The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-24

prairies OF this portion of Nebraska were
a-shine with the young and tender green
of growing corn. Round ana fat cattle
filled the barnyarsis OF the farmers. The
trees that were congregated about the
little houestaads We're of the vivid and
brave hue of healthy and vigorous vege-
tatfon. The towns were alive With com
meree OF an Industrious and hopeful COM
munity. These mighty brown fields
stretching for miles under the imperial
blue sky Of Nebraska had made promise
to the farmer. IL wax to compensate him
for his great labor. his patience. his sac
r4fices. Under the cool, blue dome the
winds gently rastlei the arrays of waist
high stalks.
Then. on one day about the first OF July
there came a menace from the southwark.
Tho sun had been ssrowing prophetAcaily
more fierce day by day. and in July there
began these winds from the south. mid
~ first and subtle hike the bneaths OF the
painting countries of the tropics. The corn
In the fields underwent a preliminary
culver from this breeze burs!ened with an
omen of death. In the following days II
became stronger. more threatening. The
farmers turned anxious ey@s toward their
fielsiS. where the corn Wa. beginning Ia
rustic wsah a dry and cracking sound
which went up from the prairie like cries
Then from the southern horizon came
the scream OF a wind hot as an oven 5
fury. Its sasor was great IN the presence
OF the sun. Il came when the burning
disc appeared III the es,st and II weakened
when the blaod-rei molten mass vanished
IN the west. FrOIn day 10 day il ragged
ike a pcstilence. Tho leaves of the corn
and Of the trees turned yellow and sap
iess like leather. For time they stoosl
the blasts III the agony 81 futile resist.
ance. tn. farmers. hetplcAS. with m
weapon against this terrible and inscrus~
ahse wrath of nature. Acre spectators az
the ssranEl.ag OF their heres. their am
bitieFss. all THAI they could loSk 10 from
their labor. II VAS as II upon tAe niss-
&sYe altar of the earth thesg' homes ard
their families were being offered in saeri-
flee To The wrath q some blind and pi;l-
less deity.
The country dleE Ia she rags 81 the
wind the trees struggled gaspet tayough
each eariea ana seorchea leaS. taea A.
hast ceased to exist. and There remasne,i
only the howes ard hare skeletons 81
trees. The corn, sh.vsssUs as srom fever.
hess; aFi swayei aAjsetly for time, thcn
one by one the yellow agsi ;ia>iyF-Ake
stalks. tagasei ana pulled by tbs rage OF
she sog breata. s!ie& Ia she fiela$, snd the
vast and sonetiuae beautiful green pFal-
rtes wele lsTewa ai.si naked
IN ssw weeks this prosperous ard
garden~iise cougtCy MAS brought Ia cen
a.tlou % despair. h0t Stin shss furnace
wtaa swept along thc dead la5sd. shsrilnS
great casssgs - dnss strsWs. hlaltes ~
grass. A farmer gAslas tyow = wsBtow
was ceafrsntei Icy swsrl3ps tempest eg
aaSs that t0tevSeaei between his Vlsson
anal MS seorNshets 9ei3s. rAs soa of $50
roasss turavg % pewaleg In gSla tempest,
ara islea geayvlsaY against TIE Winds
found al she dsiFeuS;is< ~ some hibiscus
AMI uaBatssssi saowssevu NJ nighttaA
tbs . sAks alssys vaussSe.f. and Sae SKY
wAsrh lad gaasenesi like a sseel saEeA3 iss-
came sgt ssseAe as the purple shaSSoWs q:
. saastsfel nsghs slyaaessA frsaa TIE west.
These farmers uew sosl.i tfseyssssves
sxsss.aS ln a vlrsQs3 desert. Tsss earth
fgc,a whsss taey hSa wrest7s; esea ;s,scse.
~Asea they aaa pas into saesr mouths had
naw abandoned thxyss, Nature rsasfe s1zha
% her obligation sssssev tse tesg % tasss
nse5s Tbs vast tfae< ~&S ROW , NJ ttsNF
ser tNe nogsasSts % sahara.
Ard xes. az shs most part. there wsS
"a vAetxisRx. aa asssrssss # fSgsA IN sha
ultimate sacssss 81 tAe beautiful sa&i
ss-ae fvw - sgairvS. at ence ara w~us 70
make asw aensss n tie noyth. in sas
south. 81 yhs eSss. IA sfe vase, Esslt fae
seesxsS fsrSasswtiesa AZ ths E~~sp.sS ~ sass
ssfscssa sas1gses wevs rs@n wAs lav@i
slsetE seaseS. ksxlr saxnss. ssslr 80 ssneeg~
h9zsx. ksesg coaNfseS. Thxy AaS tScsnss
res ssz sa tAss sase, Nhseh - Awsscsa fasAesi
FAsFa n compensation sar tAa3r uussFtnE
ash F-ersksse@s tssI they es0sa nsg sAsve
az ske eesspasxasteS - their se=ssas gsss aaa
sAssr aabessas Nss. fas nssg1e AZ ssasns
ssAa sss<aa fvYssn srxsessns tes Arss ths
premise - ossSs 3aass. Ana apsa saess