Arizona republican., 1896-03-08
BAD BLlZIARDS.
Some of the Terrors of the Vest
 ern Prairie SnOWstorms.
The Settlers Cabin a Poor Refuge from the Icy yBlasts-AppaIlingL Losses Among the Herds and FIocks of
 the Plains

nacular deSignateS the prarle snow storm, is utterly comprehensive to one 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 it's force, it becomes a demon of the air, second only to the tornado or cyclone in destructiveness. The moisture is ground as between millstones, hurled with bullet-like en- ergv over hundreds of miles of level plain, and finally transformed into yeasty sleet by the softening effects of lower attitudes, falls in bleak showers on the ranges of Texas and No-Man's- Land.
 Lack of cheap building material and the brevity of the winter season on the prairies contribute to make the settlers cabin poor refuge. When the blizzard comes every resource of fuel is hus- banded, and it is faced with grim de- termination to see it through, says the Detroit Free Press.
 But not all are prepared even so well as the settler. Occasionally belated emigrant, en route either to 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 tiny stove inside the canvas-topped prairie schooner, but it's heat can do little against the power of the storm. Sheltered by the low bluff of some ra- vine or water course he may weather the dragging hours of suffering, but the chances are that team and driver will be found a ghastly monument to the storm kings strength.
 The farmer who has hurried ten or fifteen miles to the nearest village to secure supplies for the impending wis itation is often overtaken before reach ing his waiting family and perishes on the road, for no matter how well he knows the path, when the blizzard rages his way is as that of the mariner without compass.
 At the prairie schoolhouses, where the settlers children are gathered from territory covering many miles in every direction, the blizzard brings terror to the pupils as well as to their parents. Rescue is impossible until the lull comes, and awful possibilities turk in the bosom of the storm. A Dakota schoolmistress last winter failed to dis miss her scholars in time for them to reach home, and found herself and them prisoners from blizzard's ap- proach. A night and a day at least were before her, during which her lit tie charges must be protected. Dellber- ately she apportioned the food remain ing in the dinner paiis, divided the larger boys into squads and put the younger pupils to sleep on the benches. Then through the bitter night she sang, acclaimed, told stories, invented games, and kept the frightened children amused and cheered as best she could. The following day passed much the same, but still no abatement of the storm nor any rescue. The second night was dreary indeed. The children cried themselves to sleep, hungry and cold. With her own hands the teacher broke up desks and black board to feed the voracious stove. With the morning came a shout at the door as the settlers shoveled away the snow, and then the plucly girl to whom the children owed their lives showed her womanliness and tainted.
 The loss among stock on the plains by each blizzard is appalling. There is less exposure of herds and focks now than in earlier times, yet every season head of cattle and sheep on the ranges and in the unsheltered corrals. Sev- eral years ago, during the height of the Texas cattle trade, blizzard in vest ern Kansas early in December de- stroyed more than half of 30o,0 ,000 cattle that were being herded on the open prairie. At one railway station after the storm, 35,OOO hides were shipped; at another, 10000. One ranchman found but 225 head alive out of 7,5OO that had been grazing before the catas- trophe. Several hundred ponies and a score of herders also perished.
 The blizzard is permanent feature of the prairie winter. Nothing but a decided climatic revolution can secure to the great trans-Mississippi region immunity from its death-bearing pres ence. Better preparations are yearly being made to withstand it's fury, and to protect more generously the dumb animals who suffer equally with their masters. The signal service is render ing aid in warning communities reached by telegraph of the storms approach, while the settlers, taught by bitter ex- perience, take with each season better precautions, and provide more intelli- gently for their time of need, which is sure to come.
 But with all mans care and defense, the blizzard remains unconquered. It