The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-15
DROUTH OF 1860.
The Sutferings in Kansas Al
Years Ago.
The State Goes Nine Months
Without Rain.
YET STILL SURVIVES.
Springs, Wells, Creeks and
Streams Go Dry.
Aid From Eastern Societies Re-
lfeEes Distress.

The present dry weather recalls to
the Oldest settlers the drouth of 1860,
when there was no rainfall in the then
territory of Kansas for more than a
year following September. 1859. The
year 1859 was seasonable and the farm
ers raised an abundance of wheat, corn
and forage. The last rain of that year
fell about September I. After that
there was no general rain until Sep
TENDER or October. 1860. There were lit
tie showers and along the Missouri riv-
er these were sufficient to keep gardens
alive, but not enough was produced to
feed the inha bitantS. The rains or the
summer of 1859 were sufficient to make
the corn crop that year and so the peo-
pie went into the winter with fair
store of food But this was not enough
to carry them through the dry year of
1860, and so many of the people were
dependent upon the charity or bounty
of the states east of the Missouri river.
A local historian, writing of the con-
dition in Bourbon csunty, practically
tells the story of the entire territory.
He says:
1859. it quit raining The first of Janu-
airy, 1861 came, but still no rain or
falling water The winter crept along,
not very cold, but very dry. Spring
came and still no rain. The farmer
plowed as usual for crops, which were
planted at the usual time, but no rain
and came up, but no showers gladdened
the tender shoots The wind blew in
cessantly from the southwest. Occa-
sionally a cloud would come about the
size of a ten-acre lot, and it would
sprinkle a little Sometimes q bank Of
clouds would loom up in the northwest
in the evening, shake their heads and
disappear On the 18th day of June ?
thunder shower came up and it light
hinged and Numbered and blew and
ragged, and it rained-a little; so little
that it was only an aggravation- Corn
made a brave effort to grow. It was
pitiful to look at It held up its wither-
ed blades as if imploring the brazen
heavens to let down rain. The poor,
little spindling stalks grew up about
three feet high, tasseled out and then
died.
ia DEGREES IN JULY.
During the first part of July the
thermometer ranged from 9s to 104 de-
grees in the shade In the sun al mid
day it was 1872 degrees By the middle
Of July the heat was simply awful It
is a matter of record that on the 18th,
and for weeks after that the thermom-
eter often went up to 112 and 113 and
ia degrees in the shade. There was a
wind--almost a gale sometimes-but it
came up, seemingly, with a spiral
twist---hot. scorching, whitening like a
sought their houses and closed the
doors and windows to keep it out. The
foliage on the trees withered up and
blew off. The prairie grass which had
grown up about three inches, turned
brown and was dry enough to burn. 1t
is said that eggs would roast in the
sand at midday-were actually roast
ed. There was no doubt about it. The
thermometer was 146 degrees in the
sun. Thus the terrible drouth con-
tinued day after day. week after week.
month after month
Springs, wells water everywhere
gave out. The farmer sought the low
est draw on his place and dug down
for water, sometimes with partial sue
cess. The creeks and larger streams
were perfectly dry except in the large
holes which ordinarily were from TO
to Is feet deep, were reduced to muddy,
stagnant puddles. There would often
be stretch of a mile or more between
these pools in which the bottom of the
river was dry and dusty. and the dry
leaves, lately fallen from the trees
would rustic and swirl In the little
whirlwinds as they swept up and down
the river bed
In the latter part of September or
the first part of October the drouth was
partially broken It rained a little
The rains were not general or heavy.