Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-01-12
SIG BLIZZARD 27 YEARS AGO.
Government Forecaster Tells How
Nebraska Weather History Was
Written in January, 1883
MANY LIVES LOST IN STORM

Colonel Welsh looked up from his daily
incarnation over the UNDERLINED United
States weather map yesterday and
pointed with satisfaction to some words
which he had written on the southeast
ern corner of the map, in the gulf of
Mexico.
These words were in bright rcd and
stood out boldly among all the blue and
black cabalistic signs and figures with
which the map was covered and from
which the colonel was working out his
daily prophesy.
January IL, 1881
That is what the colonel had written.
Only this and nothing more. He pointed
to the words.
"Do you know what this is?" he in
quired.
Sure" said the reporter, that's the
birthday of any man or woman who will
be q years old tomorrow
THAT" said the colonel, lis the date
of the big blizzard Everything dates
from the big blizzard in this country as
everything in ireland dates from the time
of the big wind. That was certainly some
blizzard"
Many Died in storm.
Those who experienced the rigors of
the storm fight all their battles over
again as the anniversary OF the day
comes around. 1t was a storm that left
death and suffering in it's wake all up
and down the Missouri valley and from
the lakes to the mountains. Forty-one
deaths in Nebraska were directly due to
the blizzard. with as many moro in Iowa
and varying numbers in other states.
The story of the great sleighing car
nival to Council Bluffs is perennially re-
called-how 500 Onahans in 2l5 sleighs
and, accompanied by band. drove across
the river on the ice and were met on
the other side by an equally large con-
tingent of Council Bluffs people; how
the storm descended while they were
dancing late In the afternoon; how most
of them were compelled TO remain in
Council Bluffs over night.
Wind High and Biting Cold.
The wind blew thirty to forty miles
an hour and the thermometer registered
Is degrees below zero. The storm ragged
all that night and until noon the next
day. 1t was days until telegraph lines
and railroads were working on schedule
time. Lack of telephone communication
in those days gave long life TO rumors
of various citizens being frozen to death.
In Omaha there was only one death as
a result of the storm.
Fred Eller, cigar maker, who, return
ing home, lost his way in the snow and
lay down at Twenty-third and Leaven-
worth streets and died.
January II, 1912. three years ago, was
the coolest day In Omaha for forty years,
the temperature going down to q degrees
below zero. One day in 1884 Omaha noses
and ears were nipped by a hyperborean
spell, which, measured by Mr.. Fahren-
heit's popular instrument, was 80 degrees
below zero.
Brings Back RecOIIectiOns.
Colonel Welsh looked out of the win
dow at the sky. He was dreaming of
these past exploits of his bureau, days
when it leaped into the spot light, push
ing aside all other topics of human in
terest.
But the sky was blue, the temperature
mild The proverb says, Happy nations
make no history" And ordinary weather
makes no history.
But the local weather man knows that
all things come 10 him who waits Some
time his department will be in the lime
light again. But for the present.
Fair and slightly warmer tomorrow, -
said the colonel.