The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-15

The Great Snow Storm of 1883.
On Candlemas Day as the Glastonbury
train wound its way towards the top OF
the Green Mountains east OF Benning
ton, a Frenchman remarked 4: "Snow
Being rallied upon his prophecy he in
sisted that the old "sign" would come
true yet. At that time the great Janua.
ry blizzard had but just been overcome
and the hopes of all were that we had
then seen the worst of the winter. To-
day the Frenchman is justified in laugh.
ing as he sees the army of men shovel
ing out the B. & G. and he is making
the most of it.
Sunday afternoon it began to snow
here and in forty-eight hours the
amount fallen could not have been far
from three feet on the level. Monday
noon actual measurement in a locality
two inches then fallen To give some
idea of the rapidity with which the snow
mantle formed it may be stated that
during Monday forenoon the scales Of
j, II. Loring & Co. were cleared and in
an hour thereafter one hundred pounds
had gathered thereon. Tuesday morn
ing Bennington saw a sight never before
beheld by this generation. Main street
looked like the tops of the Rocky Noun.
tains and the streets all resembled
them in miniature in the drifted snow.
The high wind of the preceding twelve
hours had had full sway and it was
something of task las well as a sight
to get out and down to places of bust
ness. The severe cold of Monday after
noon, night, and Tuesday morning soon
gave place to a moderation in the wealth
er else the opening of the streets and
highways would have been much more
difficult if not dangerous task.
Notwithstanding the depth of snow
and the huge drifts quite a number of
children gathered at the Graded schools
but the faculty did not think best to try
and hold its sessions. One little girl was
stuck in the snow and but for timely
succour might have suffered. This was
the only appearance of catastrophe to
the children which came to our knowl-
edge.
The river became clogged up near the
depot and for time threatened to over
flow and do considerable damage to
Scotch Avenue but aside from filling
several cellars with water, further diff
cul y in that direction was fortunately
averted. Trustee Guiltinane enjoyed
forced bath, however, while the work of
breaking the snow dam was going on.
All day Tuesday and yesterday the
labor of opening the streets and high
ways progressed. Our estimate of the
depth of the snow is gained from those
who broke out the roads. We do not
hear of single mishap or accident &C
curing by reason of these proceedings.
The expedi iOus manner in which these
operations were conducted is cOmpli-
mentary to both the street commissioner
and the seleC men.
As an educator of public sentiment
this storm is not wholly an unmiXed in
convenience. Not railroad in New
England and New York was running for
nearly three days. The strike threaten
ed by the Brotherhood of railroad en-
glneers which was to include all the
roads in the country was fOrestallpd by
this storm and we all now know what
the situation would be should no trains
run anywhere Business stopped and
by necessity, we can endure knowing
that as soon as possible the wheels OF
commerce will move on. But if tied up
as a spite against the public and to Co
cree the Q road in the west as stated
last week, 1t would resolve itself into a
contest between the Brotherhood and
the United States, in which the latter
would win. Yesterday the first mails
since Monday morning came in and to-
day will probably see an ouening up OF
the usual order of things in the business
world
In most of the snow blockades OF late
years the B. & r. have been enabled to
run with little or no detention The
storm of March, 1888, however must be
recorded as causing them to lose them.
selves in the snow as well as their neigh.
bors to the North, East and South.