The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-01
A BLIZZARD'S WORK.
tn. Host Terrible Storm Ever
Known in the Northwest.
Many Lives Lost, and Railroad
Travel Entirely Stopped

The worst blizzard ever known has been
sweeping through the Northwest, causing
heavy loss of human life and great pecuniary
damage resulting from an almost complete
suspension OF railroad traffic A St. Paul
dispatch says:
The storm proved to be Of much greater
severity than was at first supposed. 1t was
general throughout Minnesota, Dakota, Mon
tana, Wisconsin and Iowa, and railroad men
say it has not been surpassed. The storm
effects were most severe from the peculiar
action of the wind and heavy snow drifts.
The whole open country is one vast upheaved
ocean, as if the white caps had frozen solid
and the rough waves, snow-covered, caught
up at their highest point Every railroad
in the Northwest is completely blockaded
with passenger and freight trains
strung all along the lines Most OF
food can be procured, but it is reported that
the Chicago express on the Milwaukee lin,
due here at seven o'clock in the morning, Is
stuck ON the open prairie between stations.
Branch line trains we're all abandoned at
functional points last night, and there is no
predicting when they will he open. 1t is
thought that some Of the lines will be closed
for six weeks. and on top of this condit on OF
things it is feared the worst is to come.
lines to-day and the cuts are being filled in
as fast as they are pumped out. The storm
of yesterday is now raging in Iowa. 1t is
also sweeping Idaho, with the thermometer
at various points along the Northern Pacific
10 degrees below zero. The weather
is so cold in Dakota and Montana to day
that lahorers cannot be induced to 60 to work,
and the packing Of the snow will render it
still more difficult Of removal. Reports are
current of loss of life in various towns
whele people were caught on the prairie
The Chicago roads have tried hard to keep
their lines open, but the only train from the
West today was on the Wisconsin Central
Road, where five locomotives attached to two
coaches were enabled to force their way
through, although the train was several
hours late.
The effects of the present storm in Omaha
have been disastrous, says a dispatch from
found early this morning frozen to death
within block Of his boarding house. Two
school children, Wexell Beck and George
Allen, started for their homes about three
o'clock yesterday afternoon and have not
been heard Of since. A young woman caught
out in the storm has also probably perished.
Il Bismarck tDakota4 special says; A
stage left Washburn, place fifty miles
northwest OF here, yesterday morning for
this city, and should have arrived here last
evening. hut nothing has yet been heard Of it
It is supposed that it is lost in the bliz-
gard. A stage left for 'Vinona this
morning. Great fears are entertained for
its safe arrival The great blizzard evidently
spent its fury here The wind last night was
aboat 40 miles per hour and the mercury Is
degrees below. This morning it is 30 de-
grees below and the wind intensely cold.
Farmers in town dare not venture ont,
h1n md oIrin
they will not attempt to come home
RAYMOND, Dakota, sends the fo. lowing re-
port: Damage TO live stock will be great,
while reports Of suffering and death ara con-
stantly coming in. Two so,ls OF William
Driver were frozen to death within few
feet of their barn. Charles Heath is missing
and J. H. Clapp has been discovered badly
frozen, he having been out all night wander.
ing upon the prairie. The elevator OF Archer
& Howe has gone down with l3,00J bushels
of grain. Other minor casualties are re-
ported.
At Huron, Dakota, a number Of children
on their way home from school were caught
out in the 81 orm and were unable to find
their way. Their parents spread the news that
they had not reached their homes, and soon
several search parties were organized. Each
men. and in each party the men were all
bound to each other by means Of ropes around
their waista In this way they proceeded to
scare the whole town. and it was not until
late at night that the last missing child was
found and taken to her home.
William H. Jewell, a local Republican
politician and an extensive farmer, was
found in the Court House at Hastings. Mich.
with his arms and legs frozen solid, and died
soon afterward.
A Winnipeg (Manitoba, dispatch asserts
that the storm extended throughout that
entire regiou. At Pilot Noun |, Manitoba,
the house OF Theodore Preston, farmer,
can yht fire and was entirely consumed.
Mrs Preston, Miss Preston, and servant
boy were badly frosan through being e1-
less in the stable.