Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-24
THE REMARKABLE sNOw-sToRM.

THE REMARKABLE SNOW-STOkM.
It commenced showing hereat O'CLOCK p. m.
Tuesday of last week, the 18th. and CONTINUES
till 2o'clock p. No., on the l6.h. When we wen y
press last week, as we then stated. the prospeo
was good for a deep snow, but we hao no iueo
at that time that 1t would be so deep. AS 'ne
snow, though heavier than it would nave peen
ifthe weather had been colder. was drLteu
| considerably by the wind which prevalieo d.
the time. IT was i'm possible to determine Win
any positiye degree OF certainty what the aver
age depth was-some making 1T as mucn a
three feet-but we suppose IL was ABOUT Iwo
| feet 1t was Just cold enough 10 snow, anu the
| result was, the snow was heavier than usual.
| II the weather had been very cold, as 1t was at
the time of the memorable snow storm in JAM
uary, 1857, the snow would have been much
deeper. 1t was not cold enough in Eastern Vir-
ginia to snow, and whilstit was showing here
and throughout the Valley and along the APP
palachian chain of mountains in Virginia and
w. Va, it was raining in the lowlands of East
ern Virginia. 1t was fortunate that the wealth.
er was not very cold at the time, and it has
not been cold since. except on Friday night
and Saturday morning when the mercury fell
to about IL degrees below freezing. Since then
the weather has been mild and the snow has
that more snow fell here in this storm than In
that OF 1857, though it was not drifted to the
same degree. and transportation was not
blockaded SO long. In 1857, the passenger train
that was coming from Richmond could get o
farther than Louisa c. H., and 1t was 10 days
before communication was open to Richmond.
When it commenced showing here in 1857 on
Saturday night, the weather was not cold, but
during that night it became very cold, and the
next day the mercury sank to near zero. and
the wind was blowing fierce gale which drift
ed the snow to the tops of the doors and VIM
dows in the lower story of the houses. In some
places the snow was twenty feet deep.
During that Sunday persons were prisoners
In their own houses, as none could venture out
In the face of such storm as then prevailed.
The following summary of the snow-storm
OF 1857 as it was experienced in and around
Richmond is made up from the Wing of the 81
and % January.
From the Wing. Monday, 10Th of january
eve doubt whether, for half century or
more, this latitude has been complimented
with as grand a snow-storm as the one which,
commencing Saturday night. ragged with un-
usual violence during the whole of yesterday.
1t was accompanied by very heavy wind,
which has almost entirely blockaded the
streets with huge drifts of snow. We have GER
tainly never witnessed so magnificent snow
exhibition before, either among the mountains
or in the low.lands. Nor did we ever before
see the streets SO completely deserted as they
were during the whole day. The city seemed
as if no living thing were In it-except at meal
times. when few shiveripg and ravenous
looking creatures made their appearance. and
ate as heartily and as unconcernedly as If the
elements were all calm without. These were
the only times that we ventured out, and we
found it almost impossible to navigate single
square.
Of course the mails in every direction will be
detained for several days. and perhaps a week.
The Central and Fredericksburg trains both
left at the usual hour yesterday morning, but
we expect to hear of them in the course of a
day or two. still standing somewhere, motion.
less and fast in the drifted snow, If, as we ap-
prehend. the storm has extended TO distance
and ragged as violently elsewhere as it did
here"
The same paper of the 2lst continues a
lengthy account of the effects of the storm.
Main street presented a sorry sight with the
snow blocked up from to Is feet. During the
heavy winds which prevailing 18th street. be-
tween Main and Cary. was completely block
AIDED. Milk and bread wagons ceased to run.
Funerals were postponed. 10 one instance
where the burial could not be delayed, scores
of men opened way for the hearse.
The northern train due by the then Central
(C. & o. route was hemmed in five miles north
of Richmond.
Our townsman, Mr.. ]. N. Woodward, was
then one of the proprietors of the st. Charles
Hotel. He and Mr.. John P. Ballard, the pro-
prietor of the Exchange Hotel, endeavored to
send omnibuses for the passengers, but could
not. They organized a force of men and sent
out baskets of provisions to the passengers
who could not be brought for two days after
wards.
The Wing, Of Wednesday, the 2lst of January
also furnishes the following account of the
death of DIR. Cox of Chesterfield and the deplor-
able situation of Mr.. Taylor who was with
him.
1--WE learn that DR.. Cox of Chesterfield coun-
ty. was frozen to death On Sunday night while
proceeding to visit a patient at Glover Hill.
He was riding In buggy, accompanied by a
Mr.. Taylor. and had nearly reached mis- destin-
alton when the drifting of the snow prevented
tn Q further progress of his vehicle. He alight-
ed from his buggy, leaving Mr.. Taylor on the
seat, and started on foot towards the house.
but was overpowered by the cold and persisted.
Mr.. Taylor when discovered next morning
was badly frozen, and it became necessary to
ampulate his arms at the elbow. Our inform
ant stated that he was not expected to sur
vive"
The same paper of the 22nd contains ac-
count, as follows, of the death of two men a
few miles north of Richmond
I'VE learn that on Saturday night 1ring the |
fearful storm, Mr.. Leanoer Vaughan and |
Messrs. Mills and Askew, (whose names we
could not learn, were overtak en- on the Char |
plank road near the residence ofDr. |
Cawthorn in Henrico county and froze to
death.
Many instances OF extreme suffering were
reported.
A destructive fire broke out near the Old
Market on Main street Sunday night. The |
water froze in the hose and the engines could
not be worked.
CASUALTIES OF THE FIGHT WHEN SITTING
BULL WAS KILLED.-The casualties of the fight ]
are as follows:
Police force: Bull Head. in command. dam
serously wounded -four wounds) Shave Head. |