Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1894 — THE WORST IN YEARS. [ARTICLE]

THE WORST IN YEARS.

HOWLING BLIZZARD SWEEPS THE COUNTRY. storm One of the Worst In History —Railroad. Blockaded and Many Trains Abandoned In the Snowdrifts—Man/ Persons Perish in Oklahoma. Reports from Many Points. Boreas emulated the belated camel of history Monday morning. He got a hump on himself. And the hump? It broke all records for many a year. The whole country has been rwept by a blizzard. Across the enti; e continent the whopping, howling monster made an impartial and indiscriminate tour, but the storm was most severe after the Pacific air column was re-enforced by another column in Illinois. Starting away out beyond the Missouri River it laid embargo on the railway travel in Kansas, lowa, Nebraska. Minnesota and the Northwest generally. It sent the visitors in the big Hot Springs .hotels huddling about the steam radiators, and made the teeth of the Texas cowboys chatter. Its course eastward was marked by snowed-up trains and tangled telegraph wires far into tne Middle States. Its canter passed along the Ohio Valley, and its terrible force was felt in all the areas within a few hundred miles of that line. The earliest reports came from the large cities. These were smuggling in snowdrifts, while the smaller towns were almost completely snowbound. Luckily, save for the inevitable inconvenience tothe public and the suffering which every storm entails upon the poor, it does not seem that any very painful harm has been inflicted. The wind did the only mischief. Both the snowfall in the northern half of the belt and the rainfall further south will be beneficial rather than injurious, unless the following cold winds from the north destroy vegetation in the more southern section. It will bo some time before the full story of delayed trains, snowed-in villages and general discomfiture is known, but the Associated Press dispatches tell enough to enablo the reader's imagination to do the rest. Wild Day In Illinois. Chicago. —Snow—whirled through the air by a gale of wind which blew eighty-four miles an hour—buried Chicago; buried it so deeply that business of every kind was paralyzed. The storm broke upon the city before daylight, and until the coming of night raged with a fury not equaled since the memorable blizzard which swept down upon Chicago just nine yours ago. Street car trans t during the morning and early part of the afternoon wai almost a matter of luck, and the railroads practically threw up their hands and waited for the storm to quit. Trains which should have left in the afternoin commenced pulling out at midnight. The Illinois Central made a brave fight to keep its suburban service going, but one by one the tracks at 21d street wore frozen up by the water and ice swept inland by the gale and at night it had only three sets of rails left, and they wore studded with snowbanks. Business houses were deterted the day long, the big down-town stores sending their clerks home long before the usual closing hour. The monetary loss to storekeepers is placed at $250,000. Life was imperiled on land and water. Many accidents occurred to pedestrians who were not able to contend against the wind and uncertain footing caused by the snow and ice-covered walks. Out at the 08th street crib the lives of seventy men were hanging in the balance while the tempest was howling. Quincy. —The public schools were closed on account of the snow. Belvidere. —Not in ten years has this section of the country experienced such a terrible blizzard. Joliet. —The roads through the county are blockaded by the worst storm ever seen hereabouts. Carthage.—A Wabash passenger train, from Clayton to Keolcuk, was stuck in the snow at this point. Aurora. —Business has been practically suspended, the street cars stopped, trains late, and the schools closed. Decatur. —The worst blizzard known here in five years. The snow Is einht to ten inches on a level and drifted hip deep in places. Champaign.— I This section of central Illinois has been in the toils of a bli/.zard, the eaual of which has not been experienced for a decade. Chester. —Small buildings were damaged, lumber piles overturned and a fleet of thirteen steamboats in this harlnr were in a precarious condition. Bloomington.— The wind was blowing almost a tor nado and the cold was severe, the mercury being down to zero. Great snowdrifts lie everywhere. Peoria.—The storm was one of the worst in the history of the city. The snow was fine and dry and was accompanied by a heavy wind, causing it to drift badly. Springfield.— The snowstorm prevailed nearly all day. The ground is covered to a depth of eight or ten inches. Street car traffic was suspended and the schools closed. Michigan Storm Swept.

Grand Rapids.—lt was the wildest storm of the season. Coldwater. -The worst storm that ever prevailed in this vicinity Kalamazoo.—The worst storm in thirty years. Drifts on the main streets are ten feet deep. Jackson.—The worst blizzard experienced here in twenty years. All passenger trains pulled with one and even two extra engines. Lansing. —At noon the schools of the city were closed on account of the severity of the storm. Nothing like it has been known since the famous storm of March, 1886. Business almost at a standstill. Ironwcod. Logging operations have been temporarily suspended, as the snow in the woods is so deep that it is impossible to make any progress. Saginaw. —One of the most severe blizzards ever experienced in the Saginaw Valley. It grew bitterly cold and huge drifts, in some places four feet high, blockaded sidewalks. Detroit. —Michigan is storm swept. Not since April,® 1886, has so much snow fallen nor has the wind howled with such unrelenting vigor. Before noon traffic on many of the streets in Detroit was practically stopped. Plows drawn by four team; Went over the routes, but by the time one end of the line was reached the drifts had piled up on the otfyer. The only way the electric lines wort? kept going was to send two motor cars along together. Business in the city has been stagnated. ■? Reports from, all over the State show the storm to have been unusually severe, although the damage is slight. ,' » ' i UnnqiiHled In Fury In Wlaeonaln. Beloit.—A fearful blizzard has prevailed all day. ’ Green Bay.—The several stages running into the city are delayed and t

the prospects are they will not be able to get through the drifts until to-mor-row. Milwaukee. —lt was the most disagreeable day of the winter, and werv few people ventured ou». Every snow plow, scraper ai d availtble man was put to work. Along the lake front the storm raged furicusly, throwing the ice and spray a rod i r more inland. The stotm eaught nine of the steamers doing business on the lake outside. Racine. —1 he most severe storm known in this vicinity for fifteen years The wind'from the northeast reached a velocity of sixty-five miles an hour and was accompanied by a wet and blinding snowstorm. Sti eet oar traffic cc mpletely paialyzed. John Janschauck fell at the street corner, and when found was covered with snow and died in en hour. Main, Sleet and Snow In Indiana. Portland. —A torriblo blizzard has been ragin; here, the worst lor years. Fourteen inches of snow has fallen and all outdoor work is stopped. Crown Point. —Country roads aro blockaded in all directions' and it will doubtless he two or three days before farmers can find their way in to town. El WOOD. —The worst blizzard known in this country since A drop of 20 degrees in temperature caused much suffering among the stock. The east wind blew a hurricane and tho air was a perfect mass of Hying snow-. Indianapolis. —-The hoaviost storm of sleet and snow which has visited Indiana in a number of years began early in the morning and continued without intermission during the day. Outside of the inconvenience which resulted from impeded traffic on the railroad lines and rhe difficulties under which business was transact id in this city the damage of the storm was not material. In many sections the snow drifted so as to make tho roads impassable, and throughout tho northern part of the State the drifts interfered with travel. South and southoast the storm consisted of rain until early next morning, when it began to snow, but the fall is not large. Southern lowa Peel* It the Moat. Brighton.— Snow has fallen to tho depth of aliout a foit, and has drifted badly. Railway traffic is much impeded. Dubuque. —The storm at and northwest of Dubuque was comparatively light, and trains from Chicago and St. Louis only were delayed. Washington.—A fearful blizzard has been raging hero for twonty hours. All trains on the Rock Island have been abandoned and general business is at a standstill. Grinnell. —A blizzard has been raging here for twenty-four hours, with the snow drifting badly. Trains on the north and ’south roads are ten hours behind time. Burlington.— Snowdrifts are piled high everywhere. Street car tramo is at a standstill and no effort,will bo made to clear the tracks until the storm is over. All trains are late. Cedar Rapids.— Snow lies on the ground to tho depth of six or seven inches, and as a high wind prevailed the railroads aro - badly blockaded, especially those from tho western part ol the Slate. Des Moines. The storm abate! during the duy and was practically ovo in the evening. The minimum temper ature reported was zero at Ottumwa and at other points tho thermomete stood a little higher. Tho storm wa most severe in the southern part o' the State, where a foot of snow fell The snowfall in Des Moines was sevei inches and at Fonda, in tho north o the State, one inch. Keokuk. —Railroad traffic is seriouily interrupted and business in the cit, is at a standstill. On several lines o railroad all freights are discontinue! and passenger trains gotten througl with great difficulty. The Wabash i fast in a drift at Carthago, 111. Sleet-fall for the Hurkape State. Massillon.—The storm tied up tb electric street railwuys in a short time It was followed by rain. Findlay.—A violent snow-storm be gan at six o'clock this morning and ha: continued all day without cessation. Columbus.—A severe sleet storm prevailed here. The wires are covered with ice. Business is delayed accordingly. Cincinnati. —A sleet storm reaohed this locality after midnight, with a high northeast wind, but by noon the ice was nearly melted and rain was falling. Cleveland.— The blizzard reached this city at 7 o'clock in tho morning. A fierce gale, accompanied by a heavy fall of fine, cutting snow, is in progress. Tho street car service is demoralized, only an occasional car managing to get through tho heavy snow drifts, Toledo. —The blizzard struck this city at 5:30 this morning, and at 7:30 every street car in tho citv was abandoned. Tho wind blew tne water up the river from Maumee bay, and the docks and Water street are Inundated. Business is at a standstill. A blinding snowstorm filled the streets with drifts, and all trains are behind time.

Di al h In thr Storm. Guthrie, Ok.—lt has been terribly cold during tne storm, and stories of awful suffering are coming in from various points. Twenty persons have been found frozen to death. A report comes from the northern part of the Territory that six persons of one family were murdered by the father to prevent their suffering while dying with cold. The seven bodies were found in one house with their throats cut. In the house was found a note signed by the father, who left word that he had killed his wife and children to save them from freezing. Nebraska Snowed Under. Omaha.—As a result of tho blizzard, most trains have been abandoned in the interior, and those running have been pulled by two and three engines. Stock in Nebraska is really in danger, and stockmen are apprehensive of great loss. Drifts in some places ard piled ten to twenty feet high, and in the valleys cattle are porishing for want of water and food. Loss in this direction will bq enormous, it is feared. Kama* linger » White Mantle. Atchison.—All trains are tied up. El Dorado./-Railroads are all aded--Emporia. —Wagon roads are impassable, and trains have been abandoned. Fort, Scott. —The heaviest snow in Southeast Kansas for many years lies upon the ground. Trains are late and many are laid out. Leavenworth.— The snow is sixteen inches deep on the level and in many places has drifted to a depth of from live to ten feet. Topeka. from all parts of Kansas are that it was tho heaviest snowstorm An record, and was especially severe in the western part of the State. A strong north wind carried the snow into drifts. The thermome ter dropped to 4 degrees. Blizzard Kenchen the Eut. New York.— The blizzard scheduled by weather prophets arrived on time. The streets are covered with a mantle of snow Several inches deep. All traffic is impeded. The railroad trains are behind time and mails from all parts of the country are delayed. The street railways are operat ’d with difficulty and traffic on the river hae been, greatly * Beautiful children*never grow in loveless homes. r