The Portland daily press., 1888-03-14
WIDESPREAD TRou8LE.
Wires Down In All Directions, and
Trains Showed Up.

BosroN, March 13.-The storm of Monday
will be a memorable one In the history of
the North Atlantic States, equaling in vio-
lence, as it does, the famous gale Of April IL.
1851, when Minot Light was destroyed.
This storm had its origin due west, In the
Rocky Mountain region. near Utah, it being
first perceived last Thursday. To the north
and east of it lay large areas OF high tenn
perature, against the denser air Of which the
storm made poor progress. For three days II
travelled very slowly, but by being kept con-
fined by the heavier air surrounding it, its
intensity grew in proportion to its restraint,
and Sunday, when the last well-dehned re-
ports of IL were received, it was crowded In
to a small area over the Lake Region, giving
high winds and snow. 1t was really Sunday
night when it obtained the present impetus.
Not being able to pierce UT dissipate the high
barometric area over New England. 1t took
the shortest cut to escape confinement, and
lodged around the southern side Of the high
temperature, making brush for the coast,
where it met little or no resistance, and ex-
pended its stored energies.
The line followed by the storm is quite an
gular 1t started near Salt Lake, and trav-
elled in a straight line northeasterly to De-
troit, when il changed, and, going toward
the south, followed curve which took II
just south of Boston, giving the southeast
quadrant to New York, where the gale was
the heaviest AFTER reaching tns coast !.
followed the usual course, and struck out
northeasterly, following the Gulf Stream,
and sweeping over Newfoundland, toward
Europe.
Shortly after O'Clock Monday little rain
fell, but was hardly appreciable, It being al
ter o'clock Monday morning before the
storm which had been playing havoc IN New
York city hours before, broke over Boston.
The snow fall for time was tremendous,
ACCOMPANIED by q steadily increasing wind
and a rapidly falling barometer;
Following the storm is high barometer
and a severe cold wave, when VIII cause
fan Of over 30o in New England by tonight,
and nearly zero weather before wednesday.
Probable Loss of Life.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, March 13.-This city
Is completely buried under the snow. On
Main street the drifts are from ten to fifteen
feet high. A conveyance could not be pro-
cured last night under any consideration.
Business men were unable to reach their
homes. The downtown hotels Immediately
began 10 fill up, and in the downtown work
shops the men could not get home, and many
of them had to stay in their shops. The ho-
tells and the depots wer0 packed full, ana IL
was impossible even to get a cot. Stories
nave come in from all over the state that
farmers on their way home from town meet
ing have been overcome. Many OF them
took refuge in farm houses, but 1t is feared
that when the snow disappears IL Will be
found that many of the unfortunates have
perished.
West6eld, Greenfield and Pittsfield all send
ia reports that show they are in as bad shape
as Springfield.
The only fatal accident that has been re-
ported, that can be verified, occurred on the
Roston q Albany road near Westheld yester
day. A snow plough was trying to clear the
CONTINUED ON FOURTH PAcEl