The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1901-07-25
THE BROUGHT OF 1854.
A Pioneer Mlssoarian Tells Of the Great
priyaiiens Endured by the
People From Jane TIL
Winter.

The following special from Macon,
Mo. tella some interesting incidents
OF the only drought within half cen
fury that has approached this present
one;
"fhe present drought iu Missouri
recalls 10 many pioneers the one that
existed 10 the West and South during
the year 1884," said Dir. j. II.
Wright, presiden. OF the Callao Bank,
to-day. III don't think, however,
there are ANY indications that VIC will
be called upon to endure as great pri.
vaiiops rs the farmers had 10 put up
with that year. | was about 10 years
old. A large party Of US left Mis-
souri, for Texas in April. On the 10th
or 18th Of June, while In camp on
Red river, near Preston, heavy raiu
fell, which was general through the
country, bat II was the last one that
year. lip to that lime the weather
had been unusually favorable, and
there never had been better prospects
for crops.
''As the summer went on without
rain VIC began 10 get discouraged, aud
most of US decided TO return to Nils
souri,. There were seven covered
wagons In our caravan, containing as
many families. As we slowly drove
up through the Iadian Territory the
scarcity OF water became a serious
problem. remember one day we
travelled forty miles with only five gal
Ions, the heat aud dust were awful,
aud toward the afternoon our thirst
became intolerahle. Al nightfall 10
stead OF camping, We resolved 10 press
on to place where spring was said
TO exist. Some Of the leamstcrs were
Ia an an ugly mood and nearly delir.
ious. Aly heart nearly failed me IN
thinking what would happen shoald |
we not find the spring, or II ii should |
be played out. hut we reached Il at
20 o'clock in tho night, and such a
yell aud scramble for it you never saw.
Men, women and children fought for |
places, and accidents we're only avert
cd by the men in charge taking their
stations k...::-een the crowd aud the 1
spring and passing tho water out Ia
moderate quantities. They were so
thirty they would have killed them
selves had they been allowed unre-
strained liberty at the water.
"All along our route was the dreary
picture of the drought. Fields of
stubble, leafless trees and dust W bite
roads There were 20 birds singing
in the trees and very little sign of an
imal life anywhere. There VS. no
relieving spectacle anywhere along the
whole 200 miles Of our homeward
journey, which showed the absence Of
rainfall had been general.
"we reached Missouri aboEt the
middle Of August, aud found vegeta-
ton on every farm burned up. The
corn crop that looked so promising In
the early Summer was cut for fodder,
aud that was all ;hat saved the stock.
There were no railroads aud IL was
impossible to get anything In The way
of vegetables, fruit or cereals. Corn
meal cost $3.50 bushel when brought
in from Glasgow or Hannibal. We
lived on bacon, corn bread, coffee aud
molasses purchased at these places.
Farmers moved their stock over TO the
Charlton rlvor, which ran until late 10
the fall. The stock too far back In
the country 10 reach the river per-
ished. There was nothing 10 DO done
on the farm, and people just sat
around and looked at the sky. Some ,
Of tho sniissaais wise had taken up
large tracts Of land abandoned 1t and
returned East, under the Impression
that drought was regular thing In
Missouri.
''Toward The latter part OF the sum-
mer a great meeting was held at
Antioch church and Ghren ministers,
who had come long way for the
purpase. prayed for rain. II was on
this occasion that Uncle Jimps Dysart
made use Of the expression which has
since become famous. He said ';lFs-
theirs, tell you thora amt bit Of
use praying for rain, bscausa the wind
Is In the wrong direeli0n.'
"a guess he was right. for lac rain
never came. Al last winter set 10,
and u was hoped carly saowiAlls would
furnish water, and enc right good
storm came up. bat the snow was dry
and ID biaw away with the dust, with
on. even dampening tho earth.
.'T'he dust on The pixies was fright
fnl on wildly dsy, and you could
hardly see vehicle just si,ead Of you.
The old glasgow stage coach wosId
roll into CallAo with everything about
is--~passeagass. driver, horsrs, harness
aud aii--nearly Is wisass An snow.
Sonesiucs travellers shrosis would
beuoma 80 badly choked that they
ronldn's talk III thay took a drink Of
wafer. gucss In those days most Of
~ sss cur aliostsd spesk q dirt Or
more.
ssTho spring ii 1855 was season.
ahic md crops spsang from the ground
WIKI renswcd sigor. can seenly rc-
msnhsr or irst nlsai With home |
gfo~n vegetables On ah4 table. sad
bars nsvsf tassel aaythias siaae thAs l
was % Eood- Y