The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-02-02
The MaIre Blizzard.
ROWLING, DRIFTING BLINDING SNOW SrORN
WITH THE MERCuRY BELOW ZERO.

One of the severest storms for many years visit
ed this section last week. The wind blew gale |
from the northeast the snow fall was heavy and |
the cold intense. The storm extended from Nova |
Scotia to Pennsylvania. Railroads were blocked, |
trains showed in, stage routes abandoned and the |
mails delayed for days.
The storm began here Wednesday night, in
creasing Thursday as the day advanced until at |
noon it was at its height 1t continued to rage all
day and far into the night. More than foot of |
snow fell and the gale piled it up in huge drifts
and filed the air with the frozen particles. Streets
and highways were soon made impossible. Bust |
ness was suspended, and no one unless duty de
mandcd, was seen upon the streets. The snow
attempted to make the sidewalks pass
able, but had to give it up- Many of the milkmen
abandoned their routes, and did not get around
until late the next day-Friday. The stages had
a severe time of it, but all except the Centre
Lincolnville stage arrived Thursday, although
behind time. The Searsmont stage did not go out
on Thursday, and the Searsport stage omitted Il
trip on Friday.
ON THE BELFAST BRANCH RAILROAD.
The train that left Belfast Thursday morning
for Burnham did not get back to Belfast until 5.l5
Friday afternoon. Conductor Mace said: eve
left Belfast Thursday morning as usual, but with
out the snow plough 1t was showing at the time
but we thought could make the trip without
serious difficulty. The train left Burnham for Bel
fast but a few minutes late, with passenger list of
81, mostly commercial travellers There were three
ladies' No difficulty was experienced until after the
Summit in Knox was passed, when heavy drifts
were encountered The ngine was detached from
the train, but got stuck in large drift ia short dis
lance away.lThc passenger car was nearthc farm
house of Deacon Braley, four miles from Brooks,
where food was obtaincd.' Mr.. Mace proceeded
to Brooks, the nearest telegraph station, and tee-
graphed to Belfast for the spare engine and snow
plough; but trouble having been anticipated the
plough had left hours before. The plough reached
the train in due season, hooked on and entleavored
to back down to Brooks. Three miles above the
station the train again became blocked and re-
manned fast The plough was useless, as it could
not be turned around, and the passengers had to
make Il night of it in the car. The farmhouse of
Benjamin feathers was opposite, but his family
was sick and he was unable to furnish food. But
George Dickey walked out from Brooks To Ieath-
ers Crossing carrying tin pail of food for the
passengers, freezing one ear in making the trip.
He not only received a hearty welcome and thanks
but purse of - was made up for him, and
though reluctant to Ito SO he was forced to accept
it. Mr. r. S. Rich, Of Wateryiie, who had been
visiting at his former home in Tholndike, was ON
the train, and sat up all night to keep the fires
going and the car warm while the passengers
slept. He rewarded with purse of 50.
Friday, the main line having been cleared, a
snow pillow and two engines were sent from Water
vile to the relief of the snowbound train, and at
55 p. NJ the train arrived at station with four
engines and two snow plows. An hour later the
train left for Burnham, and returned to Belfast
at midnight from that point, bringing the accumu-
lated mails and belated travellers. No further
trouble was experienced and had snow pillow
been taken on the outward trip Thursday
ing it is believed the branch could have been kept
open.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON TIE ROAD.
Wednesday morning at 7.o5 the writer took the
train mt Belfast for Portland. The mercury was
then T. to Is below; at Thorndike 20 below; at
Knox station l6 below; at Burnham 20 to "a below,
and at Riverside 80 below. Wednesday night in
Portland it began to snow, gently at first but later
more violently. Thursday morning the street cars
running and no difficulty was experienced in
getting about but by afternoon the storm was very
severe, and those rot obliged to go out remained
indoors. Snow plows drawn by twelve horses
efforts made to keep the side walks clear, but
the snow continued to fal! and to drift as it fell,
and the street cars finally had to suspend their
trips In the afternoon the temperature rose, but
fell again at night, and Friday morning the mer-
curry was about zero and remained there during
the day. But little could be learned rs to the
movements of trains, and at noon we went to the
Boston and Maine station prepared to take the
was one from Og,lcnsburg. The engine was so
covered with snow and ice that but little of the
ironwork was visible and the remen and engineer
had snow frozen into their hair and boards and
clinging to their garments. They looked Worn out.
About 3 p. NJ. a train arrived from Boston and
train was then made up for Bangor, leaving at
$50, about three and half hours behind time.
Once under way there was no trouble or detention,
the train making the usual running time, and the
very comfortable, all those in
which steam heat is used. The coal and wood
stoves, which heat the upper part of the car and
leave the lower part cold, are denominations and
ought to be wholly dispensed with. At Gardiner
left the train, as the Belfast branch was re-
ported completely blocked up, but had we con-
tinuetl on would have reached Belfast at mid
night. The corresponding train saturday was
hour late at Gardiner and made up no time between
that point and Burnlam. At Burnham Mr.. Maces
train was waiting, and he brought down goodly
number of passengers, including Mr.. O. g. Critcll-
cit, who had been to Boston shoe factory bust.
ness, Mr.. c. J. Hall who had been looking after
his stone contract in Augusta, Mr.. f. p. Walker of
Ninahaven, who had been snow bound and ice
bound down i'll Washington county; Hon. II. W.
Ellis from Il farmers institute tour Mr.. and Mrs.
c. \. Pilsbury and Mr.. George A. Quimhy from
the Maine Press Association meeting ut Portland,
Miss Grace Lord, from Gorham. and Il number of
others.
The frosted windows prevented sight seeing, but
the trainmen reported that the shoulders OF the
drifts they had worked through We're very high
and that it would take but little to again
block the road. Snow and ice covered the floor of
the baggage car and the heat from the small stove
used, although it was kept red hot, was not felt
few feet away. The men were about exhausted
and were glad that sunday would give them an
opportunity for rest.
WORK OF TIE WOODBURY..
The steam cutter Woodbury., Captain \. A. Fen
gar arrived at Rockland Thursday night with the
captain and crew of the wrecked British schooner
Riverside, of st. Andrews, bound for Boston with
turnips. The cutter left Bar IIarbor Thursday,
cruising westward. Lying eastward of Deer Isle
she found the British schooner Sewer with signals
of distress flying. The schooner reported the loss
of an anchor, and refused assistance for herself,
but reported that the schooner Riverside had lost
her anchor and beaten the reef to sea. The
cutter then proceeded to sea and at half-past
twelve saw her distress signals flying from Nc
Glathery's Island near the Isle Au Haut. She
steamed thither and found the crew of the missing
schooner. The captain of the Riverside reported
that his vessel went on the rocks and had to be
abandoned. The crew was landed at Rockland
and left Friday for Portland. The cutter then
steamed up to Merchant Row and found the sch.
Kate Foster, of Calais, at anchor there. She re-
fused assistance. The cutter reports all the
thoroughfares frozen up solid, with good sized
fleet of vessels therein. All the whistling buoys
along the coast iced up and silent. The cutter
left at for a further cruise up the bay.
The steamer Electa went into Castine Saturday
and was frozen in that she could not get ont.
Monday the cutter Levi Woodbury. with much
difficulty succeeded in cutting her way through
as to get the Electa from her position. The cutter
had to pass around below the islands as Eggemog-
gin Reach is so frozen that teams cross the main
land to Little Deer Isle
NEWS FROM DER NEIGH ROpS