The Express.
London, England, 1860-12-21 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.

SEVERE SNOW STORM IN HAMPSHIRE
One of the most severe snow storms experienced
in this district for many yearn occurred on Wednesday and
extended in an easterly direction along the whole of the
south coast, occasioning serious dalay and inconvenience to
the geaseagrr traffic upon the South Western Railway. The
mew began to fall at one o'clock in the afternoon, awl con-
tinned without intermission until half.peat four on Thum
.I.y morning. The train from Salisbury, which is due at
Bithopstolic at 7.10, was upwards of an tour behind time,
and ou arriving at Bishopstoke found that the up train
from Weymouth and Southampton, after waiting for
sonic time, had proceeded without it. A special
train was then despatched with the Loudon p
er s. but on reaching the incline at Micheldever
bank, about a mile and a half from Mitheldever Station,
the °Milian train was discovered. with a heavy gooda train
helms it, blocked up by the snow, which at that time (9
o'clock) was between two and three feet deep. As it was
impossible to move the 'acts train, the engine was un-
hooked, and cut its way through the snow to Micheldever,
in order to procure assistance, guards being despatched
down the with danger signal. to prevent the apron*
of any other trains. On the goods engine reaching Michel-
d ever &telegram was sent to Basingstoke, 11 miles nearer
London, aml two pilot engines were promptly sent down
and a posse of labourers to clear the way. In many places
the snow was found to have attained a depth at Dearly five
feet, and as the Are-boa of the lead' st mews berates choked
op, every few minutes it was found requisite to dig
aI. front of it before any scald be made.
77=11:1y, after remaining stationary for yearly ilia 17
the goods tracks we taken to itiolieldoesr, the MICTiO)
three engines being assmeary to drag them forward. Many
of the panniers h the train behind were exceedingly
alarmed by the delay, partimilmly as it was knows that the
up soul train wan &lame due. Great credits flowerer, is
doe to the guards and other ollicia/a conamied with the
company for the exertions they made, all of them working
ap to their waists is snow, and for the premations=i
took to prevent my accident. The goods mita was
on to a siding at Micheliimer, and the paeseags train drew
up at the station at belf.past one, when its alarmed and
hoses occupants were enabled to obtaiu rstreeknenta and
warm theruselvesat a roadside public.house. An unfortunate
traveller, a Freochman, (rim Southampton, we. found to be
so ill from the cold, sad the alarm be had experienced, that
be preferred remaining at Micheldeverr all night to the HA
of a further exposure. The train, with three engines at-
tached to it, proceeded upon the journey at two o'clock, but
bed not goo* more than three miles whoa the Ars bum
became choked up. and a further stoppage tooltgam. Prom
this point to Banngstoke, about eight mike, i atc
were uicenant. The snow 000dnued to fall very heavily,a
and at intervals of about 100 yards theiguards and labourers
were compelled to cut a purge. The train arrived at
Basingstoke at half-past four, and remained there about
half an hour until the mail train, which was two hours
behind time, passed. The remainder of the journey wu
seoomplished without further obstruction, and, to the asto-
nishment of the passengers, it was found that no mow
whatever had fallen between Woking and London. The
train which was doe at the Waterloo station at Are minutes
put ten on Wednesday night arrived there at 215 minutes
peat .even on Thursday morning, being nine hours and a
quarter behind time.

At Newcastle mow fell more or less during the whole of
Wednesday, and a hard frost set in. A large number of
persons in Newcastle, Shields, end Sundorinad, base ben
thrown out of employment by the sudden change of tempe-
rature. During Wednesday evening the atmosphere was
highly charged with electticity, and frequent distant dis-
charges were observed. Shortly after one o'clock yesterday
morning it commenced to thonirer, and Noshes of lightniog
were extremely vivid and frequent.

. -
Edinburgh and Glasgow have been visited during the last
two or three days with very heavy snow and hail storms.
In the former city the snow varies in depth fresn 12 inches
to three feet, and the roof of a house has given way from
the weight of snow upon it. The trains on all the Sem,
lines have been much delayed.
On Wednesday morning the weetern districts of Corn-
wall were visited by • severe thunderstorm, accompanied
with violent bail, which commenced about $ o'clock, and
though it continued only a short time, considerable dame.
was done. A poor woman was struck dead on the mad
leading from Calenick to Tolverne. The south-west
11 pinnacle of the tower of Xeowyn Church on whiz&
a moat inefficient conductor had been fiend, nu
struck by the electric fluid and hue ed to the
pound, where it lies broken. The lightning also
entered the roof of the building, piercing
sit in au or
ni different places, and in its course destroying many et
theater& seats. In thechnrelyard theaksbal ab,rgo tousle,
assland within iron rails, was uplifted, huh^ sad the
Anna scattered in all directions. A storm se add= and
terrible at this wintry season has not been witnessed la Tnno
for may years. Another account which we have ralisived
slates that the destruction in the interior of the church was
cussed by the pinnacle falling through the roof. A come
'pendent adds that a beautiful tablet, recently erected,
was completely smashed, and that the church inside
is one mass of broken stones and debris. The thun-
derstorm visited Rairuth and Penzance about the
same time. At the latter place the lightning was
very vivid to the eastward, and the hailatones exploding!).
large ; the wind at the time and afterwards blew very cold
from the north-west. Scow had fallen on the previous day
throughout Cornwall, and in many parts of the county
there was a heavy downfall on Wednesday.
-

Dublin hu experienced the taros severe weather during
the week, and much suffurimg has boss @stades' upon the
pour of the city in conseiluence. On Wednesday tie Dah-
lia and Wicklow Mountains were covered with snow. The
Dram, the highest el the Wicklow nage, presseted one
even vtufaco, evidestly at ciansiduable depth. The plains
wen also covered with an even coating.

Tan Waxrext AND Tao PAILS& —The extreme
cold lwa bad the effect ol tress* the whole of the ores.
swami Palms is the differs's. royal parka, bat although
the la la as yet far from Wing seMaieetly stroag to
bear say Wes samba, of sad ibis eirs of the
Royal Mimeos Society dW yesterday all they possibly
wall to keep people off, a peat member Teetered epos
the frown in, and sows snarly (wrested their lives by no
doing.