to the
first ranch | said, ''whore wen sion
for the night. Tomorrow we Shall
reach the mountains"
That's all right" repeated the old.
timer "but don't You forget what I'm
telling you,n
10 please him | ordered the driver to
go round to the barn and get some buff
falo robes and a couple of blankets.
which he did. remember the weather
perfectly. 1t was like a soft April after.
noon; the sun shonc brightly and chill
drcn played barchcadcd in the streets.
Dut there was an unusual Stiffness in
the air, 1t seemed to me. The deem
iar-aWay bIucneSs Of the sky made me
think of spring.
1t was II Of those soft. smiling
days peculiar TO the high altitude of
the plains near the Rocky Mountains.
one OF those strange Pacific winds was
blowing. They come without a mo.
mcnts warning, and have been known
to melt eighteen inches of snow in A.,
few hours, and even bring birds from
somewhere, no one knows whittier
But ten hours later the mercury may
be twenty degrees below zero, and
hundreds of cattle lying dead from the
sudden change.
remember as ! entered the WAGON
That Notwithstanding the hustle Of tho
town there was an ominous stiffness
a hush peculiarly in keeping with the
soft. mellow afternoon.
This is Gods country" said The
old-timef,s as we babe him eood.doy
and drove away. The voices Of bows
VINO were playing ball just outside Of
the town came wonderfully distinct
across the fields. When we reached
the open prairie there were no signs Of
winter in the sky. The mountains
slione in the sunlight. aud their white
peaks scared into the cloudless blue.
The landscape was like a picture.
We had driven perhaps two miles
and a half. when a cattle-herder on his
way to town passed us on u slow trot.
but Il moment later he shouted for MS
to look at the mountains and said
something else that we didn't hear.
and then digging his heels into his
pony he rode away toward the town.
saw nothing about the mountains
unusual. but, turning n second time
md casting my eyes far to the north
west, where the peaks are low. | saw
IA Hurry of clouds rising from behind
the mountains. Even while | gazed at
Them they arose with ominous rapidity.
anu IN n minute or two had become
darker and were beginning to boil and
swell most thrcatrningly. Fora minute
was fascinated. We had n couple of
dogs in the wagon behind the seats
and they began to whine. The horses
put back their ears. and the outlook
Tor a Trip 10 The mountains became
serious. The driver was for turnino
back at once told him that We had
a plain open country before us with
good roads aud fresh horses, and We
could cnsily rcurl, tho ranch In a couple
o. hours But while we wsrs dlscus,.
my tho matter 'As clouds increased In