M. R. Becktell, of Macksville, knows just what those early day blizzards were. He was in one once. It was in December 1878, when he and three other men had gone to the canyons northwest of Sun City, Barber county, for wood. The other men were A. B. Nolder, Frank Reed and John Poling. The weather was good until they got their loads ready to start home. In fact there was no sign of a storm until they pulled out on the prairie headed for the north. It was their intention to camp on the prairie a few miles out, it being about four o'clock in the afternoon. But when they got up on the level prairie they saw the blizzard coming, and they knew what that meant. As it commenced to snow they turned around and went back to the canyons. There they struck camp and built a big fire. All that night and the next day and the second night they spent at the camp, the blizzard raging all the time.

Mr. Becktell says that two of them kept the fire burning while the others slept, taking turns at this during the two nights. The next morning the snow was eighteen inches deep but they made the start for home. The next night they stayed with a man by the name of Brown half way between the canyons and Macksville. By noon they made it to the Neeland Home, where they took dinner. They reached home about four o'clock in the afternoon. - Hutchinson Gazette.

---

Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!