Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-03-21
WELCOMED BY A BLIZZARD.
An Eastern woman's First Experience
In Dakota

am reminded by the terrible blil
Iard reported from the west this yea
of my first blizzard experience. 1 hac
been visiting friends in Wisconsin, anC
had decided to go further west anc
visit other friends in Dakota / was &c
leave the railroad at q small way sta
tion, and the tall young man who met
me assured me, as he helped me into the
sleigh box, that we had good eigh-
teen mile drive ahead of US.
We jourueyed for miles in silence,
but at last became curious about the
strange meanings that seemed to ill the
air-sometimes overhead, sometimes on
,ue side or the other, sometimes near
bv, and anon afar of. When l asked
the young man he looked grave and
said briefly:
I'm afraid they mean blizzard
my God" cried IN horror, ''let us
go back"
He shook his head.
''No use. We are over half way there
now and can only get on as fast a.
possible
Another mile was passed in silence.
Then one horse stumbled and fell TO its
knees. Aided by the rein, IT regaIned
It's feet, but limped painfully 1t had
cast a shoe.
From that time our progress was
painfully slow. soon the first slow,
heavy flakes of snow began to descend
Gradually IL increased in density, until
We could not see beyond the horses
heads our rate or progress was only
a slow walk suddenly the wind began
10 blow furilusly. The cold had III
a q EsaT-E
Hne. I never IN my life had known
such wind. Not strong, steady
blast, but circliuE upward, downward,
all about, drifting the snow IN blind
ing sheet.
Nv companion drew the robes and
blankets closely around me. The horses,
lustiuCtivrly alarmed, advanced more
rapidly for a time. but the eXertiOn was
too painful for the injured one, and
they soon resumed the slow plOddIEg
walk. soon a different sound under
the sleigh show ell that we were out of
the road.
To add 90 our frightful danger 1t
grew rapidly dark. We were still NOV
ing, for fear lent strength TO the poor
horses. but toward what point OF the
compass We could not tell.
At Lust they stopped, utterly exhaust
ed Their master climbed out into the
snow, which was even with the sleigh
box, aS I found 10y putting out my hand.
II / had been stone blind l could have
seen as much. l knew he went TO the
horses, and when we started on and he
did not return, | knew he was leading
them. But that could not last long,
At last the horses stopped, and no
urging could induce them to take an
other step. Then the driver resumed
his place IN the sleigh. The snow drift
ed around us Ike "A pail, save when he
beat II away from our heads.
| sat gloomIly starting into the dark
ness, which | at last noticed WAS much
denser in front than on either side.
When | was sure, | called his attention
To the fact. lie strained his eyes IN that
direction for a moment, then with
shout leaped into the yielding snow
/ could not see what lie did, but
found atterward that he took the lines
from his harness, buCkled them together
and fastened one end to the ring III the
end of the sleigh tongue, the other to
his arm. Then he vallowed through
the snow in the direction we had spok-
en- Uf Before he reached the end of the
line, he found himself among some
trees, and knew we had gone miles out
of our way, and reached the only tim
Der III the region, CO. uwOOd grove
on the river bank. FualwIng the line
back to the sleigh he gave me the news,
adding that We were saved.
After incredible eXertiOn, the tried
horses drew the sleigh III among the
trees. There the full force of the ter
rible wind was not felt, and the snow
NJ I inn
benumed with cold, but was dimly con-
scious Of what was going on.
No man in that country ever travels
in the winter without shovel and aN. In
mad haste they were piled in this in
stance, for my companion was alarmed
by my drowSy replies. y place was
quickly cleared OF snow, and the horses
led into it.-Then the side was split
from the Sleigh box, and with some
difficulty fire was kIndled.
lie then lifted me bodily from the
sleigh, and shook and scOlded at Inc I'M
III | was aroused. After which he led
me up and down, up and down, a clear
ell space until l was aglOw with warmth
and begged pIteously for a rest. As
sured of my We being, he turned his
attention 10 the poor horses and rubbed
and blauketed them.
All night the cruel storm ragged, but
day dawned clear and beautiful. From
the supplies Kent was bringing from
town, for he was my friends brother,
we made out good breakfast. The
hay put in the sleigh to add TO our COM
fort served for breakfast for the horses.
by noon we had regained the road
and We soon met 4 p,Ity in search of
Us. Such was my welcome to Dakota.