Jerauld County, SD News.....The Blizzard January 20, 1888 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 29, 2005, 7:46 pm Wessington Springs Herald January 20, 1888 The Blizzard Which Results in Death, Suffering and Hair Breadth Escapes Tales of Heroism and Awful Experiences, Destruction of Property, etc., etc. The storm of last Thursday and Thursday night convinced the most skeptical as to the true meaning of the term blizzard. The tenderfoot who had been sighing for a blizzard and the old resident who thought he had seen many a one were alike satisfied with the true character of the demonstration on Thursday afternoon and night, and hoped never to see another. Words cannot portray the terrific ragings of that storm; its fury, to be fully comprehended, must be experienced. On Wednesday, Dec. 11 [typo - should be Jan. 11], the wind blew all day a perfect gale from the South filling the air with snow and sending the mercury down to 10 degrees below zero. During the night a light snow fell, mixed with fine hail. On Thursday morning a light fall of snow continued, the temperature rose and everything bid fair to give us a mild, agreeable day; yet there were evidences of vast quantities of electricity in the air and other indications, to a close observer, of violent meteorological disturbances. The change came without the least warning except a momentary lull in which the descending snow flakes quivered as if doubtful of their destiny. After the intense cold of the previous days, the morning's mildness allured many from their homes; some to their neighboring villages, others with their stock to to their respective watering places, while others were after hay or straw stacked in the field where it was cut, or following some other duty connected with their homes. Four deaths are reported in our county. Charles Kughler, of Media township, went in the morning with his ox team after straw to a stack about 40 rods south of his house. The storm struck him, he left his wagon, and it is supposed, started for the house. His pitchfork was found 20 rods away, sticking in a snowdrift and on Sunday evening his body was found about four miles from home lying near his oxen. All were frozen to death. Charlie was tracked in his wanderings for about seven miles. He was a bachelor living alone, with no relatives in this part of the country. The neighbors are caring for his body until the arrival of his father from Pennsylvania. Mr. And Mrs. Davis who lived in Viola township were both frozen to death. Mr. Davis had started with his team to Rev. Smith's on an errand but failing to return as soon as Mrs. Davis thought he should, she went in search of him, it is supposed. Their son who lives at home was at his brothers house 20 rods away when the storm came. After a while the sons felt their way to their father's house by means of a rope, only to find the door open and their mother gone. After diligent search they found her near the hog pen, just breathing her last. The father was found some distance away. Man and team were frozen. Mrs. Philipps, of Alpena township, was teaching school on that day for her son Frank, in the Teasdale school. After its close she started with a son of Mr. Bedell to go home. The sleigh broke in some way and they were obliged to leave it. Each catching hold of a tug they tried to follow the horse, but it got caught in a drift and they were compelled to stop. The brave boy did what he could to save the woman's life, piling snow and packing it to keep it from blowing away. Some time near morning he got up and started for help, but his numb limbs refused to carry him but a short distance, where his body was found. Mrs. Philipps lay in her bed of snow for 12 hours until assistance came. Although badly frozen, and suffering greatly her recovery is thought probable. At a late hour yesterday a report reached us of two deaths in Blaine township, by freezing. Our stage and mail men are a plucky lot; they stand by their posts under every circumstance. Al Everhart was on his way from Woonsocket when the storm struck him; but fortunately a misfortune happened just in front of Mr. Bogee's house. He had tied his team at the barn while he fixed his broken sleigh, when the storm struck he housed his team and himself and weighted for better weather. Rolla Cady was out about 10 miles from Miller when the storm dropped down upon him. He could not see where he was and traveled about five miles in search of a stopping place. A friendly fence interposed itself and guided the way to shelter when Rolla realized he had passed several houses at which he had expected to seek shelter. He came in Saturday night about 6 o'clock. Wm Moss started for Belford and had got down into Viola Township when he was overtaken by the storm. He started for a house he had seen before the storm hid everything., but he got into some drifts which demoralized him and he lost his true bearings, when he realized that shelter could not be reached he turned his team loose turned up his cutter and with his robes and fur coat hibernated for 22 hours. He wasn't much frozen. One of his horses perished. With Mr. And Mrs. Binford as passengers, the Waterbury stage driver faced the storm for about two miles when they reached Mr. Binsford's home. He has missed but two trips. Wilbur and Hiram Coffee were out on the D. W. Shryock farm after a load of straw when the wind struck their load., it capsized and after a struggle to right it, they were obliged to abandon their sled and seek shelter. By accident they met with Mr. Blowers pasture fence which they followed to his barnyard. The boys worked their horses into his barn and took the stage road for town. Hiram had his face quite badly frozen. The horses nearly suffocated with snow in their nostrils. Omer Shryock lost his way going from the barn to the house and, but for his wife's assistance would have perished, less than 10 rods from his house. F. T. Tofflemire went out into the corn lot for his stock. The storm became so furious, that he could do nothing with the cattle and had to abandon them. He nearly lost his life in his efforts to reach the house. Mr. Winegardner, of Anina, with the aid of his dogs forced his cattle for about 1/2 mile against the storm, to reach the stables. Dr. Mathias was about 1 1/2 miles from town when the storm struck. He was expecting some sort of demonstration and had been debating the moral problem , of facing the blizzard or going back to town and being laughed at. When the blast struck him with the fury of a hurricane the question resolved itself into one of a possibility to get anywhere. But having two horses that day he managed to get back to town after an hours absence, with no mishaps except for one "upset." As soon as possible he started for his residence but missed his way, and but for a clothes line post at Rev. Bergs, against which he ran no telling where he would have gone. But after a half hours struggle he reached his house to the surprise and joy of his wife, who had given up all hopes of his safe return. George Bateman and Wm. Taylor had started for Woonsocket the storm overtook them near Mr. Hawthorne's but thinking it was a gust that would soon be over they proceeded on their journey when on the Firesteel flats the storm drove them from the road and they were obliged to leave their load and hunt shelter. They headed the team toward the storm and after quite a struggle drew up at Mr. Hawthorne's house where they found shelter. George was going after Mrs. Bateman. He has since heard she had not left Appleton. Ye editor took advantage of the lull in the storm between 5 and 6 o'clock in the evening and, on the back of the family pony, made the trip to his residence on the hill. He found the associate editor comfortable and trying to feel resigned to her fate supposing he was safely housed down town. Mr. Tryon of Crow Lake township saved his life by a mere chance. The twig of a willow fence brushed his face as he was passing which caused him to investigate. By following the willow fence he reached a place of safety. Myron Pratt and Father had been watering stock and were returning. Myron was on horse back and happened to see the house as they were going by. J. D. Powell started to go to his Fathers about 1/2 mile and was prevented from passing the house by running against an old broom which stuck in a snow drift well known to him. Most of the teachers in the county, as far as heard from, staid in their schoolhouses all night. Charles Beech started for home from his school got off the road but chanced to run against Broodkarb's pump when he concluded to seek shelter for the night. Uncle John Frances, N. E. Williams, Misses Fannie Philipps, Nettie Miles and the teacher in the Thornton school all stayed at their school rooms during the night. After a careful estimate it is thought that Jerauld county's loss will be about 200 head of cattle and horses and perhaps 200 head of sheep. 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