Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-20
- - : - -777-7'-' :
TIL. RLI/IA r y
WHICH RESULTS IN DEATH,
SUFFERING AND HAIR
BREADTH ESCAPES
Ta,es OfPeroism Aud Awful Export
enaes,. Destruction OF Prop
ert1-. etc. etc

Skeptical as to the true meaning Oh
the term blizzard.
/ The tendertcot who had been signing
for blizzard and the old rdsident
who thought he had seer many Il one
were alike satisfied with the true char
acter of the demonstrate on Thursday
afternoon and night, and hoped never
to see another. Words cannot portray
the terrific ragings OF that storm; its
fury, to be fully comprehended, must
be experienced. On Wednesday, Dec
II, the wind blew all day perfect gale
from the South filling the air with snow
md sending the mercury down to 10
degrees below zero. During the night
a light snow fell, mixed with fine hail
On Thursday morning a light fall OF
snow continued, the temperature rose
and everything bid fair to give us a
mild, agreeable day; yet there We're ev-
licences of vast quantities OF electrici-
tY in the air and other indications, to
q close observer, of violent meteoro-
logical disturbances The change
came without the least warning eX-
cept momentary lnl! in which the
descending snow Aakes Guivered as if
doubtful Of their destiny. After the
intense cold OF the previous days, the
mornings mildness allured many from
their homes some to their neighboring
villages, others with their stock to
their respective watering places, while
others We're after hay or straw stacked
in the field Where it was cut. or follow
ing some other duty connected with
their homes.
-Four deaths are reported IN our conn-
ty: " "
Charles kughler, OF Media township,
went in the morning with his OK team
after straw, t0a stack about 40 rods
south of his house. The storm struck
him, he left his wagon, and it is sup
posed, started for the house. His pitch
fork was found 20 rods away, sticking
in a snow drift and on Sunday evening
his body was found about four miles
FROM home lying near his oxen. All
were frozen to death. Charlie was
tracked in his wanderings for about
seven miles. He was bachelor living
alone, with no relatives in this part of
the country. The neighbQrs are caring
for his body until the arrival OF his IA
ther from Pennsylvania.
Mr.. and Mrs. Davis who lived in Vi
ola township were both frozen to
death. Mr.. Davis had started with his
team TO Rev. Smiths On an errand but
failing to return as soon as Mrs. Davis
thought he should, she went in search
OF him, it is supposed. Their son who
lives at home was at his brothers house
20 rods away when the storm came.
After while the sons felt their way
to their fathers house by means of a.
rope, only to find the door open and
their mother gone. After dilllgent
search they fonnd her near the hog pen,
jast breathing her last. The father
was found some distance away. Man
and team were frozen.
Mrs. Philips, OF Alpena township,
was teaching school on that day for
her son Frank, in the Teasdale school.
After it's close she started with a son
Of Mr.. Bedell to go home. The sleigh
broke in some Way and they were O.
bliged to leave it. Each catching hold
OF a tug they tried to follow the horse,
but it got into a drift and they were
compelled to stop. The brave boy did
what ne could to save the woman's life,
piling snow and packing it to keep 1t
from blowing away Some time near
morning he got up and started for help.
but his numb limbs refused to carry
him bpt short distance, where his
body was fonnd. Mrs. Philips lay in
her bed Of snow for ~ hours until
assistance came. Although badly fro
zen, and suffering greatly her recovery
is thought probable.
At a late hour yesterday Il report
! tS'>tAiSt 10 VI wv " QtdUllS III IJlHlue
township, by freezing
Our stage and mail men are pluckv
lot: they stand by their posts under
every circumstance. Al Everhart was
on his way flom Woonsocket when
the storm struck him: but fortunately
misfortune happened just in front of
Mr.. Bogee's house. He had tied his
team at the barn While he fixed his
broken sleigh, when the storm struck
he housed his team and himself and
waited for better weather.
Rolla Cady was out about 10 miles
from Miller when the storm dropped
down upon him. lie could not see
where he was and travelled about five
miles in search OF a stopping place. a
friendly fence interpose.i itself and
guided the way to shelter when Rolla
realized that he had passed several
houses at which he had expected to
seek shelter. He came in Saturday
n tfrI L. 4 \