Wichita eagle., 1890-01-21
AN OLD TINE BLIZZARD.
RECOLuECTIONS OF A STORM OF
OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Accompanied by Ei6ctr7c PyKotechnici
and an Icy Breath-Frona Thaw to Freez.
in Five Minutes-A PIueky Bridegroom
The memory of but few Of the pioneers OF
! western Illinois and eastern Iowa will carry
them back with me to December 20, 1886, the
| date of the long time remembered sudden
| change the most remarkable in meteorogical
| annals that is recorded, and now only found
in a few old files of the newspapers of tina,
day and referred to in some of the histories
Of that time.
For several days previous, up to the 10Th,
it had been what we in Illinois and Iowa call
''snug winter weather" Snow had fallen to
the depth of three Or four inches the sleigh
ing was fairly good and the settlers were i'm
proving it by hauling firewood, rails and
building material from tire ''timber lots" to
their homes and to their newly Improved
farms On the 18th the weather moderated,
and in the early evening it ciouded up and
during the night and early morning Of the
Goth it rained moderately, accompanied by
thunder and lightning.
The snow was melting from the influence
of the springiike weather and the rain, and
had become ''slush" snow, mud and water.
THIS continued 10 near IL O'Clock in the morn
ing, when off to the northwest was observed
a dark, heavy cloud. As it rose toward the
zenith it spread west and north, accompanied
by low, believing noise, ''as toe sound O.
far off waters falling into deep abysses." As
the cloud spread it became inky black, the
thunder increased, ths lightning played,
making grand pyrotechnic display from
this artillery practice In the sky.
~
resonant with the tumult of the elements and
the believing sound as from the bowels of
the earth increased. 1t was everywhere
pervaded space. could not tell whence it
came or whittier it went" A dusky dark
ness spread over the earth, the thunder and
lightning still continuing. Then the wind
broke loose and spready it's icy presence over
the land-''the December thaw" was at an
end. Winter claimed dominion, showed his
power by his GOODNESS, and clasped earth and
space in his embrace.
The thunder and lightning ceased, as did
the believing sound, bat the clear cut, pierre
ing wind came with freezing power from the
bleak stretches of the northern prairies, and
in less time than | am writing this the water,
snow and soft earth were cQngealed into ice
so that in a minute it would bear the weight
of a man, and i'll ten or fifteen minutes
horse could trayel over it without breaking
through.
Great was the suffering among the people.
This change from ballny, springhke atnos-
phece to that of an arctic GOODNESS found
them unprepared. Many were out on the
praIries without overcoats, gloves or nit
tens, and were badly frozen before they
could reach their homes. Some were frozen
to death. Stock-horseS, cattle and swine
were frozen, and the birds and animals of
the prai.eS and forests were almost exter-
minated.
IL was as severe on the settlers of that day
as the Dakota blizzard" of two years ago
was 10 the people of that territory. Before
closing this inadequate description of the
Sudden change" | viii describe the priya-
ton and suffering of an expectant bride
groom, who was caught out" in the war
ring elements, and US AL is well that ends
we'll, as it proved in this, l know your read
erS will enjoy the relation.
Ny old friead Washington Crowder, one
Of the early pioneers of Sangamon county,
had concluded the counting of Miss Isabel
Laughlin on the 10Th, they agreeing to cor
ganize family" He had asked consent of
bue cdUS VI bAc vi iut-cIcNb. tue WcullDS
to take place on the 2lsr, the intervening
DAY being necessary to SO to Springfield and
get the license that would permit the minis
ter to tie the knot.
So, on the morning Of the Goth, he took his
way across Che prairie from q point on Sugar
creek, some ten miles south of Springfield
He bestrode a stalwart horse, as the roads
were desp with melting snow, "slush," and
as il raining he carried g broad UNI
brella over him and wore long tailed over
coat 'all buttoned down beforen that almost
reached his feet. Thus comfortably equipped
he pursued his way, taking it easy, as he did
not choose to urge the horse through the
deep slush.
When he had gone over half way he no
ticed, off TO the far northwest, the cloud ris-
ing that | have described. 1t came nearer
apace with all the phenomenal believing
sounds-cloud of inky blacknes., thunder and
lightning and general commotion of the eie-
ments; then the wind burst, during which
time ne had lowered his umbrella, taking out
a moment. But presto, changed When gath
ering up his bride reins he found them stiff
as all iron poker; the water and ''slushn were
ice, and ia less than fifteen minutes his horse
walked on top of the CONCEALED mass.
Carefully but slowly he wended his way on
to Springfield and, stopping in front of
store on the west side of the square, he tried
to dsmount. Not much. His clothing, his
long tailed overcoat that had served him such
a good purpose, and his pantaloons all were
frozen fast to the saddle and taat to the horse,
and centaur like they we're onc--zlan, sadti1-
aud horze-with the big overcoat like sheet
iron easement encirciug them all. He called
loudly for help and two men came out of the
store.
They "took in the situation examined TIE
Subject" and finally one OF the mon fels
along the saddle gixt, found that the animal
heat had kept the saddle grit Timber He I'M
buck.ed it, and by she united effort of the
two saddle and man were peeled from the
horse and CARRIED into the store, placed before
a rousing fire and ''thawsin apart; the over
coat released its stifFDass aud peeled from
him. After warming hilassif he proceeded
10 the clerks Office, procured the necessary !
document, went 70 the hotei, ate hearty !
dinner, hiss horse having been cared for, ami /
soon be was ready to proceed homeward.
The ice was 50 slippery ne dare not try to /
ride, 80 turned the horse loose before hun. fol-
lowed on foot and In the shades of the even |
ing arrived at the house he had left IL the |
morning with a consciousness OF fsithfulneSs |
to promiae-duty well performed
On the morrow, the day Of days-the 2lst-- |
when his Isabel was 10 become Mrs Crowder, |
le was up be,ines, clothed In rainent betit- /
ing the occasion. 1t was several miles across |
the prairles to the residence OF the Laughlins, /
and the big horse was brought out, bat it was /
found that ne could not proceed on horse
back and Washington took his way on foot /
md the home OF his afiianced was reached ION /
..me."
Tue friends were gathered, the minister |