Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-01-07
FROZEN TO DEATH!
Two Victims of the BlIzzard-Ch Charles
and Bert Bell SRccumb to the
Storms Fury.

Storms Fury.
There was watch meeting at the
Wilson school house, last Wednesday
night. This school house is located four
miles west of Elm Mills, 10 this county,
and is upon high ridge which divides
Elm creek and Medicine river. Madi-
son & Bell lived one mile south of the
school house. and his three children,
Charles, aged about % years, Bert, aged
about 10 years, and Clara, aged about
II years, attended the meeting. After
being at the meeting short while, the
blizzard arose, and as 1t continued to
grow worse. they concluded that they
had better start for home, and at 10
clock they left the school house. The
| road runs from the school house in a
southeast direction, and they followed
The road, travelling with the storm. till
they reached a place just east of their
| house They then turned west, and
reached their own gate, which is two
hundred yards south Of The house. They
<ae" whore they We're. and held Il con-
se-sation al the gate, Charles telling the
others that they could not make the
distance in the face Of the storm, and
JhaJ they would have TO continue NOV
ing south with the wind. They then
started south, and after travelling a
quarter of mile came to little can
yOn, and took refuge under a bank in a
swampy spot. They knew exactly
where they were, and all huddled up
together to keep warm. They were
soon buried under the drifting snow,
and conversation ceased. They re-
manned quiet until after sunrise Thurs
day morning, when Charles crawled out
from under the snow, with the inten-
ion of going to the house. He called
out To his sister that he was so stiff he
could not walk. 1t is presumed that
ne then laid down, exposed to the wind,
and was soon frozen to death.
Mr.. Bell started out Thursday morn
ing, to hunt up his children. He did
not find them at the homes of his neigh
bors, and searching parties were organ
lied. Still it was hoped that they were
safe, and no great anxiety was exhibit
ed, and as night came on the search
was given up. On Friday morning the
neighbOrhood turned out, and at ten
O'Clock the body Of Charles was found,
and the searchers soon gathered around
him and then the refuge was discovered.
Gnpna ooilaI tho rripI lNu
she answered from beneath the snow.
One man then went to the house for a
scoop, and when he returned the snow
was removed and the two children TAX
en- out The boy was dead, and the
gIrl was very stiff and benumbed, but
was conscious. She did not know that
either of her brothers had died, and
while she was being carried to the
house, she told the men to go back and
bring the boys.
The funeral of the two boys occurred
last Saturday, and while the girl was
improving steadily, she had not been
Informed in regard to their death. The
news was brought to town late Friday
afternoon, and it was the general theme
of conversation on the street Saturday.
The blizzard was very sudden. At
O'Clock Wednesday night it was pleas
ant without fires. AT s O'Clock furi-
Gus north wind commenced blowing,
and slight rain fell, accompanied by
great deal of thunder and lightning,
Tie rain soon turned to sleet, and then
to snow, and the thermometer fell rap
idly, but only went about eight degrees
below the freezing point The furious
wind sent the fine snow whirling in
every direction, and at o'clock Thurs
day morning all objects were invisible
at distance of thirty or forty feet.
AS the sun arose the wind subsidized,
and by 10 O'Clock Thursday The snow
was sweating and the air became clear.
1t continued chilly all day, and Thurs
day night was little colder than the
night preceding, but there was very lit
tie wind. 1t was, altogether, avery I'M
pleasant spell of weather