The Whitehorse Star, February 6, 1901

THE WHITE DEATH

Of all the natural phenomena peculiar to the Rocky mountain region none is more strange, or terrible than the mysterious storm known to the Indians as "the white death".

Scientific men have never yet had an opportunity of investigating it, because it comes at the most unexpected times and may keep away from a certain locality for years.

Well-read men who have been through it say that it is really a frozen fog. But where the fog comes from is more than anyone can say.

This phenomenon occurs most frequently in the northern part of Colorado, in Wyoming, and occasionally in Montana.

About two years ago a party of three women and two men were crossing North Park in a wagon in the month of February. The air was bitterly cold, but dry as a bone and motionless.

The sun shone with almost startling brilliancy. As the five people drove along over the crisp snow they did not experience the least cold, but really felt most comfortable, and rather enjoyed the trip.

Mountain peaks fifty miles away could be seen as distinctly as the pine trees beside the roadside.

Suddenly one of the women put her hand up to her face and remarked that something had stung her. Then other members of the party did the same thing, although not a sign of an insect could be seen. All marveled greatly at this.

A moment later they noticed that the distant mountains were disappearing behind a cloud of mist. Mist in Colorado in February? Surely there must be some mistake.

But there was no mistake, because within ten minutes a gentle wind began to blow and the air became filled with fine particles of something that scintillated like diamond dust in the sunshine.

Still the people drove on until they came to a cabin where a man signaled them to stop. With his head tied up in a bundle of mufflers, he rushed out and handed the driver a piece of paper on which was written: "Come into the house quick, or this storm will kill all of you. Don't talk outside here."

Of course no time was lost in getting under cover and putting the horses in the stable. But they were a little too late, for in less than an hour the whole party was sick with violent coughs and fever.

Before the next morning one of the women died with all the symptoms of pneumonia. The others were violently ill of it, but managed to pull through after long sickness.

• Aisle's Magazine