The Portland daily press., 1885-02-18
WINTER WORST.
Details of the Severest Storm Ex-
perienced for Years.
Numerous Accidents and Some Loss of
Life In New York.
Extensive Damage Done at Coney
Island.
Havoc Played with Railroad Travel In
New England and Elsewhere.

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE storm of yester-
day was the most severe which has been ex-
perienced in this vicinity for years. Numer-
ous accidents and some loss Of life are reported
in this city and considerable damage to prop
erty from the flooding of cellars and ware
houses along the river fronts. At Coney ISL
and the tide and surf were higher than have
been seen for years. Waves fifteen feet high
broke over the new iron pier, and its destruc.
ton for a time was imminent. When the
storm ceased, after raging sixteen hours, the
peach was left strewn with wreckage and the
debris OF the pavilions, music stands, shooting
galleries and oyster counters that had sue
cumbed to the fury OF the blast. The road
along the beach from West Brighton to Bright
on Beach Hotel was almost entirely swept
away. The elegant new band stand at the
Brighton Hotel, which was erected last season
at cost OF $4,000, was undermined and
came complete wreck. The intervening space
to the very foundations Of the hotel was swept
away by the surf, and 1t was feared the hotel
itself would be undermined.
From the Jersey coast there are numerous
reports of wreckage and evidences of disaster
At a. m. yesterday the brig ANITA, from Ven
ezuela for New York, struck on Two Mile
beach and drifted down the coast to Cold
Spring bar. She filed with water soon after
she struck the beach and will be a total loss,
with her cargo The brig was about three
quarters of a mile from shore. and those on
furious gale was blowing and the sea was
sheet OF foam. The waves curled over the
vessel, threatening to break her up each mo-
ment. Signals of distress were flying and some
OF the sailors were seen to have lashed them
selves in the rigging. Capt. Hildreth of Life
Saving Station No. 80, near Cape May, after
many futile attempts, finally succeeded in
reaching the wreck aud rescuing the crew and
two passengers.
The schooner Ida Babcock, stranded off
q hoe a.
wreck has washed across the beach to the
mainland. The clothing of the captain and
crew has been saved.
The schooner A. M. Thomas of Taunton.
Mass, wrecked off Fire Island was bound
from Norfolk, Va, for Providence with a cargo
OF COAL John Barnett, one of the crew, said
that the first day out she sprang aleak, and
the pumps were set going and constantly
manned. The shrouds, sails and rigging be-
came encrusted with ice, the water freezing as
1t fell. When two men at the pumps became
exhausted two others would take their places.
At 4o'clock in the morning the vessel struck
on the beach. The lashings of the small boat
were cut away and a coil of rope placed in 1t.
Then big wave struck the schooner and car
ried away the bulwarks. The men clambered
on the house and wave after wave dashed
over them, benumbing them. One man was
dashed against the house, dslocating his
shoulder, and but for his grasDing a line he
would have been washed into the surf. at
this time the life-saving corps came to the
assistance OF the crew. The captain swung
lighted torch over his head to guide them, and
the freezing men in the rigging set up cry
Guided by the shouts, the lifeline was fred
and fell across the foretopmast. The mate
benumbed with cold, climbed the tottering
mast and at the risk Of his life secured the
rope, and descending made it fast TO the miz
zenmast. The breeches buoy was rugged and
the most exhausted of the crew were sent first.
The captain was the last to leave. The vessel
is a total loss.
BoRDENTowN, N. j., Feb. 1.-THE water in
the Delaware river is several feet above its
wanted level, threatening to break up the rot
ten ice at any moment and cause destructive
freshet.
PLYMOUTH, N. H., Feb. IA bridge across
Mad river in Thornton, near the Watsrville
town line, was blown into the river last night
by terrible wind. This is the second time
within few years that the bridge in this place
has been blown down.
NORTH THETFoRD, VT, Fsb. ia regular
loot of sno-v falling I-y-- sE- sx., ssaza
was blown over, causing a panic among the
passengers. Trees and telegraph wires were
levelled. The morning trains on the Passump-
BIC railroad did not arrive till noon today.
PoUGHKEEPsIE, Feb. 17.-There have been
no trains from the West since o'clock last
night. Heavy blockades OF snow are reported
near Little Falls on the New York Central
road. A change of 800 in the thermometer has
taken place since lnightiall last evening.
CHESTER, Vt, Feb. 1.-THE storm of last
night was the severest known here for years.
The snow Is four feet deep on level and roads
are badly drifted and impossible. The monn-
tain stages cannot get through and no trains
have arrived here today. There are ten en-
gines snow bound between here and Rutland
No mail has been received here today and none
will go out before tomorrow.
At L. rrL.
ued to-day with lower temperature. All trains
on the Rome, Watertown q Ogdensburg rail-
way were abandoned yesterday except those
between Charlotte and Niagara Falls. Four
trains reported stalled yesterday are still in the
snow and there have been no trains in on the
Ontario and Western road since yesterday
morning.
DENVER, Col, Feb. 17.-At l O'Clock yester-
day afternoon, heavy wind storm struck this
city, and until p. m. blew 60 miles an hour
Several buildings were partially or wholly un-
rooted and number of plate glass fronts were
blown in. The damage will aggregate several
thousand dollars.
RUTLAND, Vt, Feb. 17.-Railroad men say
this has been the worst storm ever known
here. Trains from the north, south and west
are several hours late, while the road east is
hopelessly blocked between Summit and Lud-
low for the night. No Boston mail has been
received since yesterday noon. There is large
quantity of snow. 1t is cold and still tonight.
CITY ISLAND, Feb. IT, Yesterdays gale and
the strong winds which prevailed during last
night and today, have packed the ice in GER
tain portions of the Sound SO it has been al
most impossible for craft of any kind to navi.
gate. A strong barricade formed opposite
Throgg's Neck, and all steamers arriving from
the eastward were detained there from six to
eight hours.
MONTREAL, Feb. 1.-THE heaviest snow
storm for vaara har raoad haro ainna Iart avau-
ing, and no trains have arrived today from
any point.
Troy, Feb. 17.-Last nights storm was the
severest in years. Trains on the Troy & Bos-
ton and New York Central roads and up north
are snow bound. At Rouse's Point, north
bound trains laid over last night and trains
on the Troy & Boston line are snow bound at
Pownal.
BRADFORD, VT, Feb. 17-Fifteen inches of
snow fell here last night and this forenoon.
The railroads were blockaded all day and the
first train passed through here at O'Clock to-
night. 1t was the worst storm of the season.
No. ADAMS, Feb. 1.-THE results of last
nights storm are just becoming known here.
The Boston mails and papers reached here al
Z tonight. Passengers on the New Haven and
Northampton train played whist and had a
mock trial while buried in the snow at Buck
land today. Four engines tried to draw the
Boston express west and have not arrived al
Rotterdam Ju motion yet with the trains, which
should have been in Buffalo. Two girls EN-.
poyed by the Zylonite Company in Adams
four miles distant, attempted to walk here and
were badly frozen and may not recover from
the effects Of the exposure. This is considered
the most severe torn since 1868.
HARRISBURG, Pa, Feb. 1.-THE snow storm
which ragged yesterday throughout the western
aud northern part of the State was one of the
heaviest experienced for several years. Report:
from different points indicate that nearly al
the railroads ia the upper portion Of the State
are badly blocked. In some cases trains are
fast and are being shoveled out.
CHICAGO, Feb. 1.-THE weather in Chicago
has moderated somewhat. At 8 a. m. the
mercury showed 40 below zero. At Omaha il
was 100 above; at Dss Moines it was showing
and 30 above; in Dakota and Manitoba the
mercury still ranges from 200 to 500 below, sc
that no immediate relief can be expected. The
| worst effects OF the storm are still felt south
and southeast of Chicago, and the freight traf-
| 6c is quite generally suspended. East bound
| passenger trains on all the roads, except the
Grand Trunk, are moving, though delayed
Incoming trains are from one to three hours
| late. The Grand Trunk road has been closed
since Sunday. The Pan Handle, Chicago &
| Eastern Illinois, and Louisville, New Albany
and Chicago roads are still showed up.
QUEBEo, Feb 1.-THE blizzard which set ir
from the east last night continued with unaba-
ted fury till day light this morning when the
| wind moderated and snow storm set in AL
| the railroads are blocked The North Shore
| train from Montreal due here at 10 o'clock last