The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-16
Severe Storm-Heayy Snow Drins-Un-
usually Cold weather.

Severe Storm-Heayy Snow Driffs-Un-
usually Cold Weather.
About halfpast six oclock on Friday even
ing, January 8, snow began falling in this
section, and continued until about O'Clock
Saturday morning. The weather had been
quite moderate the few days preceding, and
there was thunder on Monday night during
the heavy rain. On Friday the mercury be-
gan to drop, and the velocity of the wind in
creased almost to gale. The wind was
from the northeast, and drifted the snow
badly. The average depth of the snow was
about u inches, but some of the drifts were
five end six feet deep.
The wind changed to the northwest on Sat-
urday night and Sunday, still blowing stiffly,
and the snow continued to drift, roads that
were open before now becoming closed.
In every portion of the county the drifts
were general and deep, in some places ten
feet, and nearly all roads were more or less
blocked. The heavy drifts sometimes ex-
tended for long distances, and travel by sleigh
or vehicle was impossible. All travel was
suspended for a few days, and some roads are
not open yet.
None of the physicians of Westminster
could visit their patients on Sunday, though
some of them we're quite sick, and they have
been travelling under difficulties since.
Court was to have met on Monday, but only
ten of the jurors could get here, and there
being no prospect of the snow blockade being
raised, the docket was continued, and on
Tuesday morning the court adjourned for the
term. VIM. Shower and Edward 0ursler,
two of the jurors from Manchester, tried hard
to get through the drifts, but had to give it
up after coming four or FIVE miles.
Judge Elias Myerly, of the Orphans Court,
by cutting across fields and through woods,
managed to reach this city on Monday, con-
Stunning over three hours to travel seven and
o half miles.
Emanuel Monshower, the mail carrier be-
tween Liberty and Westminster, by way of
SANS Creek, could not make his trip on
Saturday. By travelling around drifts and
crossing fields, he reached here Monday
afternoon in about seven hours, the distance
being twenty-one miles. He travelled on horse
back, and started on his return trip. the same
afternoon, putting up for the night on the
road, and reaching Liberty about 10 o'clock
on Tuesday. He returned here on Wednes-
day, and is now making regular trips. The
snow was drifted badly, especially near Sans
Creek and Oak Orchard, and much of his
way he could not see the fences that divided
the county road from private lands. Part of
the trip on Monday was made on foot, lead
ing his horse.
VIM. H. Lockard, the mail carrier to Small
wood, Bird Hill, Shipley, Louisville and
Freedom, could go no further than Bird Hill
on Saturday, and returned under difficulties.
The Washington road, that was open in the
morning, was closing rapidly on his return,
and on Monday he could not travel his route
at ALL He started on Wednesday and has
been going daily since, though the trips have
been made ON horseback with difficulty, he
occasionally having to cross fields or woods.
The drift was so heavy at Bird Hill tun-
mel was made through the snow, and used
day or two for travel.
John l.. Breitweiser, the mail carrier from
here to Hampstead, makes the trip twice
week-on Tuesday and Saturday. His ex
perience last Saturday was severe one. He
left here in buggy about Z o'clock. went to
Cranberry, and then started for Brummel.
He had not gone far before his team got
stuck in the snow, and he had to abandon the
buggy and take it horseback. He continued
on, occasionally in the road and then in
field, sometimes leading his horse and some
times riding him. By this means he went to
Brummel, thence to Snydersburg and thence
to Hampstead, reaching there about o clock.
He did not tarry but started Immediately on
his return trip, as the snow was drifting. AT
Snydersburg he stopped to feed, then con-
tinued his Journey to Brummel, where he got
fresh horse, and on to Cranberry. When
near the latter place, and while going through
a field, he was leading his horse, suddenly
he came upon stream that was covered with
snow, and into it he stepped, going down al
most out of sight. He held on to the reins,
and the horse struggled until it got out itself,
and pulled Mr.. Breitweiser out also. After
leaving Cranberry a mile or so he struck
across a field and came to the house OF MIR.
George K. Shaeffer, where he put up for the
night, fearing to venture further in the blind
ing snow and biting cold. He left early Sun
day morning, and by travelling over private
lands he reached here about 10 o'clock.
When the mercury began to fall on Friday
it never stopped until Wednesday morning.
when it reached five degrees below zero at the
ADvocATE office. At other points, near the
depot, the mercury registered eight below
At Union Mills, on Tuesday morning, 1t was
ten and twelve below, and six below the same
morning at Linwood.
The cold is the severest for six or eight
years, and has lasted longer than for many
wears past. The snow-drifts are deeper
than since 1857, and some of the older citl-
zens think the blockade exceeded the blockade
of that year.
Citizens in all parts of the county turned
out to break the roads, and in some places made
a frolic of the Job. The turnpike company
broke the road from Finksburg to the Penn
sylvania line, and finished by Wednesday
night. This is the first time since 1857 that
the company has had to clear the road OF
snow.