General Discussion

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)

26. My grandmother told stories of people being saved by their dead horses...

Mon Jan 26, 2015, 04:51 PM

Jan 2015

In some cases, the blowing snow built up in the horses' nostrils and suffocated them.

When their horses collapsed in the snowdrifts, some hardy plains people had the reflex to slit the horse bellies open and crawl inside.

There the people were rescued, saved by the warmth and shelter provided by the dead horse.

Tough times...

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Highlight:

Great Blizzard of 1888 - Photos [View all] TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 OP

Wow Munificence Jan 2015 #1

And this was before snow plow trucks and snow blowers. lpbk2713 Jan 2015 #2

But they did have four-hoof drive. n/t Mr.Bill Jan 2015 #12

My grandmother told stories of people being saved by their dead horses... Surya Gayatri Jan 2015 #26

New York City was locked down for a week TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #25

Wow! 2naSalit Jan 2015 #3

I'm jealous!! SkyDaddy7 Jan 2015 #8

Cheeses! tosh Jan 2015 #4

You get me!!! dixiegrrrrl Jan 2015 #27

Ah, yes... tosh Jan 2015 #30

It was Horrible! dixiegrrrrl Jan 2015 #39

Was that an actual blizzard or a good snow? hootinholler Jan 2015 #50

thanks for this, Torch CatWoman Jan 2015 #5

you're very welcome TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author dixiegrrrrl Jan 2015 #28

omg!! CatWoman Jan 2015 #42

it's just terrible to even imagine TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #53

K & R !!! WillyT Jan 2015 #6

The Winter of '88 was really one for the history books... Surya Gayatri Jan 2015 #7

The photo of the person standing on the truck Special Prosciuto Jan 2015 #15

Just took it from Google pics of "Children's Blizzard"-- Surya Gayatri Jan 2015 #24

Strangely, that picture of the train... MoonchildCA Jan 2015 #9

You misread that. Wikipedia gives the date 1881 for that train, not 1981. Jackpine Radical Jan 2015 #13

No, I didn't misread it... MoonchildCA Jan 2015 #16

Sorry about that. Jackpine Radical Jan 2015 #32

No problem. I should've proof read it. MoonchildCA Jan 2015 #45

The winter of 1880–1881 is widely considered the most severe winter ever known in the United States. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #55

that was my fault TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #17

I see. I only came across it because the story of the '88 blizzard reminded me of the book. MoonchildCA Jan 2015 #19

it's such a great image TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #36

Yes, technology is great for the most part, MoonchildCA Jan 2015 #46

And those years it probably happened with no notice. Renew Deal Jan 2015 #10

Actually, I just found out that there was no notice about this storm because TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #52

There's a place in northern Japan... gregcrawford Jan 2015 #11

Daily snow and weather reports from Niseko (Hokkaido), Japan Surya Gayatri Jan 2015 #14

Holy crap!!!! hifiguy Jan 2015 #21

Basically, anyplace along the northern Sea of Japan coast can get lots of snow Art_from_Ark Jan 2015 #41

That is just mind blowing. smirkymonkey Jan 2015 #43

It does take a hardy breed to live there Art_from_Ark Jan 2015 #47

YES! gregcrawford Jan 2015 #58

maybe in the Akita Prefecture? TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #38

I am currently reading George Rippey Stewart's "Storm" (1941). DemoTex Jan 2015 #18

Have you read The Big Burn? dixiegrrrrl Jan 2015 #31

Timothy Egan's "Big Burn" is excellent! DemoTex Jan 2015 #35

This one is especially sobering hifiguy Jan 2015 #20

fabulous photos! (i can just hear climate change deniers now though) 2banon Jan 2015 #23

Here's a pretty good slideshow of the worst winter storms PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #29

all those snowy power lines look like a bowl of pasta. KittyWampus Jan 2015 #33

That's nothing. Glassunion Jan 2015 #34

I know what you mean TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #40

Wow, hoping everyone is prepared (as can be) and safe!! etherealtruth Jan 2015 #37

Incredible photos! Thanks for sharing. smirkymonkey Jan 2015 #44

I know! And how dangerous they must have been! TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #51

Friends from Japan showed me locks Jan 2015 #48

lookig at pictures of snow and ice sculptures in Hokkaido right now TorchTheWitch Jan 2015 #49

get out your shovels and 4 hoofed drives! Baclava Jan 2015 #54

OMG treestar Jan 2015 #56

Dawg! Cha Jan 2015 #57