In February of 1905 a low temperature record for the State of Kansas was set in nearby Lebanon, Kansas. A story about that record submitted by Kerma Crouse, a Jewell County Record contributor got us to thinking about Nuckolls County newspapers may have reported that cold spell, And so we began to search the old newspaper files and we found the following:
Nelson Gazette, Feb. 16, 1905
In our squib on the weather last week, we supposed we had received the worst for the winter but this was a mistake. Its was only the hardening process to get us ready for whatever was yet to come. Friday was a pretty fair day and there was reason for hoping the worst was over, although quite a little snow fell. On Saturday it was snowing in real earnest and the wind switched into the north making it the most disagreeable day of the season. This continued through the night and all day Sunday.
The wind finally ceased and there was a drop in the temperature that calculated to smash all previous records. Early Monday morning the mercury stood at from 28 to 34 degrees below zero in different parts of Nelson. The sun came clear and by evening the change was sufficient to warrant encouragement.
During the night the wind began to blow again and Tuesday morning the outlook was quite stormy and the snow was drifting badly. The temperature, however, had modified a great deal, there being about 50 degrees difference in the two mornings. By noon the wind settled and since that time it has been moderating.
Superior Journal
The Superior Journal didn’t make direct reference to the storm but there were several storm related items.
The “Katy” train which left Kansas City was ditched south of Moran when it encountered ice which formed on the track near a water tank. It was a double header and the engineer on one of the engine was dead when dug out.
Railway Mail Clerk Spring, who was on the Missouri Pacific train stalled at Mt. Clare in a snow drift, walked to Superior, a distance of 17 miles, carrying a pouch full of letters which he turned over to the Superior office.
Auctioneer W. C. Henderson made almost record time in selling the personal effects of the late Enos Lester at Cadams. There was a large amount of stuff and it was bitterly cold. However a large crowd was present and the bidding lively . The sale took about two hours and Henderson froze one of his ears and his fingers were frost nipped.
The Northwestern’s passenger train did not make it to Superior during the storm. It was expected late in the afternoon of Feb. 16 and it was expected it would turn immediately and go back to Fremont. The train had gotten tied up by the storm at Beaver Crossing.
The Missouri Pacific train from the south got as far as Superior on Saturday and stayed here. As there was no round house on that road at Superior, the firemen were compelled to keep up a hot fire under the boiler to keep the engine from freezing.
All rural carriers attempted to go their rounds on Saturday but had to turn back. They did not attempt to go out Monday.
The Hardy Herald
The Hardy Herald reported the storm Saturday and Sunday was general over nearly all the country between the oceans. Trains were badly blocked.
Telephone wires were broken during the storm and the pile driving derrick being used to on the county line bridge over the Republican was blown over by the 40 mile winds. It fell upon the wires and tore them all down. Mr. Jennings went right out to repair the damage.
It was the most severe blizzard in several years. There was a heavy fall of snow and a brisk wind from the northwest that overlooked the editor’s summer suit and went straight to his bones. Business was suspended and stock sought the warmest place that could be found.
The Oak News
The Oak News reported a rather light attendance at school because of the cold weather and deep snow.
Oak was cut off from the outside world from Saturday morning until Monday night as the trains were blocked. When the passenger arrived on Monday, the crew reported there were four dead engines on the track at Seward. The train men were having a hard time. Some had been on duty for 60 hours without rest.
This part of the country reported a little winter from Friday until Tuesday. Friday afternoon there was a fall of three or four inches of snow and Saturday morning a hard wind was blowing from the north which continued until Sunday afternoon and the cold was intense. Monday morning the thermometer registered 32 degrees below zero and it only raised about 16 degrees during the day. It turned warmer during the night but the wind changed to the northwest. Tuesday morning the snow was flying again for several hours.
The Ruskin Leader
In 1905 the Ruskin Leader regularly published a detailed daily weather report and suggested the subscribers save the reports in a scrap book for future reference. The entries for the week follow:
Thursday, Feb. 9, was fair and cold with brisk northerly winds. Low temperature was 7, high was 18
Friday, Feb. 10, it was snowing hard in the afternoon, snow as light and loose, easterly winds. The low temperature was 12 below and the high zero.
Saturday, Feb. 11, cloudy, snowing most of the day, storm continued all night. Low was 6 below zero, high was zero.
Sunday, very cold, partly cloudy, snow still blowing. Low 16 below zero, high 4 below zero.
Monday, Feb. 13, coldest morning thus far of the winter. Low was 28 below zero. High was 8 above. Light westerly winds in the forenoon, brisk southerly winds in the afternoon.
Tuesday, Feb. 14, few snow flurries in the morning, but became clear. Northerly winds driving snow everywhere. Low temperature 10, high 27.
Wednesday, Feb. 15, partly cloudy, variable winds, low was 2, high was 22.
I. G. Foster, manager of the Day & Frees lumber yard at Nelson, was one of the Rock Island passengers who got no farther than Ruskin on Saturday. He returned to Nelson on the first train from the east, which was the following Friday.
Ruskin, like many other towns, experienced a coal famine during the cold wave. Most of the families had enough to run them through but were wondering what they would do when the remaining chunks were gone. It looked serious but in the nick of time a car load of coal arrived which afforded present relief and gave hope more would follow.
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