Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1888-01-19
BOREAN BLASTS.
From Manitoba to the
Gulf.
Cause Great Loss of Life and
Property
Through its Entire Length
and Breadth.
A Land Mark in the History of
the West.
Four Deaths the Direct result Of Thurs
days Storm In Hand County.
THE RECORD OF A DAY.

THE RECORD OF A DAY.
The all absorbing topic on ever hand is
about the great storm which swept over
the northwest last week. The sad havoc
of this Dreadful storm was not confined
alone to north and south Dakota, but ex-
tended to Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming,
Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Iowa, Minneso-
ia, Wisconsin. Michigan, IIlinois--in fact
the Manitoban wave extended over the
entire western portion of the Uunited
States. Losses of life to people and stock
are reported from ali of the states men,
toned and perhaps great deal more to
be heard from. The results as chronicled
in each locality will probably be much the
same, varying in loss, and furnishes
record in the history of the northwest
which will never be forgotten. Z
IN HAND COUNTY.
Wednesday evening wind sat in sharp
ly from the southwest and blew the loose
snow whirling into air and those who were
out until the time all good mortals should
be retired. were pretty fully assured that
no greater blizzard was ever placed On
record. Indeed, right in the town of Mil
Ter quite number lost their bearing going
from one part Of town to another. Had
nothing worse happened, large number
OF the pioneers of this county would have
given this as time when all future incl
dents would have been dated from.
Subsequent events go to show that the
blizzard of Wednesday was an ordinary
April shower compared with what oc-
Cured Thursday following.
Thursday morning, January 18th, was
cloudy and calm, but the arameter was at
very low ebb throughout ali Dakota and
the northwest as reported from the chief
signal office. The wind blew gently from
the east-what there was OF it, Everyone
proceeded to do their usual morning
work; the children we're prepared for
school and sent off as usual In various
parts of the county persons had started for
the town nearest to them to procure
necessities of life. In these same towns
country people were induced by The sub
dued condition of the elements to start
for home, who had been waiting for the
opportunity tor over twenty-four hours.
Shortly sfter 8 o'clock the stratus condi-
tion Of the clouds became very heavy.
Suddenly the wind yeered from the east
to the north and northwest. Those who
were out noticed, in the direction the wind
had shifted. oil objects had vanished into
q Write mist. In short
OLD BoREAs
had abdicated his throne in the north and
it is believed. gave his personal attention
TO the manipulation of the most terrific,
the most woeful blizzard that ever visited
the northwest since its inhabitation. The
wind increased with great velocity and
suddenly the unhappy wayfarer found
himself enveloped in binding. driving,
shrieking fog of frozen mist. After the
fury of the storm had broken loose 1t was
simply and utterly futile for one to guess
as to the points Of the compass-uHless
1t was in the storm victims possession. A
driver could not see his team; street
walker ceuld not see seventeen story
building two arms length distant. such,
for time, was the intense fury with which
the frozen vapor was whirled through the
air. Terror was depicted upon the coun-
tenances Of all those who we're separated
from those they loved. School children be-
came panic stricken and parents frantic
for their safety. Alas, sturdy men in
town who permitted the anxiety for the
welfare of their families to exceed discre-
ton undertook to brave the fury Of
the elements. Hardly an individual who
dared to 60 any distance ont doors, but
failed to experience the fact that they
knew nothing Of direction in blizzard.
The crowning calamity Of the storm Is
that many who ventured forth in ii never
returned--thei: inanimate forms having
since been taken from a spotless shrowd
of snow.
II would be futile 20 undertake to claim
that Dakota delighted only in an invigor-
ating bath from tepid shower while at
the Same time people we're freezing to
death 500 miles south. While the loss Of
life has been great in oil the western states
we will deal only in detail with those who
were victims of the bliszard in this
vicinity.
The anticipation Of all, during the bliz-
zard, that after Il was over the dreadful
reports of death would come in has been
ealy too ssrely realized. The first an
nounced was the death OF
J.w GoSLEE.
Mr.. Goslee was o vel. do farmer,
living aboHt tbses miles northeast Of 50.
Lsvrenoe. In the evening he went out to
feed his stock and never returned. He
was strong, robust, elderly gentleman Of
nearly 90 years, but his eyesixht had been
defective for several years. On the follow
ing day party Of st. lawrence men took
w. b. Sechler's fine pointer dog and pro-
ceeded to Mr.. Goslee's residence. The
| dog readily followed mis- trail iow. soSss
two miles south where he suddenly
pointed" an object in Mr.. Stones barn.