Saturday Spotting - Snow Storm Affects the Seventh Cavalry

Published on Friday the 18th of April in 1873 in the Sioux City Journal in Sioux City, Iowa

WIND AND SNOW

A Terrific Snow Storm at Yankton

Snow Bound Trains – Suffering of the

Seventh Cavalry – Rumored Loss of

Life, Esc.

From all the facts we have been able

to gather concerning the recent snow

storm that seems to have made Yankton

its center, we conclude the like of it has

never been experienced in the North

est. The storm commenced as a light

rain on the morning of the 13^th inst, but

soon turned into snow, which continued

to fall lightly until about noon, when

the wind changed from the west to the

northwest and finally to the north, and

blew a perfect gale, accompanied by an

avalanche of snow.

The snow did not seem to fall in

flakes, but seemed to come down in a

 body which was separated into particles

 and dashed furiously in every direction.

The air was darkened by the snow, and

persons could not see five feet in any di-

rection.

The Dakota Southern passenger train

which left Sioux City Monday morning,

after worrying through the storm for

some time above Vermillion, finally ran

into a snow drift one mile and a half

above Gayville and stuck fast. The

freight, which was at Yankton, went to

the passengers’ relief, and managed to

get stuck in the same drift, where they

both remained until Wednesday evening.

The Seventh Cavalry fared very badly.

They had not yet completed their camp

arrangements, when the storm burst

upon them. Their tents were blown

down, and drifts of snow formed so

rapidly, and the storm was so furious,

that the men could do nothing to pro-

tect themselves. Men and horses were

buried up in the snow, and general con-

fusion and not a little consternation

prevailed everywhere. The officers

sought shelter and the hotels, and some of

the men followed their example by

seeking the hospitalities of private

houses, indeed, protection from the storm

wherever they could find it. Many of

the soldiers, however, did not fare thus

fortunately. They remained buried in

the snow until relief came to them from

the town. They were dug out of the

snow and hauled to more comfortable

quarters on hand-sleds. Many of them

were exposed for thirty six hours, and

when rescued were weak and exhausted,

and wept like children. It is said that

these poor fellows presented a most

pitiable appearance, which was well

calculated to excite the sympathies of

the most indifferent heart. And many

kind and generous hands responded

promptly to their wants. Up to last

reports quite a number of men were

still unaccounted for, and it is

not known whether they have

perished or have wandered off

in the storm and are still suffering in

some snow drift. What has been said

of the sufferings of the men is reported

true of the horses. Some were removed

to stables by great effort, others re-

mained tied and were drifted under, and

some broke loose and wandered off and

had not been recovered at last accounts

General Custer, who is regarded as

good authority, said in the presence of

our informant, that it was the worst

storm in every particular, excepting in-

tensely Cold, that he ever experienced

in his life. This seems to be the testimony

of everyone who witnessed the storm. In

many places the drifts in and about

Yankton were twenty feet high. They

had to cut down and dig as into a cellar,

to get into some of the stores. To con-

vey some sort of correct idea of the

avalanche of snow that fell it need only

be stated that on the river, in less than

three hours after the real violence of

the storm set in, there were six inches of

snow and slush floating.

The southern limit of the heavy snow

 fall on the Missouri River was about

eighty rods below Vermillion, where the

line was as distinct as a ridge of snow

could make it.

We shall rejoice if the losses which are

 conjectured to have resulted from the

storm prove really less than one can

hardly hope for.

We endeavored to reach Yankton last

evening by telegraph in order to present

 in connection with this report any later

 developments that might have been

made since morning, but could get nothing.

(*above article located on the Genealogy Bank website) 

Blizzard on Thanksgiving

Okay I’ve shared some articles from genealogybank.com on politicians and families gathering for the Thanksgiving holiday. I thought the next interesting and easy articles for most of us to relate to is the weather during the holiday. We never know from one year to the next if we will face temperatures in the 60’s or rain, sleet and the dreaded snow or worse yet a “blizzard.” Some things might have changed over the years in how we celebrate the holiday but one thing is consistent and that’s the concern of the weather and travel. 

Worchester Daily Spy from Worcester, MA

November 28, 1889

A STORMY THANKSGIVING

THE WEATHER MAN PREDICTS

A BIG BLIZZARD.

THE APPEARANCE OF THE WEATHER MAP LIKE THAT OF A YEAR AGO LAST MARCH – LOSS OF LIFE ON THE LAKES. 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 – The following special bulletin has been issued by the signal office:

A general storm now prevails over the country east of the Mississippi, with gales on the Lakes and a cold wave advancing form the northwest, which will cover the Ohio valley tonight and Thursday.  The rain will turn to snow in western New York, western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana tonight and Thursday, with decided prospects of interruption to telegraphic communication in these sectional and interference with railway travel. These conditions will probably move east ward Thursday, with possible increasing severity.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 – Midnight – The storm has remained nearly stationary, but has increased greatly in intensity, and the danger from the gales on the lakes will be much enhanced by the asvere character of the cold wave. Heavy gales will also prevail on the New England and Middle Atlantic coasts. The rain has already turned to snow in Indiana, and the change will progress much farther to the eastward during tonight and Thursday.

Lieut. Thompson, the indications officer at the signal service bureau, said tonight that the weather map resembles the conditions more closely than he has ever known before, that existing on the night preceding that great blizzard last March, a year ago. Out in Dakota the thermometer is already down 14* below zero, and he says that it will go away down, possibly 25* or more tonight. The rainstorm in the locality will stop the cold wave for a time, but after wards the people will have to look out. He things that will be little snow south as far as Washington, and that there may be heavy frost in the north and west.

 MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 27. – A light fall of snow has been in progress during the day and still continues tonight. The weather is otherwise mild. A dispatch from Litchfield, Minn., says that a genuine blizzard set in there this morning. The snow has fallen to the depth of three inches, and is drifting badly. The weather is quite cold and disagreeable. Buffalo, Minn., reports a heavy storm this morning, which at 8 o’clock had reached a depth of six inches, when it changed into rain and sleet.

TORONTO, Nov. 27 – The gale form the southeast that has raged all day is creating sad havoc to shipping on the lake and along the water front. A very heavy sea is rolling and the breakers are the highest ever known to the oldest lake mariners. A dispatch received here tonight form Port Credit says the schooner. Attandal is ashore near there and that several lives have been lost.

CANAJOHARIE, N.Y., Nov. 27. – The Mohawk valley is several inches under snow tonight with prospects of a fair sleighing for Thanksgiving. 

Anaconda Standard from Anaconda, MT

November 14, 1901

FOR THANKSGIVING DAY

CITIZENS ARE PREPARING ALL MANNER OF AMUSEMENTS

PLENTY OF SNOW WANTED

School Children Will Have Their Regular ?? – Athletes Arranging for a Football Game – Other Things.

Thanksgiving day is rapidly approaching and already preparations are being made for its observance. No matter what other important events claim their attention, citizens always find time to plan amusements for the day. The boys and girls are anticipating some of the pleasures in store for them while their older brothers and sisters are equally enthused at the prospects of Thanksgiving football games and dances. There is one feature of an Anaconda Thanksgiving that causes some exaltation in preparing for the various amusements. No one can be sure as to the kind of weather that will prevail. Cold, gray, skies, and just enough snow to make it feel wintery is the ideal weather prescribed for the day, and while such conditions have been known to exist on Thanksgiving day hereabouts it is just as likely to be warm as cold.

According to modern custom no Thanksgiving is complete without a football game. This custom has been followed in Aanaconda, the weather permitting, though one year, when winter refused to make its appearance until the time scheduled for spring, a game of baseball was substituted.

The school children will not have a vacation on the day following Thanksgiving as former years. The school board decided that question some time ago In order to compensate the pupils for the loss of the extra day, most of the teachers in the public schools are preparing programs for the afternoon preceding Thanksgiving day. Naturally the story of the Pilgrims, their trials and tribulations will form the principal features of the programmers. In the High school an entertainment of some length will be given. What the exact nature of it will be has not been announced, but those who are preparing it promise to present something out of the ordinary. The athletes are hoping that the day will be cold enough to warrant a football game, while the bowlers are of the opinion that several excellent contests can ?? Market men are also preparing and orders for hundreds of turkeys have already been sent in. There will be no lack of dancing parties and the like and the young folks need have no fear that the day will be an uninteresting one. The charity organizations are making arraignments to distribute turkeys so that no person in the city will have to abstain from that dish on the 28^th. 

Advent Calendar - Holiday Travel

     Traveling during  the Christmas holiday is something that most families due; either by car, plane, bus or even train. We did a lot of traveling during the holidays while stationed in Germany. One year we flew to Paris during the Christmas holiday. Some might think that would have been the most memorable; sure we enjoyed it but nothing like Garmisch.

     When traveling through the mountains in Germany it takes your breath away. It was an endless picture of nature at its best. The closer we got to Garmisch and the German guesthouse it only got better. There were blankets of white as far as the eyes could see.  The kids would even stop arguing and watch the snow fall. We couldn’t believe how big some of those flakes were. When they would hit the window you could see each flakes design.  It was about a four to five hour drive that the kids would do again and again. That should tell you how much we enjoyed those trips.

     We do miss it and plan on visiting the same area again. Who knows maybe in many years to come we will travel that way again with our kids and grandkids.  

 

Plastic Bread Bags + Soap = Snowtime Fun

     If you’ve been following my blog this past week you would have noticed a pattern, Christmas traditions, and memories. I don’t know about the rest of you but when this time of year comes around you can’t help but think of the “soft white fluffy stuff,” that’s right snow. I love some of the memories I have as a kid playing in the snow and enjoy creating even more with my kids. 

     When you’re younger the cold wet weather never seems to bother you, you’re tough, and it’s just snow. When my brothers and I were younger we couldn’t wait for the snow to fall and pack the gravel road in front of our house. See we had the BEST hill in front of our house, the best hill for flying down on our bikes during the warmer months, and sleds for the winter months.

     Dad would grab the bar of “Ivory” soap and begin soaping our sleds. He always said that soaping the skids on the sleds helped it to run smoother and faster. Those sleds had to be ready for non-stop sled runs down our road.   I guess it’s the same as waxing your skies before hitting the slopes. But there is one big difference between sledding and skiing when it comes to my childhood, empty plastic bread bags. That’s right I said plastic bread bags. It didn’t matter if it was Wonder Bread, Blue Bunny, or the general store brand any bag would work.

     See while dad was getting the sleds ready mom was in charge of making sure we had all of our gear. You know the typical coat, gloves, scarf, hat, snow boots, and plastic bread bags. Okay, I’ll explain the bread bags. Some of you might know about this and others might be surprised. You know how when you’re out playing in the snow, rolling in it and getting clocked in the back of the head by that white cannonball.  It never fails you end up with snow in places that can make you uncomfortable and that’s part of the fun. But mom and dad told us that keeping our feet warm and dry was very important, so that’s where the plastic bread bags would come in.  

    Once we had all of our gear on, minus our boots, we’d park it on the couch in front of mom. She would slide one bread bag on each sock-covered foot; slip a large rubber band around the top. Then help us get our boots on and pull our pant legs down over our bags and boots. Sounds strange I know, I use to complain about having to wear bread bags on my feet, but it did work. It would keep your feet completely dry and warm. So Mom and Dad you were right, but I still thought it was strange.

      It’s funny now when I share memories like this one with my kids they think I’m going to tell them about walking a mile to school. No, I didn’t walk a mile in hand-me-down boots in snowdrifts up to my knees, I just wore empty plastic bread bags on my feet while playing in the snow. The looks on their faces are priceless. Maybe that could be a Pinterest pin, “Additional uses for empty plastic bread bags.”

Winter Time Winner

Setting here going through some photos of "Winters" past and found this one. It's definitely a "Winter time Winner". Oh the memories that we have from this trip.