The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-12-18
Stories of Fort Hays, by
Mr. J. H. Downing.
IONA GOETCHIUS.

IONA GOETCHIUS.)
Mr.. Downing, the well known "old
timer" visited High School on Thurs
day, the 9Th, and gave the students
bit of history of our city.
The Fort south of Hays, was located
after Fort Fletcher, southeast of Hays,
had been destroyed by a flood. The
city of Hays was later laid out under
committee of which Martin Allen was
member. This Mr.. Allen was in
terested in Horticulture and he planted
most of the trees which now beautify
our city.
The first school held in Hays, was
in frame building on South Main
Street, opposite the depot, by wom-
an living in the building.
Mr.. Downing told of the beginning
of our High School and it's first teach
ers, and also of his own early school
days, back in Illinois.
The story of the little sod school
house northwest of Hays was very in
teresting to US.
1t was the time of the worst biz
zard this country has ever seen,
which occurred November 16, 1886.
The day began with clear morn
ing and about nine o'clock the wind
rose and the clouds piled higher and
the snow soon fell in binding sheet.
The teacher of the school quoted the
little ones with songs and stories, and
the day wore slowly on, with no coal
to speak of and when this was gone
the children helped the teacher break
up the benches to burn to keep from
freezing.
The dinner pals were brought and
the lunch divided leaving part of it for
another meal. Quite late in the after
noon the teacher told the children that
she waa going to step out to see if the
storm was quieting and to the older
children she said not to go out or open
the door until she returned. She put
little red shawl over her head and kneel-
ing beside the little ones prayed for
their safety. She then opened the
door and stepped out.
The children waited and watched for
their tercher, remembering her last
words, which were not to open the door
but she didn't return. They slept
through the night and in the morning
their parents came to the little sod
school house as early as it was light so
they were able to see to make their
way through the deep drifts.
When the first person reached it, and
more came there was thanksgiving
that the children were safe. They told
the story of their teacher and search
ing party was formed. Not much
Roadway was made however for the
snow was deep and the ravines were
full. About five days afterward, when
most of the snow was gone, the body
of this heroic woman was found about
mile from the little school house, in
deep ravine, with the little red shawl
still over her head.
It is thought that when she stepped
through the door, the terrific wind
picked her up and carried her this mile
and dropped her.
We wish to thank Mr.. Downing for
his interesting stories and hope he viii
visit US soon again.
An eighteen year old boy in recent
issue of the Star asks:
Will some good, kind hearted girl
tell me why it is the better you treat
girl the less she thinks of you? have
been out with several young women
and one or two of them I liked fairly
well. I treated them as would a sis
ter and got treated like a dog. am
lady, but hereafter I expect to get