Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-10-10
ABNE WEEKLY REFLECTOR ABILENE KANSAS OCTOBER TO- -1w PAGES
Some Old Time Dickinson History.
BY A. C. R0MIG.

The year of 1874 marked an epoch
in the history of Kansas. 1t was a
year Of grasshopper invasion, pro-
longed drouth, hot winds, and crop
failure; except that We had a phe-
nomenal crop Of wheat, and more
phenomenal crop Of donations OF cash
and merchandise from'the wife's rela-
tionN in the east.
We were subjects Of charity that
year and eastern friends were prod
igal in their donations. We Kansans
realized that this was probably the
last crop Of that character we should
be able to reap, accepted all that vas
offered; and some, like Oliver Twist,
wanted more.
When we landed in Abilene 10 the
month Of May, pools Of water were
standing in the streets, spring vege'
tation was advanced ahead Of time,
and everything looked wonderfully
prosperous and promising. There
was no hint Of crop failure, no init
nation CT disaster ahead. Central
Kansas had not at that time develop
cd IAN element OF uncertainty nor a
habit Of meeting fat promises with
lean crops, like 'Macbeth's witches
who kept the word Of promise to the
ear but broke it to the hope. These
characteristics developed later.
The 18th day Of June registered
the end Of spring rains and the be-
ginning Of drouth and hot Winds
Day after day, for a period OF more
than two months, the relentless sun
arose in all his majesty and climbed
the dome Of heaven, a flaming ball Of
fire. The unclouded sky was sea OF
molten brass. and as we stood upon
the Rialto, now the roothpick in Abb
lend OF the foot Of Broadway, where
'money.changers most did congre'
gate" and real estate agents cried
their wares, the hot wind from the
southwest and the blazing sun over
head smote us in the face, and while
they didn't exactly curl the hair on
our heads, they would have cooked
the nose to q consistency that would
peel like an onion, II we had stood
there long enough-which we were
careful not to do.
The corn on the banks of Sand
creek, then in tassel, was shrunken
and wilted as If dipped in kettle oil
boiling water.
On one of those typical hot days
we stepped from the hotel into the
street, and noticed several citizens,
among them our friend J. B. Ed
wards, shading their eyes with their
hands and glazing at the SUM- Cur
GUS to know what was the matter
With that luminary, we initiated their
Example, and discovered that the at
nosphere was swarming with myriads
II atoms drifting rapidly southwark
the cauze Of this phenome-
ION, some one said, "Hoppers!"
others thought it was the shedding
II cottonwood trees" 1t occurred
o us that there must be an immense
grove somewhere north
# Abilene to furnish enough floating
natter to dim the suns rays like
now storm; but it soon developed
hat there was no cotton in 1t. 1t
vas the sure enough red.legged 30.
emians and hobo. bummers from the
Hack Hills on a migratory and forag'
ng expedition. For two days and
lights this moving panorama con-
inued. On the third day, July 25tb,
iently and gently as the falling CT
now flakes, the hoppers settled down
0 earth and to business.
With appetites sharpened BY fast
ng and the long journey, they i'm
,ediately issued requisition for for
&c supplies, and gave notice. that
Ike Sherman's army an its march TO
be sea, they proposed to subsist OIL
be country.
Everything green and some things
OF so green-except the newly har'
ested wheat-was sacrificed to their
gracious appetites and capaclous
laws. Fork handles and hoe han
les were found perforated with
oles. whether for the sharpening OF
seih or as an act Of pure vandalism
re don't know. Tradition says that
arrows and other farm machinery
isappeared from sight, but as these