Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-02
EX-GOVERNOR WILLIAM LARA.
BEE TELLS OF THE HARD
SEASON OF 1867.

SERIES OF BILLIARDS.
Mr.. Larrabee, in ANNALS of.Iowa, IRE
lates His Experience in An Overland
Trip in Minnesota-Wfnter Was
Most Severe Ever Known.
Former Governor William Larrabee,
in the Annals of Iowa, The winter OF
1861 was unusually severe in the
northwest-in fact, none ever equalled
it in the memory of the oldest settler.
Snow fell to an enormous depth, and
the mercury not infrequently ranged
from 20 degrees to 40 degrees below
zero for several days in succession. A
series of great storms-now called
billiards from the boreal regions
swept the prairies, whirling the dust
of the powdery snow in a wild dance
and piling up large banks wherever
natural or artificial obstacles interrupt
ed their turbulent course. During
that long and severe. winter nearly all
the deer in northern Iowa were de-
stroyed, some freezing, others starving
to death, still others getting fast in
the deep, crust-covered snow, and be-
ing killed by the merciless settlers
while in this helpless condition. Few
of the frontier people were prepared
for such winter, and certainly none
had anticipated it. Thousands suffered
for want of sufficient clothing and fuel
and many man., overtaken by blind
ing storm, or tired out wading through
the deep snow, froze to death only
stones throw from home. Such win
tiers are fortunately of rare occurrence,
even in the northwest. Moreover, the
people of this region have learned to
provide for cold weather. and probably
keep now as comfortable and get as
much enjoyment out of the cold season
as their countrymen east or south.
During the month of December, 1856,
with my years earnings in my pocket,
l journeyed through the southeastern
part of Minnesota with view to Sc
lecting a good quarter section of gov
eminent land. finally made my
choice, and then, to enter the land, set
out for Winona, where the land office
was located.
On the morning of December % l
| left Mantorville and walked to Roch-
ester, distance of about seventeen
miles, where | arrived about o'clock
in the afternoon. 1t had commenced
showing before reached that town,
but, anxious to make few more miles
before dark, and hoping to find an inn
on the road, took lunch at Rochester
and again pursued my journey.
An Old Fashioned Blizzard.
AS night approached a fierce wind
arose and enwrapped me in binding
eddies of snow The road followed a
ridge between the Zumbro and Root
rivers. There was no house, no fence
or other landmark in sight. At first
a well-beaten track served as my guide
but this was soon obliterated by the
drifting snow. found that had lost
the road and was forced to rely upon
the wind to indicate my course. The
snow was from one and half to two
feet deep and was covered with an icy
crust. Having already walked more
than twenty miles. l plodded YEARLY
through the sea of snow.
The wind increased in severity as
the night wore along and every new
gust seemed to be ushered in by g
more furious howl. The high, treeless
prairie presented no obstacles to the
icy wave. AS the blasts swept by ms
they seemed to penetrate every pore
in my body. l was but thinly clad. Like
other newcomers, had not yet learn
ed to properly protect myself agains
/ the severity of the western winter.
| wore neither overcoat nor overshoes
a pair of stockings and cowhide boots
| forming my sole footgear. For few
/ steps the snow would bear my weigh
and then suddenly give way below me;
and as fell headlong upon the snow
or broke through it's crust, the fine
crystals worked into my boots ant
gradually melting there chilled my fee
until their numbness reminded me tina
they were beginning to freeze. M,
body, however, was perspiring freel.
from the severe physical exercise ant
perhaps also in consequence of thu
fear occasioned by the thought o
freezing to death.
i Lost on the Prairie.
had probably travelled eight or min,
hours and was from ten to twelv,
miles out from Rochester before full
J ly realized the desperateness of my sit
uation.- I had no means of knowing
how far l had strayed from the higl
road; l had walked mile after mil
without discovering the least trace o
a settlement, and the chances of find
ing human habitation during the re
mainder of the night were small in
4 deed. The whole landscape SCENE
toibe wrapped in cloud of white dus
and unless the glimmer of a light har
pened to penetrate the snow-filled all
was almost as likely to step upon
mile stone below the snow as to lin
human residence while cropping m
way through the binding storm.
1t could not be far from midnight
and as was we'll aware that farmer
are wont to retire early the hope O
) being rescued by a guiding light az
: peared to me extremely slight.
} Somewhat discouraged. paused t
consider the advisability of turnin
) around to find my way back to Roches
1 ter but a moments reflection cor