The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-27
Reported Wreck OF Schooner on
Richmond's Island.
Trains on All the Roads Delayed or
Blockaded.

| yesterday was in some respects the most Sc
| we're of the season, and wildly recalled the
the terrible snow storm of the winter of
| 1S66-67 The rain which fell during Thurs
day night turned to snow early yesterday
morning, and the wind steadily increased in
velocity until it was blowing a furious gale.
The snowfall was heavy, and the flakes were
whirled through the air by the high wind in
| dense clouds, filling the eyes and ears of the
| few pedestrians who ventured out and rem
| dering the streets almost impossible The
weather was fortunately not very cold, al
though the thermometer dropped from 800 to
about 150 above zero during the day Bust
ness was pretty much suspended about town
in the stores, and people who were not oblig-
ed to be out staid in doors. The horse cars
started out on wheels, but early in the after
| noon it became necessary to bring out the
sleigh cars One of the Congress street
wheel cars, with four horses attached, stop
| ped when about three-quarters OF the way
| up Munjoy Hill, and started down. The
| four horses were unable to move the car, and
| it was only started by using whippletree
as a lever. Little damage was reported
about the city. A large sign on the front of
Thomas Laughlins store on Commercial
street was torn from its fastenings and
thrown to the ground. There was some
trouble with the telephone wires, about fifty
being crossed. Very few were broken, how
ever.
When the snow ceased falling at o'clock
last evening, the city looked almost buried.
The snow covered the windows and whiten-
ed the sides of the buildings, and the wind
was steadily increasing the drifts in the
streets. Few persons ventured out during
the evening, and the town presented an al
most desolate appearance.
ALONG THE COAST.
The storm was especially severe on the
water high sea running, and the binding
snow making navigation almost impossible
Capt. Matthews, of the tug Salem, reports
that he went down the harbor some distance
but was obliged to put back. He saw no in
dications of wreck. The ferry boats were
running regularly all day, and the Express
made her customary trips. The steamer
State of Maine arrived here from Boston
Thursday, and lay at her wharf all day yes
terday The Cumberland of the same line
left Eastport Thursday, and probably put in
somewhere along the coast for harbor.
A rumor was current during the day that a
vessel was ashore on the back side of Rich
mond's Island Some said the crew were
reported lost, but no definite information as
to this was received. Mr.. w. Jones, a lobs-
ter man said that he came from the Cape
yesterday, and saw the masts of schooner
ashore ON Richmond's Island. The fishing
schooner Sylvester, of Gloucester, was on
Jeffrey's bank, Wednesday, in company with
a number of other vessels, all of which
reached this port in safety. 1t is thought
that the Sylvester may be the vessel ashore
ON Richmond's Island, if there is one there
The three pilots who went out on the Ore
gon Thursday evening, had not turned up
yesterday, and it was supposed that they
had found it too rough to return, and had ac-
cordingly taken a trip to Halifax. 1t was
thick when the steamer left, and the men in
tended to leave her off Portland Light. The
supposition is that owing to the state of the
weather they were afraid to leave the steam
er so far inshore, and when they had got out
side found they could not get back in safety.
The pilots are Messrs John McIntire, John
Fisher and Scott Oliver.
ON THE RAILROADS.
Passenger trains on the different roads
were all late yesterday, the snow being drift
ed badly in the country. The noon trains of
the Boston & Maine were less than half an
hour behind time, and the o'clock train was
an hour late.
On the Maine Central, the Bangor train
was over three hours behind, and the after
noon trains were a couple of hours late. The
freight traffic was also interfered with, and
the trains blocked. The Pullman train from
the east had not arrived at time of going to
press this morning.
The Portland g. Ogdensburg through pas
senger train was an hour and a half late,
coming in at 7.20 last evening Two freight
trains bound out on this road were blocked,
one being stopped at Sebago Lake and the
other at West Baldwin. At a point between
Bartlett and Fabyans, the through freight is
detained, and almost buried in a huge drift.
The train may be held for some time. A
few cars of perishable freight were got
through to this city last night.
The Montreal express ever the Grand
Trunk was two hours and half behind time,
and came in having the appearance of a
snow drift ON wheels. The engine was en-
tirely covered with snow, and furnished
abundant proof of the severity of the storm
All along the line of this road the storm was
extremely heavy. No rain fell above Var
mouth on Thursday night, and the depth of
snow was accordingly considerable Freight
trains were all blockaded.
TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION.
The wires between here and Boston were
down last night. To the eastward the lines
were in working order. dispatches being re-
ceived promptly.
We have been informed by Night Manager
Eastman that tree blew down on the line
of the Boston and Maine Railroad last night
and wrecked all their wires at that point
He expected to have the damage repaired
early this morning