Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-03-12
AN OLD TIME BLIZZARD.
REcoLLEcTloNs OF A STORM OF
OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO.

In Five Minutes-A Plucky bridegroom
The memory of but few Of the pioneers OF
western Illinois and eastern Iowa viii carry
them back with me to December 20, 1885, the
date Of the long time remembered sudden
change, the most remarkable in meteorological
annals that is recorded, and now only found
in few old files of the newspapers of that
day and referred TO in some of the historic:
of that time
For several days previous, up to the 10Th
it had been what we in Illinois and Iowa cal
"snug winter weather." Snow had fallen to
the depth of three or four inches, the sleigh
ing was fairly good and the settlers were inn
proving it by hauling firewood, rails and
building material from the climber lots" to
their homes and to their newly improved
farms On the 10Th the weather moderated,
and in the early evening it clouded up and
during the night and early morning of the
10th it rained moderately, accompanied by
thunder and lightning,
The snow was melting from the influence
OF the springlike weather and the rain, and
had become "slushn snow, mud and water.
This continued to near IL o'clock in the morn
ing, when off to the northwest was observed
dark, heavy'cloud As it rose toward the
zenith it spread west and north, accompanied
by low, believing noise, "as the sound Of
far off waters falling into deep abysses." As
the cloud spread it became inlxy black, the
thunder increased, the lightning played,
making a grand pyrotechnic display from
this artillery practice in the sky,
Ths commotion increased. The air seemed
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 dusly dark
ness spread over the earth, the thunder and
lightning still continuing. Then the wind
broke loose and spready its 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, but the clear cut pierc-
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 CONCEALED into ice,
SO that in minute it would bear the weight
of man, and in ten or fifteen minutes a
horse could travel over it without breaking
through.
Great was the suffering among the people.
This change from a ballny, springlike atmos-
phere 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 prairies and forests were almost exter-
minated.
1t was as severe on the settlers of that day
as the Dakota blizzardn Of two years ago
was to the people of that territory Before
closing this inadequate description Of the
''sudden change" will describe the priva-
ton and suffering of an expectant bride
groom, who was "caught out" in the war
ring elements, and as "all is well that ends
WE'LL" as it proved in this, know your read
ers will enjoy the relation.
My old friend Washington Crowder one
of the early pioneers of Sangamon county,
had concluded the counting of Miss Isabel
Laughin on the 18th, they agreeing to COR
ganize a family az had asked consent of
the parents of the bride-elect, the wedding
to take place on the 21st, the intervening
day being necessary to go to Springfield and
get the license that would permit the minis
ter to tie the knot
So on the morning Of the 20th he took his
way across the prairie from point on Sugar
creek, some ten miles south of Springfield.
He bestrode stalwart horse, as the roads
were deep with melting snow, 'slush," and
as it was raining he carried a broad UNI
brella over him and wore a long tailed over
coat "all buttoned down before 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 blackness, thunder and
lightning and general commotion of the ele-
ments; then the wind burst, during which
time he had lowered his umbrella, taking but
moment. But presto, changed When gath
ering up his bride reins he found them stiff
as an iron poker; the water and "slush" were
ice, and in 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 a
store ON the west side Of the square, he tried
to dismount. 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 that to the horse,
and centaur like they were one-man, saddle
and horse-with the big overcoat like sheet
iron easement encircling them all. He called
loudly for help aud two men came out of the
store
They "toOk in the situation" examined the
"subiect,n and finally one of the men felt
along the saddle girt, found that the animal
heat had kept the saddle grit timber He I'M
buckled it, and by the united effort of the
two saddle and man were ''peeled" from the
horse and carried into the store, placed before
rousing fire and "thawed" apart; the over
coat released its stiffness and "peeled" from
him. After warming himself he proceeded
to the clerks office, procured the necessary
document, went to the hotel, ate hearty
dinner, his horse having been cared for, and
soon he was ready to proceed homeward.
The ice was so slippery he dare not try to
ride, so turned the horse loose before him, fol.
lowed on foot, and in the shades of the even
ing arrived at the house he had left il the
morning with u consciousness of faithfulness
to promise-duty well performed
On the morrow, the day Of days-the 21st--
when his Isabel was to become Mrs Crowder,
he was up betimes, clothed in raiment befit-
ting the occasion. 1t was several miles across
the prairies to the residence of the Laughlins,
and the big horse was brought out, but 1t was
found that be could not proceed on horse
back end Washington took his way on foot
and the home Of his aftianced was reached ION
time"
The friends were gathered, the minister