Dusty Rabbit Run

In 1935 Mr. Warren Johnson of St. Joseph, Missouri, was caught in a dust storm in western Kansas and beheld the startling scene above. “The dust storms were so bad that year,” recalls Mr. Johnson, “that several times the highways were closed due to zero visibility. The blowing dust was very hard on the engines. In fact, the engine life of a car in a dust storm was about a hundred miles. So, when this one blew up, I drove all night to get out of it.”

He stopped only once, when, passing through a town in the afternoon, he saw the main street swarming with jack rabbits fleeing from the oncoming storm. “I saw them come running on and on, driven by their natural instinct to get out of it all, and I took time out to snap this picture. The rabbits ran ahead of the storm for miles until they were exhausted or found a place to hide.”

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We thank Mr. Johnson for sending us this picture, which has suggested to us that other readers might have equally unusual and interesting old photographs in their family albums. In hopes of opening up a new source of photographic history, we invite our readers to send us such pictures.

The photographs should be at least thirty years old, sharp and clear, and have some interesting story connected with them. They must also show some dramatic or unusual event.

As we cannot be responsible for original material, we request that a copy be sent at first. Under no circumstances should glass negatives be mailed. Pictures can be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. AMERICAN HERITAGE will pay $50.00 for each that is run.