Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-15
REMEMBER THAT
STORM IN 1888?
Neither Do We. but Here Is What the
Records Say About It-WOrse
One in 80, Some Claim.

Mitchell. S. Dust 80 years ago
Jan. 1918, 188S-the worst storm in
the history of the United States wealth
er bureau and the states of northwest
territory, ragged over the central west,
taking a toll of more than two hun
dred lives and killing thousands OF
farm animals.
"Old timers" asserted that there
had been a storm of equal, if not
worse proportions in October, 1880,
but there are no definite records on
the first storm, and it is known to
have been more locally confined TIM
the great storm of 49,"
The storm seems to have originated
in Nebraska, and extended to central
Iowa and Wisconsin eastward and to
the Montana line on the west. The
temperature was above freezing when
the storm cloud approached this city,
but by the. next morning it had
dropped to 54 degrees below zero.
Grand Forks, N. d., reported a tenn
perature of 50 degrees below while
Bismarck claimed to be suffering to
the extent of only 80 below. At Sioux
City. Iowa. 1t was % below.
The loss of life was the heaviest
in what was then known as the Da-
kota territory. the two Dakotas hav-
ing become states later in the same
year. After reports had been pub
lished in some parts OF the country
that 1000 lives were lost, the Mitchell
Republican, then the only daily news
paper in the territory, made an ex-
haustive study of the storms toll and
finally published list of 100 known
Dakota deaths, due Immediately to the
storm. Deaths in Minnesota, Iowa,
Nebraska and Montana doubled this
total.
The storm seemed to be at its worst
here. Monday morning broke clear
and warm. While there is no record
of the temperature, witnesses say that
women hung their washings out to
dry that day without fear of the cloth
ing freezing.
About noon cloud was seen in the
southwest. A few minutes later a 60
mile wind swept the town, and soon
the wind driven sleet made it impos-
sible to'see the length of a city block
The drop in temperature in the first
hour is reported as having been from
40 to so degrees. Persons who were
only a short distance from their homes
in some cases never reached safety
Several men were lost between theil
barns and their homes and were latel
found frozen within few feet of theil
! doorways.
People here who ventured out Of
doors that afternoon were voted eth
er heroes or fools, depending on thei;
missions. Three men, ]. E. Wells
/ (nOw mayor of MitchelD, ]. D. WooG
and Tom Ball, all of whom were
caught downtown, each visited one o.
the three schools in the city and told
the teachers to keep the youngster.
in until aid came to them, promising
to send food. This latter promise
however. could not be kept. Desk!
were used for fuel, but in every cast
the teachers kept their charges in
doors.
In the country schools there wa!
considerable loss. In one instance, Z;
teacher dismissed his pupils when h.
saw the storm growing. OF the l.
children who started out, nine neve,
reached home.
| A 13-year-old boy was frozen tt
death in his fathers arms near here
Frank Allen and his son were haul
ing hay when the storm overlook then
within five rods of the residence. Tn
team refused to face the storm an,
the Aliens dug 4 hole in the fast pil
ing drifts. only to be crowded out b,
the cold crazed horses. After severa
hours battle to keep alive, the fathe
braved the storm, carrying the weak
ened youth in his arms. The boy ha,
been able to stand when the start wa
made. but was dead when the hous
was reached. The horses wer
frozen.
The storm accounts are not withou
occasional rays OF humor. The oil
Alexander Mitchell hotel was evident
ly the hang out" at that time, and
fight started there over the relatiy
merits OF the storm of that day an
the one of October. 1880. Which sid
won Is not recorded but the Few re
naming Flyers" living here are still
positive that the first storm was tn
worst.