The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-14

lice wires were out of older, and to add to
the discomfort of the night the electric
lights began to fail. By midnight the
city was almost in darkness, save for a few
feeble gas jets that had hickered through
the storm.
At the signal Office to-day it was learned
that the storm was the result of the splitting
of q storm throughout that section day be-
fore yesterday extending south from Michi-
gan. Saturday night it divided, forming
two storm centers, one over Lake Erie
and one IN Georgia. The Southern center
then began climbing up the coast, striking
Washington yesterday morning. The CEN
ter itself did not reach here until about 3
o'clock in the afternoon, when the rain
changed to snow, This took putil nearly
midnight to pass the total rainfall amount.
ing to about y inches. the wind reached.
velocity Of 26 miles an hour at midnight,
but subsidized 10 about 20 miles this morn.
ing. OFF Cape Henry the wind was blow
ing 55 miles yesterday. The railroads lead
ing into Washington have been blocksded
by snow. fallen trees, telegraph poles and
wires, so that the movement of trains has
been greatly impeded, il not altogether
abandoned.
Late this afternoon, however, one or
two trains struggled in over the Baltimore
and Potomac Road, but no attempt at reg
ulaIiIy is thought of at the Western
Union sffice, il is learned tnat In its effect
upon the wires the storm was one of the
worst ever known here. Washington has
been completely isolated since Sunday
hight at o'clock. Hardly single wire
north, south, east or west is working, so
that such trains as may be out west creep
altng without orders. The wind has kept
up high velocity all day, and at 0 o'clock
tonight had not abated. The sky is new
perfectly clear and it is growing colder.
The morning vnd evening papers OF today
appeared without telegraphic information.
The efforts of the railroads to open COM
munication with the North succeeded at
10 o'clock tonight, when the train which
left New York at 9 O'Clock last night
arrived after hard, slow and tedious trip.
Persons Tho were on the train say their
experience was without precedent in
storm bpke in its fury when the
train was hearing Philadelphia. and the
speed had to be slackened. Philadelphia
was reached however, without very great
difficulty, but after leaving that city the
train had tC cross the way, the train
hands going ahead with lanterns to give
notice OF distractions on the track. Tele-
graph poles, wires, uprooted trees and
distractions of all kinds were found
y III dOAOcc bhC NdCk al lut6INdlS.
The passengers aided the railroad men in
removing the Instructions, and, after great
labor, Wilmington was reached, d little
beyond which the cars were stopped to
await daylight.
One passenger estimated that 30C
poles were removed from the track
beween Philadelphia and Wilmington
After daylight the train slowly worked
its way TO Washington, frequent
stops being mace for the removal OF OBJ
structions. A later train brought in the
Philadelphia papers, twelve hours behind
time, while the New York papers, which
usually reach here at 10:45 a. M, had moi
arrived at midnight. The track between
Baltimore and Washington is how reported
clear, but as all the wires are down
trains have to proceed tediously.
The Western and Southern trains are
coming in slowly, and passengers on tht
former report but little damage done aside
from the interruption to telegraph bust
ness. They were much surprised wher
informed of the damage caused by the
storm, and said that its effects were hardly
noticeable forty miles west of here. Onl
of the Southern trains had the windows o.
one OF the cars smashed in by falling
telegraph pole, and several passengers were
slightly hurt. The railroad people tonight
are hopeful of having the tracks sufficient
ly clear tomorrow TO admit OF more Of
less general resumption of traffic.