Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-02-16
A TERRIBLE STORM.
RAILROADS BLoCKADED ron TWO WEEKS
SNOW STORMS IN THE WEST, AND
FLOOps IN THE EAST.

Never in the history OF railroading in
the Northwest has there been such q
season of impedimeuts as has character
lied this. From the first fierce biz
zard which swept the country 10 Octo-
ber To the present railroads with cuts
have been particularly embarrassed in
the movement Of trains. The snow is
driited to the depth Of twenty 10 thirty
feet, even on the prairies, where a
nucleus has been found by throwing
out snow from the track All these
drifts have formed TO the top of the
telegraph poles, and in some cases new
poles have been set in the snow that
communication by wire might be kept
up. The recent rain packed snow upon
the track so solidly in some places that
the plo~s on the engines arc utterly
useless, and IL is necessary to shovel
the snow from the road bed By hand,
which is tedious process These
drawbacks TO railroading can only be
realized by those who have been snow
bound at extreme points on the prairles,
The Hastings and Dakota divisions of
the Chicago, Milwaukee and 81. Paul
railroad have been buried under a bank
of snow almost since the season set in
for two months. The Sioux City
branch Of the Chicago, St. Paul and
Omaha railroad has been and still is
blockaded, Notwithstanding the effort
OF the company to raise it, and they
have spared neither labor nor expense.
One train has been bound ut Mount.
ain Lake, about midway between ST..
Paul and Sioux City, since the lst of
February, and IS likely to be for some
time to come, from reports Just receiv-
ed from there. To-day the passengers
could restrain their patience no longer,
and, Of course, rested their complaint
against the company, there being no
other tangible agency that could be
assailed.
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Ia, February l3.--
The severe snow storm Of Friday and
Saturday has completely isolated this
city from the outside world. No trains
have arrived or departed since Friday
night, and all railroad travel has been
abandoned and none were expected
until this afternoon or Monday Other
business is almost suspended, and coal
dealers say they have not ton of coal
on hand.
OMAHA, February PA fearful
storm of wind and snow ragged here
yesterday and last night, blocking up
all railroads and severing telegraphic
communication through most of the
west. But a single wire remains open
at this time between Omaha and New
York Trains from Chicago, due here
this morning, have all been abandoned,
and the several roads Of the Union
Pacific and Burlington and Missouri
companies, in this State, are all block
AIDED. The roads extending into the
northern part Of the State have been
blockaded forsome days Information
received at the headquarters OF the
Union Pacific Company shows that tho
Kansas lines are in similar condition.
Omaha is the centre OF the storm,
eighteen inches of snow being reported
at Des Moines, and eight at Davenport,
Iowa.
PoRT DEPosIT, Mn, February r.
An ice gorge, which for its sudden oc.
currence was unprecedented in tho
history Of this often washod-out town
and which was attended by damage
only excelled in later years by that of
the great gorge OF 1875, has thrown
this place INTO a state of excitement
almost beyond conception. The ice
commenced to run about 3 o'clock this
morning, and few minutes aftorward
the broken masses lodged in both
channels Of the river, causing the water
to rise and inundato the town. Vast
masses of ice were borne in on the
flood, destroying property of all kinds.
A number of the dwelling houses were
crushed like egg shells, the inhabitants
making narrow escapes. The hay
house ofthe Baltimore Steamboat Com.
pany was demolished, and a force of
men engaged in removing hay to u
place OF safety had to leave it in boats,
so sudden was the rise of the water
The building was destroyed a few
minutes after they left. A corner of the
warehouse of Messrs. Davis 4 Co was
torn away and the lumber yard of the
same firm was damaged to the extent
of over $1,000 S. Routland's lumber
yard was also injured. The steamboat
Beniga narrowly escaped destruction.
The track OF the Port Deposit branch
of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and
Baltimore Rail Road was covered with
ice, and in consequence travel is sus
pended. A channel was formed after
the flood had lasted two hours, and
the ice began to pass out The water
at once subsided, The ice continued
to pass down the river until 4 o'clock
this afternoon, when il commenced to
gorge again, this time FIVE miles below,
at the mouth OF the river In conso
quence Of this, the water has risen two
feet tonight, and unless a channel is
cut through this packed mass, the
town will be subjected to another IN
undation before morning more dlsas.
trous than that through which it has
just passed.
HARRISBURG, February l3.-The
Susquehanna has been falling all day.
Last night East and South Harrisburg
was partially flooded by the overflow
of Paxton creek, and many persons
were obliged to move out, and today
their houses can be reached by boats.
The danger is apparently over.
HUNTINGDON, Pa, February Ia
The flood of the past few days has
been more disastrous than any which
has ever visited tho Juniata Valley.
The loss in bridges to Huntingdon
county alone will be $4,000. Two
spans of the bridge at Alexandria,
Diehl & Co.'s boom at the mouth of the
Raystown branch, four road bridges
over the branch and the bridge at
Newton Hamilton have been carried
away and the bridge at McVeytown
partially destroyed.
MILFORD, Pa, February 13.-Tho
rain storm has ceased and the Della
ware river is falling slowly. The ice
is moving out rapidly. 1t is reported
that small gorge has formed at Bush
vile, below this place, and that the
country is flooded. Great damage has
been done to lumber, hay, fences and
movable property. The loss by the
flood is fully $4,000 The Buckery
family were said to be imprisoned on
Connesbaugh island without food, 1t
was thought they would escape dur
ing the night.
WASHINGTON, d. c., February Ia