Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-16


 Things They Are Until He Has Seen one-with All Mans Care, They Are Still His UncOnquered Enemies.
 Tho blizzard, as the plain mans yer naoular designates the prairie snow storm, is utterly incomprehensible to ono who has not experienced it. Gen. erated in the great storm breeding re- gions of barren British America and swept on arctic blasts along the vast level reaches that stretch eastward from the Rocky mountains, with no forest to break its force, it becomes a demon of the air, second only to the cyclone or tornado in destructiveness. The moisture is ground as between millstones, hurl- ed with bulletlike energy over hundreds of miles of level plain, and finally, transformed into yeasty sleet by the sof- tening effects of lower attitudes, falls in bleak showers on the ranges of Texas and No Mans Land.
 Lack of cheap building material and tho brevity of tho winter season on the prairies contribute to make the settlers cabin poor refuge. When tho blizzard comes, every resource of fuel is hus- banded, and it is faced with a grim de- termination to sec it through.
 But not all are prepared even so we'll as the settler. Occasionally belated emigrant, en route either to Q chosen claim on the frontier or toward the pleasantly remembered east, where he hopes to find old friends and helpers, is caught by the blast. He may have a tiny stove inside tho canvas topped prai- rie schooner, but its heat can do little against tho power of the storm. Shel- tered by the low bluff of some ravine or water course he may weather the drag ging hours of suffering, but the chances are that team and driver will be found a ghastly monument to tho storm king s strength.
 The farmer who has hurried 10 or IL miles to tho nearest village to secure supplies for the impending visitation is often overtaken before reaching his waiting family and perishes on tho road, for no matter how well he knows the path when the blizzard rages his way is as that of the mariner without a com. pass.
 At the prairie sohoolhouses, where the settlers children arc gathered from Q territory covering many miles in ev- cry direction, the blizzard brings terror to the pupils as we'll as to their parents. Rescue is impossible until the Hull comes, and awful possibilities turk ill the bosom of tho storm. A Dakota schoolmistress failed to dismiss hel scholars in time for them to reach homo and found herself and them pris, oners from a blizzard's approach. 4 night and day at least were befor( her, during which her little charge: must be protected. Deliberately shC ! apportioncd the food remaining in tho dinner pails, divided tho larger boy into squads to keep the fire burning steadily. and when darkness camo put the younger pupils to sleep on the bench es. Then through the bitter night sh' sang, acclaimed, told stories, invented games and kept the frightened childreI amused and ChCorCd as best sho could The following day passed much th' same, but still no abatement of thu storm nor any rescue. The second nigh was dreary indeed. Tho children crieC themselves to sleep, hungry and cold With her own hands the teacher brok up desks and blackboard to feed the vo racious stove. With morning came shout at the door as the settlers shovel ed away tho snow, and then the pluck, girl to whom tho children owed thei lives showed her womanliness - anC tainted.
 Tho loss among stock on the plains b, I aapb hlizvurfl Ss Thnrn is lRS exposure of herds and flocks now thal in earlier times, yet every season cause the destruction of thousands of head o cattle and sheep on the ranges and il the unshelterd cCrrals Several year ago. during the height of the Texas cat tic trade, q blizzard in western Kansa early in December destroyed more thal half of 800, 900 cattle that were bein herded on the open prairie. At one rail way station, after the storm, 35, % hides wero shipped, at another 20, 000 One ranchman found but 225 head aliv out of :, 800 that had been grazing be fore tho catastrophe Several hundre ponies and a score of herders also per ished.
 The blizzard is a permanent featur of the prairie winter. Nothing but de cided climatic revolution can secure the great transmissiSsippi religon i'm munity from its death bearing presence Better preparations are yearly bein made to withstand it's fury and to pro tect moro generously the dumb animal who suffer equally with their masters The signal service is rendering aid i warning communities reached by telC graph of tho sturm's approach, while tn settlers, taught by bitter experience take with each season better precaution and provi'lo moro intclligcntly for thei time of need, which is sure to cone.
 But, with all man s care and defens, tho blizzard remains unconquered. It cruel. relentless and unmerciful as som Morse god, from whose kingdom comes. It is one of the vests pOssei sioIs which is wholly and irredeemabl detestable. In its forefront is appreheI sion; at it's height, terror: in its wake desolatiOn and suffering, sometime death. Detroit Free Press.
 "The Idiot"
 .AY1 ,Itl I-4,