Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-04-18
Dust Storm in the Southwest.

Dust Storm in the Southwest.
EditOr Gree1lbrier HadeDendeW
1t is n little past sundown. The
village has three hundred and fifty
inhabitants. The people are at the
windows or on the galleries, save
the more timid who have fled to
cellars and dug-outs. All the houses
are frame or box and every one
shakes, quivers and sways in the
furious South wind. All day the
wind has been gathering force
Now, we are in the midst of one of
those peculiar Western dust storms.
Dense and dark as London fog, the
fine particles are driven through the
roofs and every crevice. 1t Sits
over the walls, floors and furniture.
Our eyes and nostrils are full. Out
of doors the wind shrieks, whistles
and howls. Paper, shingles, light
boards, pebbles and trash are flying
Northward. Broad waves of bril-
liant lightning ride upon the storm.
One can almost see the demons shak-
ing and making up beds in the blaZ-
ing clouds. Once in a while a ter
rife burst of thunder is heard above
the raging, wild, unbridled winds as
amid the thunderous roar Of mus
quetry and small artillery, the sound
of the great gun at the fort belching
iron, flame and death, is heard above
the din of battle.
Since | began writing, the black
ness of Egyptian darkness has en-
veloped the town. Rain has drenched
the earth. Now the hail is pelting
roofs and pilng up i'm the streets.
Poor hOusekeepers | pity them.
From garret to cellar, in the ward
robes, bureaus, over the carpets, the
beds, in the whole house the annoy
ing dust is sprinkled. Tomorrow
every foot will carry in mud.
/ do not remember ever to have
| SNSh a. uuOl Owl iiI SdSI vi tllt N ISSIS-
sippi. Once in Kansas / was riding
with gentleman when suddenly a
gust of wind swept US from the
West. looked back and was startled
at the sight Of a great yellow cloud
reaching from the ground and as far
as eye could see bane rapidly ap-
preaching us. In a moment the
light of the sun seemed to be OK
tinguished. We were instantly COW
cred by what appeared as a black
snow.
To my hurried question, what
does this mean?" my companion
replied calmly, 4" it is only a dust
; storm" For twenty-four hours that
dust filled the air in Kansas, Ne.
, braska and the Territory as you have
, seen the black, damp fog for more
. than day encircle Weaver's knot
. and Miller's mountain.
In your mountains clouds hoa
, gracefully, collect about the peaks
: gather fast and thick and rain comes
e pattering down without apparent eff
fort. But on this meridian droutl
. prevails. The thirsty land break
= into gaps and great cracks as if open
e ing thousands of mouths wide i,
n an earnest cry for rain. The stream
. run low or dry up. Their sand,
beds parch and glisten in the sun
II light. The streets, roads and falloI
d land become hard and dust.laden
y Clouds from the gulf, lakes an
=, larger streams sail high above US
J. Frequently in the cool of the morn
u ing they assume dark and lowerin
" aspect and taunt the eager peopl
, with a show of rain. But afte
20 months of drouth ii seems to requir
t. great labor on the part of the elt
TO ments to bring the much-desire
moisture. Usually heavy win
prevails from northeast or southWe
4. from twenty-fOur to forty hours b.
TX fore any rain falls. And not III
frequently after tremendous effo
- and much preparation, the win
~ comes out of the North and seattle
es the clouds; and often after all Il
long hours of blow and bluster Il
!, pitiful rainfall reminds me Of Il
no huge black SOW in trdrdH that ga'
birth and 10 single little runt!
1T
he APRIL 6TH.-Yesterday / wro