The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-23
semi-BIizzard In the Far West and
Dakotas, FoIIored ed by CapriciOus
weather Eastward.
BIG DROP IN TEMPERATURE
WITH PROSPECTS OF FROST IN SOME
STATES LAST NIGHT.
Little TornadOes i'm Wisconsin anu
Several CasuaIties-NO Great Dam
age to Crops Yet Reported.

CHICAGO. April 22-The weather condi-
tions that prevailed throughout the West
and Northwest to-day were remarkable.
There was snow, sleet and hail, gentle
showers and torrential downpours, thun-
der and lightning, breezes that blew from
hve to fifty miles on hour, sand and dust
storms that darkened the heavens, cold
that chilled the human marrow and froze
buds and sprouts and heat that sent the
mercury up To 100. withered vegetation and
caused man to mop his brow as in mid
summer. All these conditions did not pre-
vail in one locality at the same time, but
some States had taste of most of them
during the past twenty-four hours.
The semi-blizzard that ragged in the
Rocky mountain region yesterday headed
eastward last night. and when it struck the
superheated atmosphere of the prairie
country there was a sudden slump in tenn
perature and in some cases violent thun-
derstorms and terrific gales. At Beatrice,
Neb, there was dust and windstorm of
twenty-four hours duration which ended
with a rain at midnight. The dust came
in such volumes that many suspected the
approach of a tornado and sought places
of safety. The temperature was near the
100 mark. At Crawford, Neb., a severe
snowstorm began last night and to-day be-
came a blizzard. The storm is the most Sc
we're of the season a violent wind and
rainstorm visited Lincoln, Neb., early to-
day. bringing some relief from the extend
ed drought and materially lowering the
high temperature of the two preceding
days. Minor damage done by the
wiad in that city. The rainfall extended
Bouth and east nearly to the Missouri river.
but was insufficient to be of great bene-
fit. West of Lincoln there was only
marked fall In temperature. At Heming-
ford. in the northwest part of the State,
snowstorm Is prevailing.
FREEZING WEATHER.
The temperature at Omaha, Neb, at Z
O'Clock this morning As against 72 yes
terday. fall of "a degrees. The conditions
went from one extreme TO the other during
the nign1 and temperatures in western
Wyoming Nebraska and western Iowa
this morning were below normal. A light
snow fell at Valentine, Neb., and there
was freezing weather in northwest Ne
braska and parts of Wyoming During the
night there was a general precipitation of
about .25 inch of rain. A heavy, but de-
cidedly cooler. wind prevailed.
Reports from Lincoln say there was a
drop in the temperature from the high
point of yesterday OF from forty TO fifty
degrees throughout Nebraska. Following a
slight fall of rain the wind changed from
the south TO the northwest, and tonight
q snowstorm is prevailing in central Ne
brsska, with indications of a blizzard.
Railroad reports from the extreme north
western part Of Nebraska and the Black
hills tell of a heavy fall of snow, fifteen
inches at Custer and nearly two feet at
Spearfish- Trains are slightly delayed.
more, however, from the furious wind than
the snow.
In Iowa binding clouds of dust made life
miserable Tor people who ventured out of
doors. The wind blew the dust with such
force that IL penetrated houses and offices,
despite doors and windows, and kept house
wives and janitOrs busy getting rid of it,
Rain fell I'm Kansas and Missouri, but
was not evenly distributed. At some points
the indications are for frost tonight
The unprecedented. warm weather con-
tinued in st. Louis and vicinity until 4
o'clock this afternoon. when terrific
thunderstorm and torrent of rain cooled
the air.
Rochester. in southern Minnesota. re-
ported a terrible wind blowing to-day and
no rain In sight At PipestOne, i'm southern
Minnesota light showers fell last night
accompanied by lightning. fog and heavy
clouds to-day, and the crops are in splendid
condition. At Mayvile, y. D., a severe
snOwstorm is prevailing. Seeding IS de-
layed by the storm and business generally
impeded. North Dakota points reported
drizzltng rain and an excess of moisture.
but South Dakota is still dry. Several
points IN southern Minnesota and South
Dakota report damage To crops from dry
ground and hot winds. but the damage is
not serious. North Dakota and northern
Minnesota have as yet felt no in effects
from the warm wave. At Duluth q north
cast storm has been raging on Lake SUI
perior for three days and is stronger than
ever to-day. but vessel traffic is but slightly
interrupted
BLIZZARD MOVING EASTWARD.
At ST. Paul the thermometer at o'clock
tonight stood at IS. a drop of twenty de-
grees In four hours a high wind from
the northwest was blowing and a light rain
falling. Reports from the northern part of
Minnesota indicate that the blizzard pre-
vailing in North Dakota is moving rapidiv
eastward. Osakas, Park River and Be-
midi report heavy snowfalls
\ dispatch from DeadwOOd $ d saws.
1.-TWO and a half feet OF snow has fallen i'm
DeadwOOd since Monday noon and is still
falling. high wind accompanies the
FOurche a foot OF snow fell last night. II
was raining on the cattle range until nearly
morning. when II turned Co snow. The
storm Is general over the hills The deepest
snow is in the higher ranges"
jamestown. y. d. reports that the
fercest April snowstorm ever known i'm
that section OF the State began this morn
ing at 1890 o'clock and steadily increased in
fury over foot OF snow has fallen
Snow Is drifting and railroad traffic Is at
a standstill with the exception OF through
passenger trains on the Northern Pacific
The weather Is not cold. and IL is not
thought there will be any loss OF life but
n - feared that spring lambs and spring
cattle may suffer where not I'm barns. The
storm Is worst between Buffalo and Daw-
and may result In a flood. as the snow will
melt quickly. In jamestown business is
almost "A standstiu.
AT Grand Forks. y. d. the blizzard prom
ises 20 be worse than that OF March 10.
Yesterdays rain turned 20 snow early I'm
the morning. and during the forenoon the
ar vas fun OF soft wet snow driven by a
northeast gale. The fan OF snow Is about
Eve Inches. packed solid. Wires are work.