Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-07-22
! in A BLIZZARD.

When the Dakota fever was at its
height father left lucrative bus iness
in Chicago on the chance of making a
fortune by growing up with the
country" as everybody phrased it in
those days.
! None OF the rest wanted to 60, but
father was obstinate always So the
| boys-there were three of them went
when he did. and the four took up a
section OF land in what is now the
thickest settled part OF the state
Mother and did not join the m un.
til the next spring. whom we found
things as comfortable as was possible
In new country. but own was dis
mayed ut first
Eleven miles to the nea~est neigh
boE twenty to the nearest town. and
that across desolate dreary ST reich
OF prairie that seemed to me in those
days almost interminable.
OF course, the sod over which our
wagon rolled so smoothly would some
day be rich farming land, but the
thought gave mo no comfort then.
Still | enjoyed the wild. free. untram-
meled life to the full. and found we
were much better of than many Of the
settlers.
Father had few thousand dollars
to commence with while most of the
newcomers had not even hundreds
We all worked early and late to make
things homelike but In July q cyclone
swept over our section and destroy ed
the fruits of our labor in few ter
rible minutes.
Tho house was unroofed tho furni-
lure scattered. broken and mutilated,
while of the barn not u vestige re-
manned. The three little cabins built
on the boys claims In fulfllme Mt of
the requirements OF the law were also
utterly destroyed.
Everybody worked with will and
In few weeks we were comparati
ly comfortable again. But father had
become possessed OF an unreas oning
dread OF our disaster and tho first
thing ho did upon resuming work was
to dig and securely plank up cave
close to the house where we could
take refuge at moments notice.
1t certainly was good idea and
mother used it as u milk cellar. But
when he dug its duplicate half VI ay on
the route to the village we thou ght i.
going too far We laughed IN errily
over his cyclone mania little dream.
ing what blessing it would prove to
us in the future.
When | was 10 party of relatives
came to visit us and with them came
Charlie Blair. We had been great
friends in the old days and on meet
ing again our friendship soon ripened
into love. When the rest returned
home he remained. with the inten.
ton of spending the winter with us
aud it was arranged we were to be
married in the spring.
But our plans were rudely broken
up by telegram just before Christ
mas announcing his fathers serious
illness and calling him homo He at
once declared his intention OF taking
me with him. and after much teasing
on his part father and mother at
length consented we should be mar.
ried ut once.
A messenger was dispatched to
Morris to secure the presence of a
clergyman but came back with the
announcement that he found it impos-
siole to get away but babe us come
to him. After short consultation it
was so decided. My trunk was
packed and the next day but one saw
us en- route accompanied by father
mother and Jack, my 20 hngest
brother l laughed merrily at the
number of good things mother
packed for our consumption ON the
journey. for we were to take the cars
ut once for Chicago
Jack rs a last thought brought two
huge snow shovels and put In the
sleigh also lantern. at which |
laughed louder than ever II was u
glorious morning. warm and PIC asant.
but ere we started q grey cloud began
TO overspread the whole sky.
There was about u foot of snow on
the ground. but our team had been
to Morris several times since it
fell. so there was a we'll defined track.
easily followed by the horses. fine
span of sturdy Normans.
| was almost heartbroken I'd leave
homo and my mother so suddenly and
une pectedly. but laughed and
jested to keep mothers spirits up.
She poor darling, would have many
weary lonesome days without me in
that desolate place. We Id id not
gone three miles when huge flakes OF
snow began to descend lazily. There
was scarce breath OF wind, and no
one thought of turning back The
demon OF Dakota was unknown TO us
then. Now. If three miles from home
on that terrible prairie and a snow
storm began the horses would not be
allowed TO slacken their best speed
until place of safety was reached.
There was queer moan or hum in
the air which was noticed and com
mented on by all. can't toll you
what it was like but it seemed now
overhead. now to the right or left
On we went all unconcernedly.
The horses got over the ground in
fine style. We were about seven
miles on our way. when with scarce
an instants warning we were envel-
oped in rushing; roaring horror OF
wind and snow so Enthusiastically fine
and driven with such violence that it
cut your flesh like needle points.
The horror of that experience will
linger with us while lie lasts You
could scarcely see YOUR hand before