The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-02-01
GREATEST. STORM
ON RECORD TOOK
over 200 LIVES
Men Froze to Death Trying
To Get from Barn to
House.

MITCHELL, 8. D., Feb. 1.--Just
thirty years ago-January 1913. 1888
the worst storm In the history Of the
United States weather bureau and the
states Of northwest territory. ragged
over the Central west. taking toll OF
more than zoo lives and killing thous-
ands Of farm animals.
"Old timers" asserted that there had
been a storm of equal, il 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 that 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 drop
ped to "a degrees below zero. Grand
Forks, n. D., reported a temperature
OF SO degrees below while Bismarck
claimed to be suffering to the extent
OF only 80 below. At Sioux City, Iowa,
it vas 90 below.
Toll Heavy In Oakotas.
The loss OF life was the heaviest In
what was then known as the Dakota
territory. the two Dakotas having De-
come states later in the same year. Al
ter reports had been published IN some
parts of the country that 1000 lives
were lost, the Mitchell Republican,
then the only daily newspaper in the
territory, made an exhaustive study OF
the storms toll. and finally published
a list Of 109 known Dakota deaths, due
Immediately to the storm. Deaths In
Minnesota Iowa, Nebraska and Mon
ana 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 clothing
freezing.
About noon a cloud was seen in the
southwest A few minutes later TO-
mile wind swept the town, and soon
the wind driven sleet made 1t impossi-
BILE to see the length OF 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 their
barns and their homes, and We're later
found frozen within few feet OF their
doorways.
Either Heroes or Fools.
People here who ventured out or
doors that afternoon were voted either
heroes or fools, depending on their
missions. Three men, j. +. Wells,
(now mayor Of MitchelD. ]. D. Wood
and Tom Ball. all OF whom were
caught down town, each visited one OF
the three schools In the city and told
the teachers to keep the youngsters in
until aid came to them, promising to
send food. This latter promise, how
ever, could not be kept. Desks were
used for fuel, but in every case the
teachers kept their charges in doors.
In the country schools there was
considerable loss. In one instance. a
teacher dismissed his pupils when he
saw the storm growing. OF the eleven
children who started out, nine never
reached home.
A thirteen year old boy was frozen
10 death in his fathers arms near here.
Frank Allen and his son were hauling
hay when the storm overlook them
within five rods of the residence. The
team refused to face the storm, and
the Aliens dug hole In the fast pill
ing drifts, only to be crowded out by
the cold crazed horses. After several
hours battle to keep alive, the father
braved the storm, carrying the weak
ened youth in his arms. The boy had
been able to stand when the start was
made, but was dead when the house
was reached. The horses were frozen.
The storm accounts are not without
occasional rays of humor. The old AL
cxander Mitchell hotel was evidently
the hang cut" at that time and fight
started there over the relative merits
OF the storm of that day and the one
OF October, 1880. Which side won is
not recorded but the few remaining
70 ,ers" living here are still positive
that the first storm was the worse.