New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-26
WESTERN UNIONS ILLLUCK
THIRD CWPPLING WITHIN EIGHT DAYS-EX
TENT OF DAMAGE TO TELEGRAPH

AND TELEPHONE WIRES.
THIS j., the thru time within eight days that the
Western Union Telegraph Company has been crippled
BIZ the vagarcs of The weather. On Saturday a week
ago their wires suffered almost complete destruction
from the attacks Of raih, snow and seet. The com
pany had only recovered from that blow when storm
Of wind and rain again laid the wires low. Then yes
terday. when the work Of repair still in progress
all along the lines third and worse visitation to
undo all the labor OF days ana wreak utter ruin and
devastation.
This +, one OF the worst crashes we have expe-
rienccd i'm many years, and certainly the most dis
astrous since the BLIZZARD said ~ f.. Sink, the night
superintendent Of the Western Union Telegraph Com
paay in the Of his graphic description late last
night OF the ravages on the wires wrought by the
storm. 1t has rendered rs all but absolutely help
less, our connection North South, East and West Is
almost entirely destroyed At the present moment we
hava only Three wires running ont OF NewYork-one
10 Chicago one 10 Buffalo and one to Albany All tho
rest are dead. south our communication extends as
far a. jersey City and Ioboken. Beyond lloboken We
are cut Of from the rest OF the world and the big
black blank extends away beyond Philadelphia
Along the Jersey Central. Pennsylvania and New
York and Lake Eric roads there is nothing but ruin.
East, We can run rs far Williamsbridge but be-
yond that point all is chaos and except for what
We can yet on our single wire TO Albany. which con-
meets with Boston, We shall remain blissfully fgnor
ant Of all that happens in New England between
How and to morrow. NORTH anu west, d nave
already told You, haze only three active wires
one 10 Albany connecting with Buffalo and the West:
one 10 Buffalo direct. and 10 Chicago For the
ret we far Poughkeepse, and there
come 10 a dead stop. New York people will perhaps
lind consolation in the fact that they are not cut of
from lonkcrs Along the New-iork Central and
hudson River Road the shore Line and the New
York, New Haven and Hartford lines the smash
j., general. We Just now in this
COuli London
far easier and quicker than could
yet 10 Newark. y. j. But for some expeditions patch
Ing up, accomplished this morning. II Is probable
that should have been left without even the three
wires Of which ! have just spoken. We have one
connection with the South-vz.. on our single Chicago
wire. via Cincinnati, connecting with Washington and
Baltimore
when shall We be able TO resume work. added
Mr.. sink don't like to say. Everything IS in
volyed in doubt. We have got every available man
at work on all points and YOU may be sure that no
dime will be lost. hazarlcd opinion. suppose
another biz storm would come along and knock US
out again.
The Metropolitan Telegraph and Telephone Com
pany had a tale Of drcful dsa,'cr to tel ~ far
A. they were able To ascertain yesterday tho whole OF
their uptown service crippled Ihc long dis ancs
service shared IN the disaster aud IL Is probable ina
the effects of the wreck VIII DC ieL Tor al le1st TWO
"On u modcrae estimate, should say that We
leading official Of the company yesterday, ana
that i,gIre 10y means represents the full extent
of the roublc We have yet to hear from the private
subscribers who Will not reach their Office, until
tomorrow. Along FOurtc l., from the river as
far AZ sixth ave, oar line is down. vt Twenty
sNth.s and sixth ave. have lost huge terminal
pole: and then tine whole of the Thirty ninth -
line down i0adway aud Eleventh ave. is completely
wrecked TIE Forty fourth st. line, FROM Lexington.
ave so the East River. /, broken oil and
the same conditions prevail In respect Of the
Fifty-nlnth.st. line from Eighth 10 Eleventh ave.
Along Folrthave the line IS broken in spot, between
sixty eighth and one hundred and fourth SIS. while
the hundr, and twentieth II. line = all down as
far as renthavc.. and rIe conditions have Ia
bc reported in one hundred and twenty hfthst. from
First ID Third ave. Above the Harlem River tie
breakdown l.. II possible. moro ruinOnS. Along
Third ave north of the river far a. one hundred
and sixty third 81. connection i thing or the
past and the whole Of the Willis lire is practically
dead ON the shore line Of the long distance service
from InwoOd thirty poles have been lost
We have IA large force Of men at work in all
IN clearing away fallen poles aud wires from the
streets the elevated car tracks and the tops OF HOUSES
\ great danger to Our men lies I'm the CROSSING on
the live electric light with the telephone wires The
removal Of the wIcclHge is TINS attended with the
worst possible risk With this view order has b--n
sent ont the electric light companies 10 shut down
their systems all over the city. How far tile order
will he olcvcd | d. not know. but ! am extremely
apprchenSve Of serious ACCIDENT 10 one or more Of
men,