New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-14
THE BLIZZARD IN THE WEST
FROM MANITOBA ALMOST TO TEXAS.
TRAINS ALL BLOCKADED-sAvISG THE SCHOOL
CHILDREN AT HURON, DAKoTA-sNow
DRIFTS FIGUTFFN FEET DEEP.


CHICAGO, Jan. 13.-The storm which ragged
throughout the Northwest last night and to-day
Is the worst that has been known for years
Throughout Minnesota and Dakota, and in many
parts of Wisconsin and Illinois railway traffic IS
suspended and many little towns arc entirely cut
off from the outside world. In Dakota the bllz-
zard came with suddenness and fury that has
never been known before.
At Huron, Oak, the morning was clear and
pleasant. Shortly before noon it began to snow,
and fifteen minutes later the wind was whirling
the fine particles of snow through the air with
such force that it was impossible to see across
the street A number Of children on their way
home from school caught out in the storm
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 organ
lied. Each party consisted of from five to ten
men, and in each party the men were all bound
to each other by means of ropes around their
waists. In this way they proceeded to scarch
the whole town and it not until late last
night that the last missing child was found and
taken tn her home.
Here in Chicago the only effect Of the storm was
the decentralization of the railway companies and
the delay in incoming trains to-day. The snow
ceased about 0 o'clock last night and light ram
began, the mercury showing "a" above zero. This
was the temperature at a. m. to-day Two hours
later there was drop Of $40 and the thermometer
reached zero. The cold was accompanied by
fierce west wind that made the day the most
uncomfortable Of the winter
Milwaukee, Jan. 13-It 90 degrees below
tonight and advices from other parts of the
state were that it was even colder in some places.
The railroads have had bad time Of it, Nearly
every train from the west and north was several
tlo f,;o I,, Ill .icin
of the st. Paul road passenger as well as freight
trains w re suspended on account Of the big drifts
in the cuts. Engines that ciawlcd in from the
north rescmbcd huge cakes of ice Snow plOWs
have been at work all day and it is not expected
that passenger trains will be stalled on any OF
the Wisconsin divisions.
Sr. PAUL. JAN 13.-The following dispatches TO
The Pioneer Press tonight show something of the
extent and effects of the great storm:
MINOT Dak.-No trains moving vet Tho
storm has abatcd, but the wind is still blowing
II was 80 degrees below zero this morning. There
is fourteen inches of snow on level, Dadly
drfted
FAuIKroN, Dak.-The teachers and most of the
scholars Of the two lower departments OF the
schools were compelled to remain in of the
school rooms all night, provisions being carried
to them. Ropes stretched from the corner
of Main st. to the school house to enable those
carrying provisions TO go and come with safety
R,YMoXD. Dak.-Damagc to 1--we stock will he
great, while reports of suffering and death arc
constantly coming in. Two sons Of William
Driver were frozen to death within few feet of
their barn. Charles Heath is missing and j. ii.
Clapp has been discovered badly frozen, having
been out all night wandering upon the prairie
Snow to the depth of two feet on the level and
from five to fifteen feet in the cuts was sufficient
almost to suspend the running of trains. But
added to this. the severe wind which blew In
some parts, and the blizzard which ragged in Others
faf1t anfip
o'clock last night there was no attempt at running
a train at any point west Of st. Paul. The east
ern lines tried hard to keep their tracks open, but
without success. Branch line trains were all
abandoned at functions last night, and there is
no predicting when they will be opened 1t is
thought that some of them will be closed for six
weeks. The wind blew hard on almost all lines
to-day and the cuts were filled in fast they
were cleared. Another storm is expected to strike
Minnesota on Sunday. 1t ragged in Idaho to-day.
JAMEST WIN. OAK: he storm still continued to-
night, although much abated. rhe Thermometer at
noon marked 27o below. The old snow drifts have
blown away and new and larger ones have formed.
Tne Northern Pacific main line and branches are
all blocked ana all trains are delayed from twelve
to thrtv-sIx hours.
FERGrs FALLS, Mimi: The blizzard was succeeded
by inle cold. The rOrds are drlfte1 full and
business is at a standsull There has been no train
from either direction the Manitoba road since
Wednesday night, the first time IN SIX years that
the road has not been open.
At Fargo the storm was the worst in eight years.
with the mercury 40 degrees below zero. with
HUiTlcane DOWlUR. OnIy lnree lTaHS came III
during he day. At Pierre, Dak.. the wind blow
| sixty miles an hour. Ihe Northern Pacific has
some rotary snow plows which will clear the track
quickly as the wind subsidies. but all of the
lranscontnental trains got stuck Yesterday. The
local weather officers say the storm extends from
Calgary, n. w T., to Little Rock, Ark. AT md
n Ight the storm centre had reached Dubuque, Iowa.
BRAINrRD Minn., Jan. II. rhe entire line of the
Northern Pacific from Lake Superior to Dakota as
well as the Brainerd and st. Paul division was
blocked bv the storm. Both st. Paul trains were
blocked shortly after getting out OF the Mime
apos yard.
OMAn,. Jan. The effects of the present storm
cgarmaker, was found early this morning frozen
to death within n block Of his boarding house.
Two school children, Wexell Beck and George
yes erday afternoon and have not been heard of
since.