The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-14
THE RAILWAY BLOCKADE.
The Pennsylvania Line Blocked from New
York to Piftsburg

York to Pittsburg.
PHILADELPHIA, March 13--There is but little
improvement to-day. The stagnaton of busi-
caused by the storm continues. The
street-car companies have generally resumed
business with four-horse teams, and succeeded
in moving over their routes with slight deten-
ton. The steamer and railroad systems, how
ever, are etill in paralyzed condition. and very
little effort is being made TO run trains any
OF the roads centering here, attention being
mainly given o attempts to clear the tracks.
Trains have arrived from Baltimore and Wash
ington during the day. On the Pennsylvania
road, train left here at 4:40 p. NJ. for Baltimore
and Washington. On the bulletin board at
Broad street station the following announce
ment is made: '.No trains on the New York
and Central divisions. and no trains for Pitts
burg and the West to-day"
JERSEY CITY, N. j., March 13.-At 11.55 this
morning -plow with six engines behind is
started out from the Pennsylva MIA railroad
depot in this city, 60 clear the main line OF
snow, if possible. At Grove street, half mile
from the start the train got blocked in drift.
All the engines were reversed. The rear en-
Rine No. 805 jumped the track. and crashing
through the guard fence upon the side
walk. Engineer Peabody was thrown through
the window CT the cab but not injured.
Fireman Mrlane received concussioD of the
brain. He lived at Philadelphia Thomas
Whalen, of Philadelphia. had both legs frac-
tured and was injured internally Yardman
Williams. Of Jersey City, had his skull injured
The Pennsylvania road. at noon to-day, sue
ceeded in getting relief train to the cut at
Marion, two miles away from Jersey City,
where the Chicago limited express from the
West has been snowbound since Monday night,
and brought all passengers to this city. The
different passenger depots here have been crowd
ed with travellers since Monday morning. Many
of them sleep in the cars, and are fed by the
railroad company.
PITTsBURG, March l3.-For several years
there has not been such an absolute dsarth of
telegraphic communication with the East as
there was yesterday and last night. Though
intensely cold. Pittsburg suffered little from ahe
storm of Sunday night. Eastward the blizzard
rolled down the mountain size and through the
Junlata valley, scattering fences, breaking tele-
graph wires, upsetting small frame buildings.
and causing great loss in various ways. 1t was
bad night for the Pennsylvania train men.
Many freight trains were compelled to take to
the sidinGs and wait until this morning.
short distance east OF here, last night. a brake
man was blown from the top Of a car. but was
not dangerously injured. Trainmen pro-
nounce il the worst storm ever
known in these regions. One tranman said:
Between Philadelphia and Downingtown the
wind almost blew the off the track; the air
was piercing cold and the beating wind made IL
almost impossible TO stand out in the storm.
The snow was so heavy and so thick that you
could not see three feet in front of you. Tele-
graph poles, trees fences and other things were
blown across the tracks. and train made
very little neadway. For miles east of Down
ington every telegraph pole on the road has
been blown down and the wires scattered all
the tracks. One of the poles blew down as
the train was moving along slowly, and knocked
the smokestack off the engine. The latter ran
into a network of wires, which wrapped them
selves around it. and we had to stop for a long
time to get released. We suffered ter
ribly trying to get away from the
wires, and were almost frozen.h Busi-
ness the Pennsylvania road. between
this city and Philadelphia is completely para
lyzsd No trains have arrived from the east
since last night Everything is blockaded with
snow. All the freight trains SNOW bound,
and there is little or prospect Of their get
ting out for at least twenty-four honrs. At
some places the snow has drifted as high as
five feet. and there are miles and miles OF
freight trains waiting to get through. Never
before In the history of the railroad has there
been such blockade. The cold weather will
be very severe on the freight brakemen as most
of them snow bound several miles from any
station hahitation. The passengers on the
trains will also have 90 suffer. as the shermome-
ter At most places la below zero. NO mails
have arrived from the east since o'clock lase
evening and ii is estimated that 10000 letters
alone are snow. bound between Pittsbure anf
Philadelphia. Telegraphic communication -