Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1920 — WORST STORM IN APRIL HISTORY [ARTICLE]

WORST STORM IN APRIL HISTORY

COUNTRY SNOW-BOUND BY EASTER STORM—MILADY’S FINERY ON SHELF. April 4, 1920, will go down as being the anniversary of the worst snow storm iff the history of the month of April. A blizzard, starting late Saturday afternoon and lasting throughout the greater part of Easter Sunday, tied up traffic throughout the middle west, impairing telegraph, telephone and railroad service, and tied Up the country generally. Industry was crippled and traffic blocked. Snow, falling to the depth of from ten to twelve inches, established a record unparalleled for the month within the memories of the present generation. The worst April snow storm prior to the present one was that of April 4, 1875, forty-five years ago, and is recalled by many of ’ our older citizens. Since that time there has been nothing to approach the present storm. Rensselaer and the remainder of the middle west held no Easter Board Walk Revue. Milady’s finery remaaned .on the shelf as the greatter portion of the citizenry hovered about their fires. _ Accompanying the storm was a big drop in the temperature and a great deal of suffering is reported from all middle western states: The outlying districts are segregated by the giant snow drifts which have attained a depth of several 'feet. A great deal of suffering is ; reported among the livestock. The storm originated in Texas Saturday and moved steadily northward through Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas, reaching as far north as.'Chicago and as far west as Nebraska. Latest reports indicate that the storm is moving eastward. The weather forecasters predict a rise in the temperature but the melting of the snow may send many streams out of their banks. A freezing temperature is reported as far south as northern A rka nsas. Between Rensselaer and Pleasant Ridge the drifts are so bad that many who were traveling in automobiles were forced to abandon them. . The same condition prevails in many other parts of the county, and farmers for the most part are engaged in the clearing of the roads. Train service has been badly crippled and has been running hours late. However, the railroad officials predict that the service will sooh be normal. '