The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-02-17

East HeutOu.
The following copy of a portion of
letter from Peter F. Ashelman, who had
thrilling experience during the noted biz-
zard IN Nebraska, will give the readers of
the COLUMBIAN some idea of western
breezes, to-wit: "Fine weather here for
the last week or ten days. Warm and
rainy, snow nearly all gone. We had a
terribly cold January all through; also
some very bad storms. You have doubtless
read of the great blizzard we have had
here some time ago. We have great reason
to be thankful that we are all alive. l am
nearly 4S years old, but never saw any
thing like it before. l will tell you the
particulars of the storm, and how it af.
fected us. The night before the storm the
sun went down clear. Reece Conner and
his wife, from Holt Co., this state, paid us
a visit. We turned our colts out to make
room for their horses. We chatted till
about nine O'Clock in the evening when our
visitors retired. Shortly after was pre-
pairing to do the same, when the wind be-
gan to blow terrible gale from the south.
| went out and saw that it was clouding
up. Soon after it began to rain and hail.
| became very uneasy about my colts;
was afraid they would wander off. So
did not go to bed at all that night, but
went out every little while to see whether
they were all right. Next morning the
wind was still from the south and misting
rain and snow and was quite warm. Con-
ners were anxious to start for home as soon
IS possible for fear the wind would turn
from the north and get cold. After they
had gone nearly two hours, took my axe
| and started towards the creek to chop some
wood. had gone only about forty rods
| when heard roaring sound, and looked
towards the north when saw that the
storm was upon us, end the wind blowing
| hurricane from that direction In three
or four seconds from the time first heard
the sound every object was lost to sight,
and could not see step ahead. l started
towards the house but got bewildered and
lost. l yelled with all my might, my folks
heard,me and answered.; by that means
got 10 the house. They we're nearly fran
tic, for fear would not get in. Soon after
| came in, two young men with team
drove up to our door, nearly frozen, for it
was getting very cold. They had started
for Clearwater. lost their way and struck
our house, which was lucky for them.
They said that they could not see their
horses ahead of them. They remained
with us till the following day. tell you,
John, 1t seemed as if the very clouds came
| down in sheets Of snow. The storm struck
| US between eleven and twel re o'clock n. IN
and continued without abatement unit
three o'clock next morning 1t became in
tensely cold towards evening, l could moi
feed my stock that night. Whenever l at
tempted to go out, l would shake as though
I had the ague, besides there was danger
OF getting lost by going outside the door
You bet did not sleep much that night, as
| thought my stock would all perish. The
next morning the storm had ceased, and
went out as quickly as possible, and foun'
everything all right. You bet was glad
But not so with manv of our neighbors
Some had lost heavily in the storm" The
letter recites further tales Of suffering and
death among unfortunate victims of tn,
storm-bound region. Peter F. Ashelmar
was formerly from this place and settled
In Nebraska.
The accumulation of snow in our localt,
is assuming fearful proportions. Roofs OF
buildings are beginning to break down un
der the weight of it.
The shock of the powder mill explosion
at Wapwallopen, from which the packing
house was blown up and six men killed,
was distinctly heard and felt through thi:
neighborhood last Friday forenoon.
Another cold wave struck us Wednesda,
evening of last week, on Friday mornin,
The thermometer registered from eighteel
to twenty five degrees below zero at differ
ent points in the neighborhood.
AS moving time is near at hand, it nigh
be wise for all those interested 10 tina
event, tn take the necessary precaution ol
account OF the condition of the roads
From present appearances they may b
rendered impossible, on account of NUT
and remnants of snow banks.
Many children in the country wer
obliged to remain out of school on tn,
ground that there is an over-production o
snow, Can hungry officials dispense will
the large surplus-of snow?