The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-03-21


sound came fIom the laundering clouds.
1t seemed as If a million devils wers loose
in the air. Sign boards were stripped from
the fronts of stores and hurled through
the snow clouds. Hats were picked aad
carried out of sight. As the afternoon
wore away men aud women were blown
fat on the ground or picked up IN the air
and throxn against buildings. Hundreds
of pedestrians were cut and bruised. Many
were run over. The very mail wagons had
to be abandoned, in spite Of the desperate
struggles of the horses. They we're left in
sill sections of the city. On Eighth ave.
an empty heaIse vas deserted by its driver.
All funerals were postponed for the day.
Each hour the fury of the hurricane in
creased. 1t began to resemble the worst
kind Of a Dakota blizzard The wind blew
st the rate of Ga miles an hour, and at 3
O'Clock in the afternoon the mercury stood
only II degrees above zero.
How the raging winds hovled and roared,
till ones hair stood on end! Frighttul
stories of disaster we're shouted through
the streets-men frozen to death in Broad
way; crowded train blown from the
Sixth ave. elevated railway; another train
collided on the Third ave. railway, killing
the engineer and wounding passengers.
The last proved to be true.
So indiscTibshly terrible was the storm
that the very sparroWs appealed TO humsn
beings for shelter. Many birds flew into
the Gilsey house, Hoffman house and othsr
hotels. They were very tame, and ate
food from the hands nt the guests. One
sparrow sat on the Gilsey house bar for
ten mir ntes.
But the scene of all scenes was the strug-
gle of New Workers who lad TO get down
town and started out to do iton foot. Broai l.
way was entirely changed in appearance.
Against the long line OF vacant commercial
palaces the STOW was piled up. D0orWays,
through which thousands of busy Gus,
TONERS surge every DAY. we're choksd uD.
the street was series of hills and valleys
and rsvines. Narrow paths were worn oy
the feet of thousands who walked in In
dian hle. This curious manner of treading
in eseh others footsteps, like Sioux war
riors gave the travt lers quaint appear
ance. The costumes in which the pedss-
triars were clad were beTildering. Fat
men tied pieces Of rope around the 10 ger
ends of their troTsers TO keep the snow
from reaching tEeir ankles as they waded
through the drifts. Thin men wore their
stockings over their shoes. Every man
who owned q shooting Jacket or pair of
leggins blOssOmed out in mouutaiueer
style. Thousands of men and boys had their
feet tied up in salt bags, This seemed to oe
a favorite wsy OF ksepiDg wsrm, Hundreds
and hundreds of men and women cut holes
their handksrohiefs and made masks
out of them. Trout wSding boots, riding
DO Is, oVershoes and mocc lsins We
sporte6. Coupled with the scattered Hiu-
dow, brck co sig s, Sos ttered fragments of
trees and wild nil JcKs Of saow, all seen
dimIy through the whirliDg cataract of
flakes lying or the wings OF the gaie-tnese
extraordinary costumes gave Broadway che
appearance of a snow blocked ravine in
vsdsd by hunters.
Every now and then big sigu board
would crash into the street. The crowd
would shout and laugh and struggle on. 1t
Iss hard to stand up straight against the
wind, and sometimes the snow would
strike ths face so hard as almost TO cut the
skin. Still there was marvellous exhi0i-
ton OF good nature The more the snow
piled up ard the great wind blew the more
universal was the spirit of neighborliness
Every one seemed privileged TO talk to
every body else. When man had any thing
to say be mad to shout in order 20 maze
himself heard. The conversation would be
at once taken up by every one ia the
streets. Men whose hands ana feet were
tingliDg and whose faces were blue with
cold waded to their armpits in the snow
and laughed. When a girl was stuck in q
drift or blown down there was always a
hero ready to pick her up and help her
along. No one resented a slap on the
shoulder or vigorous shout of salutation.
at noon all the great stores that had
opened saw the uselessness of attempting
10 carry on business and gave their en-
ployes half holiday. Then came an in
spring sight, as Thousands of clerks and
shop girls fought their way home through
the bitter wind and snow, falling down,
running against each other, and sometimes
beirg blown light acIoss the street.
Some of the great dry goods houses had
Il ko1v \
SOFT yellow sunshine. Macy d Co. were to
have had their spring opening. A reporter
called and found mountains of snow piled
up against the doors. Denning e. Co. had
| also arranged for "spring" opening. Alt
mans store was opened with great diff
Guilty, and woman ventured through the
storm 10 buy two spools Of thread.
The telegraph messenger boys suffered
frightfully. Several of them were 60 badly
frozen that they were taken to hospitals.
| This was about the only means OF commu.
nication In the city. All the telegraph
systems we're broken down. Every dispatch
offered to the Western Union company by
the Herald was returned. I'VE can't send
q word % was the invariable answer. The
| only telegrapbed message which reached
the Herald during the afternoon vas brief
| one from Little Falls, n. Y,
The police were unable 20 enforce the
laws relating to hack fares. Drivers charged
$40 for each passenger in the morning. bat
later On they increased the price. Brokers
who had TO go down town in order to meet
their contracts were compelled 10 nay
enormous sums for transportation. It is
almost impossible TO indicate the hauteur
OF ;he average ca0man. He irovned on
ordinary mortsls. Never since New York
was city have its Jehus reeped such
harvest. So unreasonable were the drivers
that one broker who had $4,000 trsnsac.
ton to complete, and WAS in danger of los
ing fortune by delay, became wild with
anxiety.
Il must get down." he pleaded.
S"Ahi very loikely," said the driver,
sticking his tongue in his cheek and
breaking q few icicles from mis- beard.
What will you take Tor your whole
establishment"
ut Amt moine."
"I'll buy the horse and cab and I'll buy
you, too, If you're for sale. Come, what's
your price?"
1.-THE 'orse amt moine. tell We"
"Your rig is worth $50. Come, I'll give
you $780,"
mo. but OIL take ye down fur $50"
The broker paid it. Everybody had to
pay in advance.
Killed In q Snow PlOw Wreck.
WHITE PLAINS, N. Y, March I6.-It has