Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-20
| News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. l FLOODS IN ENGLAND. The Country Visited by a
 Fearful Storm. ALL TRAFFIC SUSPENDED IN LONDON. Serious Disasters All Through the
 Kingdom. Passage of the Refunding Bill. Uncertainty As to Its Fate in the
 Senate.
 THE OLD WORLD.
 Great Britain.
Great Britain.

A Terrible Storm-Reports of Disaster. from all Quarters-Overdov of the Thames-Houses Submerged and Rusi. ness suspended-PeopIe Trembling on the Roefs-A Binding Snow storm Pre- vaf1tng.
 LONDON, Jan. 19.-Reports of damage done by the great snow storm and heavy gales continue to come in. Disasters to rail. way and shipping many of them of the most narrowing character, are reported. Tele- graphic communication is entirely stopped and no regular business is accepted at the office. London has not been so blocked up with snow for years, if ever, as it is at pres ent
 The terrible storm prevailing in London is the worst that has been experienced here for twenty years. The scenes to which it has given rise are simply indescribable The Thames has flooded the houses of Parlia- ment. Many of the members were unable to reach Parliament, so there was slim attend ance When the Speaker of the House of Commons wanted to open the ses- seats that the House narrowly escaped being adjourned for day and thus losing time which, in the present stress of public affairs, is very precious. MT. Biggar averted the peril by sending cabs for his colleagues, and thus succeeding in securing 8 quorum.
 
 his part no course would have been left the Speaker but, to adjourn. The Thames has risen on the Surrey or southern side to the height of ten feet, flooding the entire district. Houses have been invaded by water to such an ex- tent that they are rendered uninhabitable and hundreds of people have been made home less Great damage has been done to the poorer sort of houses, and there is danger of some of them being totally destroyed or so badly injured as to make them unfit to olive in. The people are taking refuge on the roofs, and are in momentary terror lest their lives should become a prey to the rising water. The scenes are terrible, and all exertions which are being made in the midst of the storm are not adequate to relieve the distress which prevails. No one here recoilects to have witnessed such fearful sights for a gen. eration past. A number of barges have been sunk in the Thames and several lives have been lost. The record of the casualties cannot fail to be fearful, and it is probable that a great many will be found to have been drowned. The Bright on express has been showed up and reports are current of trains in all directions. Snow continues to fall with unabated violence and the dread of increasing calamities is uni versal. It has blockaded the roads every where and all the telegraph lines are broken, the wires being snapped asunder or borne down by the weight of snow. Vessels are cast ashore in rapid succession. Traffic is absolutely suspended and business is at @ standstill. The prevailing feeling is fear and the absence of special means to relieve dis tress and the inadequacy of ordinary meas ures causes the utmost consternation.