West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-07-23
AStory of the Great
Blizzard of
1888
BY CHARLES CRAIG

came. How many persons were
caught. bewildered, and sank down
within reach OF safety. yet never arose
alive!
During tho day j, rcbeiling against
remaining longer imprisoned. started
out to walk to the village, mile dis
tant How 1 got as far as 1 did don't
know, though l didn't get very far.
Between my home and the town was
an old brick house that had been built
100 years. Ii had been occupied till
six months before. when the tenants
post bedsteads and other old fash
Toned furniture. Seeing this house
and realizing that / was battling a
storm that was too much for me, I
made for IL. climbed the fence-the
snow would not admit OF opening the
gate-and after struggling over hun
drcd feet up TO the porch sank down
ut the front door I'm n stupor.
Things were vague after that
seemed to have forgotten that the
house was unoccupied. and, making an
effort 1 pulled myself up to reach the
brass knocker and raped. The door
was opened by gentleman, and,
strange to say. he wore the uniform OF
the Continental army. saw many
persons moving about I'm the rooms
and heard the strains OF music.
bad night, sir" said the gentleman.
Come I'm and warm yourself"
cartofpIy xvlII rantlnI ..I feel
very queer. am certainly benumbed."
Fortunately some hot punch Is just
being served. 1t Is Just what you re-
quire."
He put his arm through mine and
supported me to n room with n side
board I'm IL on which wns an enor-
nous bowl. from which negro was
ladling out n steaming beverage. My
conductor took one OF the mugs and
handed 1t TO me. ! put 1t to my lips,
but somehow couldn't taste anything.
1t was like drinking air.
II shall be happy to present you to
my friends" said the man who had adj
mitted me. "We are having n dance
here tonight I'm honor OF the officers
commanding the troops just arrived
and who are to be quartered I'm the
neighborhood"
All this seemed natural enough 1t
didn't strike me that there was any
thing remarkable about IL. was
taken up and introduced to ladies with
enormous wigs and queer cut dresses
1 tried to say something. but somehow
I couldn't talk. There were lot OF
men in Continental uniform and few
In citizens dress. the latter with a
yard or more OF white stuff wrapped
around their throats, and ruflles stand
Ing out from their bosoms.
"a bad night for our boys at Valley
Forge" remarked a tall man, who as
I looked Mt him seemed to resolve him
self into General Washington.
II should say So" replied. "I'm
cold myself here I'm these warm rooms.
What must be the condition OF those
fellows living in huts or tents without
sufficient blanketsT
Our conversation was interrupted by
the entrance OF young man, who APP
preached Washington and whom the
general received with marked favor.
"Who is that?" asked of guest.
Ire MurQulS de lSn1ayette.
The next thing / remember was see
Ing the general dancing the mlnuet.
and wondered how he could be dane
ing when his troops were freezing, to
say nothing OF starving.
While he was engaged in the dance
l heard colored servant standing mt
the door announce I'm n loud voice:
General Arnoldw
looked Mt the man who entered and
recognized-from portraits / had seen
Benedict Arnold. He went straight
up to Washington and tapped him on
the shoulder. Washington turned. and
the look OF contempt and loathing on
his face was terrible to see. While I
was looking at 1t the view dissolved
before me. and there was n blank.
Then i was In room in which Wash
ington was talking and gesticulating
with an officer against whom he seem
ed to have a very bitter feeling. asked
who this man was and was Informed
that he was General Charles Ice. who
deliberately disobeyed Washinpton's
orders ut the battle of Trenton. There
were high words between the two till
Washington slapped Lees face.
The sound OF the slap dissolved into
a voice that sounded I'm my car.
Hello! Wake upr
/ was violently shaken and slowly
came to realizing sense that was
on the porch OF the deserted house
thoroughly benumbed. Two men were
trying TO arouse me. They shook me.
hammered me, lifted me 10 my feet
and held me there in spite OF my desire
10 sink down again.
had been nt the door hut n few
minutes. Two men who had walked
behind me saw me turn into the de-
serted house and, realizing that IL
would be unsafe 10 leave me there. had
followed me on TO the porch. As soon
ns they had restored my circulation
one OF them found loose window
sash. which he opened, and we went
inside. My rescuers had matches, and
we found some lamps, also enough
wood 90 make n blaze I'm one OF the
big fireplaces. We were forced 90 re-
main In the house during the night md
In the morning had hard time getting
anywhere else.
j never pass the house but I think
OF the strange gcoueq droo mod ,vf,ffa